Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-25
HAS STOPPED WORK
The South Capitol Street Crematory
Has Shut Down.
TRIAL PERIOD has EXPIRED
Commissioners Have Rendered No
Decision Regarding Sanitation.
G. ARBA GE PUT Z IN BOATS

The question of the disposal of the city s
garbage has taken a new turn. and now the
much-discussed matter seems about as far
from a solution as ii was early in the sum-
mer.
The crematory, which is located at the
foot of South Capitol street, has shut down,
and today all about the plant is as quiet as
a country graveyard after dark. All the
garbage which has been collected for
couple of days past Is being taken down
the river in scows. When the plant will
start up again is a question that no one ap-
pears to be able to answer.
According 20 the head of the crematory
company the reason Is a very simple one.
The crematcry has stopped because the
time in which it was to run in order to
satisfy the Commissioners and the garbage
contractor that the Brown system Is a
satisfactory one has expired. Time was up
on the I'D but Mr.. Brown kept the fires
burning in the hope that some definite con-
clusion might be reached. Two days ago,
however. they were allowed togo out in
order that the furnaces might cool down
as to enable the contractor, MIR. War
field. to make personal inspection of the
inside and see how well the plant has stood
the wear and tear of the seasons work.
When the Brown crematory was built it
was with the understanding that II should
operate for a period of ninety days to sat
isfy the contractor that it was in every
way satisfactory. Mr.. Brown CLAIMS that
in point of fact it has been going for five
months, and has proved complete sue
cess. At the end of the first sixty days,
it will be remembered, there some
trouble with the CRATE bars and the fires
Were allowed to go out while a change was
made Contractor Warfield thought that
there should be an unbroken test of ninety
days, ana TO this Mr. Brown acceded. The
nirety days were up last Tuesday. Mr..
at hat fheya
chance of a decision being arrived at he
would be willing TO keep the crematory in
operation. but as - saw no chance of it
and every day that it meant so
much out of the treasury of his company
he was unable to why he should keep
II Up any longer.
Have Not Acted.
According to the terms of the appro-
priation act the Commissioners must select
the sort of crematory that is to be adopted.
In the present case it is said that the gar
bage contractor Is satisfied with the Brown
crematory, but, of course, is prevented
from purchasing it until such time as the
Commissioners have expressed themselves
as satisfied that 1t is all right from a sani-
tary point of view. On this question the
Commissioners have so far made no de-
cis.on one way or the other, and the mat
ter must rest where it is for the present,
dell, who has been most actively identified
with the garbage problem, is out of town
and is not expected to return for some
days.
In conversation with a Star reporter to-
day Mr.. Brown said:
$50 far / know the contractor would
he willing to accept the Brown crematory
IL the Commissioners would only agree to
It, but there would be no sense in our keep
ing the plant IN operation Indefinitely. We
have gone through the worst season Of the
year successfully, and at no time have we
disposed of less than twO-thirdS of the city,
garbage with the one crematory. With two
Of course, there would be no trouble at all
Lately we have been burning eighty tons q
cay, while the entire collection for the city
has been 100 tons. The statement that all
through the summer by far the greater
portion of the garbage had to be taken
down the river on scows is not true, as the
records of the health office will show. AS
to the question whether the crematory is q
success from sanitary point of view l am
perfectly willing to abide by the reports OF
fhe inspectors whom the Commissioners ano
the health officer have had stationed here
The crematory can be started up again i'm
mediateiy upon it's acceptance by the Com
lnissioners and the garbage contractor.