Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-29
WILMlNGTONSNEW CREMAToRY.


| when The crematory committee was au-
| thorized to close contract with tho
Dixon Crematory Go. for the erection OF
a new plant at a coat not TO exceed
| SIG, 900.
Mr.. Oberly, chairman of the COM
mittee. introduced the resolution to
authorizing the committee to make the
contract with the Dixon people.
Mr.. Stats offered a minority report
which was seconded by Mr.. Robertson.
An interesting discussion followed.
Mr.. Stats said be was member OF
the committee which purchased the
first crematory. The city, be declared.
did not got what it paid for, but he
believed the present plant could be
put in good shape. The Dixon crema.
tory is good one, the best, he be-
lieved, he has yot seen. But be desired
TO vote intelllgently when he voted
sl5, 900 OF the city's money away.
There is a company which offers to dis
pose OF the city's garbage. 1t is incor-
porated under the laws of the State.
1t will give bonds TO operate separate
plant Tor one half what it now costs
the city. The old plant will be allowed
to etand and can be put in good con-
dition il the company does not live up
to it's contract. The company offers to
do tho work for Sc, 600 year, and Mr..
Stats desired, ne said, to save the
people of Wilmington as much money
as possible. Council, he said, has never
bad practical control of the crematory;
1t only pays the bills. The Board of
Health, he declared. III responsible to a
great extent for the present condition
Of the old crematory. He thought
Council should control the crematory
in all details.
Mr.. O'Neill wanted to know If any
practical exhibition of the proposed
method spoken of by Mr.. Stats could
ba seen in operation, or whether its
plans were only Oh paper.
MIR. Leary replied that the committee
bad visited similar plant to the one
proposed. in Philadelphia. The stencil
arising from the matter extracted
from the garbage, hs declared, was
equally Offensive as that arising from
the garbage.
Mr.. oberly stated that the company
had offered to pay the expenses of the
committee to Pittsburg to inspect
plant, but letter Of inquiry TO the
health department there disclosed the
fact that the plant had been diecon-
lluuSp oNbI u OfE duli a Hhlt.
A letter sent to Atlanta, Ga, where
Dixon plant is in operation, received
a reply stating that tho cost per ton Of
disposing OF garbage was 81 cents. At
this rate, MIR. Oberly stated, allowing
10, 600 tons of garbage for year, which
is high estimate. it would cost the
city So, 400 year for fuel 10 dispose of
the garbage, a.
Mr.. Leary again took the floor. At
the rate it costs Atlanta, he said,
high estimate for this city for fuel
would be So. 400. At this rate the city
would be enabled to save about 81, 800
a year on the present cost.
Mr.. Meaney said be was not in favor
of reduction plant and he desired to
have the best plant obtainable.
Mr.. Oberly stated that the committee
had visited Camden and Trenton and
inspected the Dixon plants in operation
there and from what they saw were
satisfied that it was the best system
obtaiuable. The Brown company
offered to put the present plant in con
dition 70 dispose of garbage, using coal
for fuel, for Sl4. 600. but he thought
the offer of the Dixon companya better
one.
Mr.. Watson said the present crema-
tory had not been properly constructed
IN the first place and therefore never
had fair trial. He believed it could
be put in shape for 50, 900 and would do
the work satisfactorily. Mr.. Leary
replied that he did not SOS the economy
of spending 3d. this year and per-
haps S4. 600 next year and maybe sc, 900
tho year following, and still have
patched up creaatory, when a new and
satisfactory one could be erected for
SIS, 900, which under the plan proposed
of paying OF the debt at 81, 800 year
for 10 years would not be felt by the
taxpayers.
AIR. Oberly's motion TO authorizes
the committee to enter into contract
was amended by Mr.. O'Nsill with a
provision that it shall not cost more
than SIC, 600, and by Mr.. Smith that
the walls shall be Of brick. 1t was
then passed.
Mr.. McNulty advised Council to go
slow in the matter, until it is seen
whether or not the Legislature will
pass the bill to give the Board of
Health entire control of the crematory.
On Mr.. McNulty's motion the law
committee was instructed to use all
means in its power to defeat the bill.
eVeTy Heulper VI SouuCii heCouuiDB
the motion.
After City Council adjourned the
members held meeting and passed
and signed the following resolution.
which will BIO presented to the Legisla-
ture to-day.
ITO the Members of the Senate and
House of Representatives of the State
of Delaware = Gentlemen: We, the
undersigned. members of the City
Council of Wilmington. desire to call
your attention to bill now before your
body entitled AN act for the better
disposal of garbage. The bill con
templates taking all powers from the
hands of City Council and placing
them in the hands of the Board of
Health. The city is already overbur-
dened with commissions which have
taken the power from the hands of the
representatives OF the people, where
it properly belongs We, therefore.
desire to enter our protest against the
passage OF said measure.
"At meeting of the City Council,
held Thursday evening. April 22d.
motion was unanimously adopted TO
instruct the legislative committee of
the Council to use every effort to pre-
vent the passage of the bill above mem
City Treasurer Adams reported the
balance in bank to be 500, T04. SO. with
the special park fund of SAG, 263. GO.
The following collections were reported:
Tax Collector Sayers, $500: Collector