The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-24

othar than by dumping IL into the bay.
Ahat crude method has answered, but ii
cannot be considered either scientific or
pleasant. The north shore OF Seattle har-
Dor Is AT times exceedingly offensive. but
the tides clear the refuse away with suf-
fcieni rapidly TO prevent its becoming a
serious menace to health.
How to dispose of the garbage OF a city
has puzzled many municipalities wealthy
enough not to consider cost so much as
efficiency, but no sure method has been
devised. and certainly none can lay claim
10 being applicable to cities where the ex-
pense must be taken into account. In
publication recently made by Lord Kelvin.
he said that there was a method for the
disposal OF waste In successful operation
at shoredisch. England. and advocated its
application elsewhere. The suggestion was
received in New York with some interest,
because even In that rich city garbage is
stiil taken out In scows and dumped at
sea as 1t was years ago. The subject has
been discussed from time TO time. and
many attempts made TO find some hygienic
method by which 1t could be cremated
without offense. crematories would be the
best means. IL the refuse could be con-
veyed at reasonable cost TO furnaces far
enough from the centers of population to
avoid being subjected to the fumes. No
furnace I'm general use has succeeded in
overcoming that very serious difficulty.
There Is one on Nicollet island, which
serves Minneapolis but It has an excep-
tlonally favorable location. and does not
seem to be open to the objections found in
some other places.
According to the Philadelphia Ledger,
the board of health of that city is now
wrestling with the garbage problem A
company has made application for the
boards approval Of a site on the Schuyl-
Kill river between Point Breeze and Gil
rard Point, represented to be 1900 feet
from the highway and 100 feet from any
residence. The company's plant at AL
mond ard Cumberland streets was closed
two weeks ago after being declared a nut
sance. The members of the board discuss
ed tho application and decided to table
the matter.
| New York. wnere Col. YaTins. superin-
tendent OF street cleaning. declares that
! very careful study for two years with the
/ assistance OF a number Of skillful experts
I has failed 10 develop an instance whore
/ any process for the cremation Of garbage
/ has been found inoftensive. and he Saws
I there Is not now aoy known method Of
/ using garbage for fuel which would be tol-
! Grated by any community unless under
! such conditions Of extreme dilutlon as at
! shoredl,ch. Col. Warning says that the
/ city has contract TO deliver al OF It's
garbage 70 a utilization company ~ Bar
ron island. and that over six hundred tons
/ a day are delivered in addition 20 the
/ amount sent out TO sea daily by FIVE
/ scows.
/ Something must be done with Tire garb-
age. and the question may resolve itself
into a choice between the lesser Of two
/ evils. The city win have TO decide whether
( IL IS more offensive and injurious 70 have
+ occasionally an unpleasant door than 10
have the alleys ard waste places and the
shore rocking with decsyiug refuse. Very
Offensive works are conducted without
Serious dotrlment 30 the public health
Reuderiug factories. gas works. chemical
/ factories. tannertes. soap factories. an
eul.t an unpleasant oaor set it is found
i practicable 90 keep them IN operation.
/ There ia scarcely any manEfactorv.. even
4 wsth its unpleasant smell. mere 81 a men
( ace so health than deconposug animal
fratter Complete iecsmeTatg1n IS the most
effective way 90 destroying refuse. ard ;hls
vculd incloae no: ocfy she garbage Of tas
! kitchen. hat broken crooksry ola cans.
ravs straw. ana every other discarded az
fsc}s e household. whose disposition noa
: B a sosree e continual annoy aEce.
Ever X We cannot hsva complete sys-
/ tran employing destructive agencies. it WI
( be rsces sary % a12rd concerted mans bv
wa.ch tie citizen san ~ e reasonable cost
have shc debris. ws1ca cannos pass tarossh
savcrs. msvrd from the vicinity e ais
haase Is VII not D. sufficient and. ir-
seet. tt woul8 ret es falr % pass Ar orfs-
/ nsaee stclafssk su-h accsmalaslcns nsst-
sarce wlthcag providing tas means tarouza
4 waEca tae nuisance IL 20 be abase1.