Evening star., 1894-11-03

Ex-POstmaster General James Says
All Refuse Is Put to Practical Use.
From the New York Times
Ex-Postmaster General Thomas l.. James
YVES TO have presented before the garbage
commission yesterday some facts addition
al to those he has already given concern
ing his observations Of the different modes
Of disposing OF refuse In cities in England,
but he was unable to be present, and TO
meeting of the commission was held. He
will probably appear before the commission
today.
While abroad as the representative of the
commission, Mr.. James gathered a great
deal Of information in Bristol London,
Manchester and Liverpool.
His first investigations were in Bristol,
where all refuse is delivered to the "de-
structor' by means of immense carts
drawn through the city by traction en-
gines. Two of these carts are attached to
each engine. Mr.. James was unable to
inspect the "destructor," as the mayor was
engaged ct the time of his visit. The meth
cd employed is that CT complete incinera-
ton.
Mr.. James next went 20 London, where
he found in his opinion, the ideal mode of
disposing of a large citys refuse. The
Stanley system Is the one used. 1t Is intri-
cate, but complete, every article constitut-
ing the makeup of load Of refuse being
put to some practical use. The system is
operated by the Refuse Disposal Company
OF Chelsea, under contract to the CITY of
London. A representative of this company
has presented in detail before the garbage
commission the merits of the system
Huge refuse carts deliver their loads INTO
revolving cylinder ten feet in diameter
and twelve feet long This cylinder is made
of iron ribs placed about ten inches apart,
upon which are fixed wooden bars. The
wooden bars are used to prevent bottles
from being broken.
The spindle Is driven by external gear, as
internal gear would catch the material and
the works would be clogged. The cylinder
has a tilt of nine inches in its length
There Is a worm through the inner surface
of the cylinder, for the purpose of assist
ing the materials in travelling through it.
Most of the material entering the cylin-
ders from the refuse carts passes out at the
further end in from two to three and one
half minutes. The material which does not
pass out is removed and sorted by hand
as it arrives at the further end. 1t consists
chiefly of cardboard boxes, tin cans, bottles,
fuel, clothes, and rags. These are placed
in separate baskets. the vegetable and ami
NAL refuse being taken to a mill to be
ground up.
The material which passes out OF the first
| cylinder into a second one. similarly con-
structed, but having a smaller mesh. is
treated likewise. When the refuse falls
from the second cylinder into the third one,
II is subjected to a powerful blast OF air,
Ter material, and into large iron chest,
where Ii undergoes a hot-air treatment.
The heavier materials are raised by an
elevator to a revolving plate or table. which
carries them to a number of boys for sort
ing. The ccal and metals are saved, ard
the other refuse 10 ground up and used for
fuel for generating heat and electricity.
ready market Is found for all the as
sorted refuse.
In Mr.. James opinion, this system is in
comparably better than anything he has
yet seen
In Liverpool the system is almost good,
but Il is more wasteful. The refuse un-
assorted, is burned in an immense open
furnace This burned material forms a
Stag. which is ground into a fine dust, out
of which mortar and fuel are obtained.
The Liverpool plant is owned by the city.
and is superintended by the city's engineer.
who is the inventor of the system. which
Is not patented.
Mr.. James says that there is absolutely
| no odol in the London or Liverpool ''de-
structors."
There were several complaints presented
to Lieut.. Deehanty yesterday afternoon
about additional garbage scows having
opened at their various dumping stations
and deposited their contents In the river.