Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-17

The Council Committee on Health
was called in special session yesterday
afternoon at half-past four O'Clock TO
consider very important matter rela-
tive to the transformation OF the city
garbage, offal and night soil into fertil-
izing material by a private corporation,
For az good many months past the
supply Of natural gas at the city Gre
matory has been such as TO make it i'm
POSSIBLE 10 burn all the stuff hauled up
10 the hilltop, and this being the situa-
ton in cold weather, and at time OF
year when but one collection Of garbage
is made each week, the health depart
ment of the city government have felt
that there was a grave crisis right in
front OF them, as hot weather is already
at hand, while the season for daily col
lections will soon be here. For many
weeks there has been an accumulation
of tons upon tons Of garbage and all
manner of animal and vegetable refuse
on the hilltop, and under the scorch-
ing sun Of the past week this is being
rapidly transformed into 4 fostering
mass of corruption, which may and
probably will have a very bad effect
upon the public health. No steps have
been taken by the authorities to secure
a seasonable remedy, beyond the usual
amount of desultory talk, but yesterday
a plan was proposed which may solve
the problem if adopted. although it
cannot be carried into effect for four
or six months to come.
As is well known. the Wheeling
Butchers Association have had in con-
temptation the establishment Of a fer
tilizing plant in Fulton, in which the
waste products of Strengthening can be
transformed into fertiiiZing material.
To do this a certain sort of plant, OF
medium size, would be requisite. but the
Association is willing to put in a dip
ferent and larger plant if contract
can be entered into with the city for
term OF years. under which all garbage,
Offal and night soil will be delivered at
The plant Of the Association and worked
up by it. To consider this matter the
Committee on Health was called to-
gether yesterday, and the matter was
laid before the gentlemen by Chairman
Stathers, and was thoroughly discussed.
Then Mr.. n. B. Pewter, who is the rep
resentatfve OF the American Reduction
Company, corporation which has con-
troll OF the method in contemplation.
and which now has large plant in
Pittsburg. operated by Mr. Finn. and
another in Philadelphia. was called in
and he made a detailed explanation OF
the method proposed to he used and
the result attained. In brief. the ma
terial 10 be transformed into fertilizer
is dumped into q vacuum digester, with
sulphuric acid. phosphate rock, soda,
and other chemicals. and the whole
mass is then boiled by means CT a
steam jacket until the integrity Of
everything is wholly destroyed and the
stuff is reduced to chemical elements
held in solution. The gas thus thrown
off is consumed in furnace. the grea Sc
is removed and barrelled for sale, the
residue is dried. ground. mixed with
rhoSphates and the result is a dark
black powder. without odor and of the
highest fertilizing qualities Mr.. Pow
ter said the plant to De erected by the
Association. in the event that suitable
arrangement could be made with the
city. would cost in the neighhorhood Of
S40.0 900 or $4,000 and could be COM
pleted in ABOUT four months after work
was commenced. He added large
amount OF miscellaneous information.
The Committee agreed that as the
Butchers Association would send
committee to Pittsburg next Monday. 10
lave a look at the plant here. it would
he we'll for Council to get in on the
ground floor in the matter OF informa-
ton. and a resolution was adopted rec
ommending to Council tonight that
subcommittee consisting of the Health
Officer. Chairman Stathers and Mr.. Nc
Kelvey be authorized to make the trip
at the same time and report the result
CT their inspection.
Bills to the amount Of $3.50 were rec
commended for payment, and the Com
mittes adjourned.
--O-----