The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-09
THE cREMAroRY GROUNDS.
They Are Not as Bad as it is Claimed
They Are.

AMY "a
Health Oficer Drummer, in his annual
report, comments upon the unsanitary
condition in which the grounds of the
city crematory are kept. A
communication was received by
the MORNING News yesterday
severely attacking the management and
conduct of the crematOry, and stating in
substance that its present condition is
reflection upon the city.
4 MORNING NEWS reporter visited the
crematory between Gwinnett street and
Laurel Grove cemetery yesterday. So
far as could be seen the charges are, with
one exception, unlustihable.
The grounds of the crematory do not
present very slightly appearance, but
after its work is understood IL is hardly TO
be expected that they should. The ashes
from the crematOry and the large amount
Of old tin cans of every size, which are
hauled out with the garbage, have to be
disposed of somehow, and they arc put to
the best use possible, that OF NIL
ing in the low ground around
the crematOry.
Naturally the piles of old tin cans and
ashes do not present very slightly APP
pearance, but they are serving a purpose
in filing in the deep sink on the east side
Of the crematOry and the appearance of
klluEb ID uluEu btbbSE Audu II was Nueu
the field was used as dumping ground
for the city's garbage before the crema-
tory was built.
Mr. L. A Wheeler, who has charge OF
the crematories for the Eagle Crema-
tion Company in this section including
that crematory, builtat Savannah
before he took charge of the
construction Of the work, he is able TO
make all repairs necessary without extra
expense to the city, and conduct the
work in an intelligent manner. He says
that the crematory is now burning about
sixty barrels of garbage day, for which
one ton of coal is required. In the sum
mer the amount of garbage is about twice
as great as it is in winter, and nearly
three times as much coal is required.
This is owing to the large amount of veg
ettable refuse which is gathered in sum
mer, and the great amount of water
which it contains. The garbage disposed
of in winter consists chiefly of street
sweepings and house refuse, including
a large amount of paper and tin cans
which is gathered up with the rest of the
garbage There is so much combustible
matter in this refuse that it almost burns
itself in dry weather, requiring compare
lively little coal Swill from the houses
is also consumed
The crematory does not consume ma
nure and night soil, the latter being taken
In special wagons for that purpose to
Maj. Ryals' farm on the Springfield plan
tation. The manure is dumped by the
garbage wagons on the crematory
grounds, from whence it is removed by
Maj. Ryals to his farm. This constituted,
so far as the MORNING News is able to
learn, the only Objectionable and unsan-
itary feature about the place. The
heaps occasionally reach con
siderable size and the smell
is very perceptible. The superintendent
Of the crematory, however, has nothing to
do with this and is not responsible for it.
1t is evident that the manure heap should
be removed to some more distant locality,
where the odor would not annoy the resi-
dents in the vicinity.
Supt. Wheeler said that the crematory
is overworked, and is unable to properly
dispose of all the city's garbage. To dis
pose of the night soil, he says, it will be
necessary to erect another crematory, es-
pecially for the purpose, which can be
done at cost of about $4,000. AS it is
now the present crematory has all
it can do to dispose of the ordi-
nary house refuse and street
cleauings, exclusive Of the manure.
The cost to the city for disposing of
garbage last year was about II cents per
cubic yard, which included repairs made
necessary by the storm and all other ex-
penses. This is a reduction of about >
cents per cubic yard on the cost the pre-
vious year.
When the crematory began operations
the cost was about 90 cents per cubic
yard The superintendent has con
structed a good roadway with the ashes
from the gate on Gwinnett street to the
crematory. A good roadway has also
been constructed on Gwinnett street
from the waterworks to the crematory. a
distance of several hundred yards, of
ashes, either from the crematory or the
waterworks, or both. This roadway APP
pears to be all that is needed on that por-
ton of Gwinnett street al present Among
the articles consumed at the crematory
daily are about 10 cats, or dogs and
100 chi kens. The latter come from the
market and from the wholesale dealers.