Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-02-18
CREMATION or GARBAGE.
A Serious Problem Which Confronts City
Council aud the Hoard of Health.

A Serious Problem Which confronts City
Council and the Hoard of Heath.
The disposition Of city garbage Is |
matter of moro concern to tho monlpers
of City Council and the Hoard OF
Health at the present time than any
other single subject. The over taxed
plant in the southwestern part OF tue |
city gave out last week. but repairs
were made andit ia again in operation.
but for what length of time nobody is
al le to predict, 1t has been breaking
down continually for some time, ana IN
addition to the wear and tear is con-
sidercd expensive. 1t ia said to DC
oyertaxed to such an extent as to be
alarmingly weak.
Chairman Oberey of tho crematory
committee Of City Council stated last
Thursday that it ia his honest opinion
that the crematory will not begin TO do
the work next summer, which will be
about double what it is now, which
| makes it evident that Council must
provide 10 some manner for the busy
| season, which is not far distant. lie
| was not prepared to say what will be
done, or even what the committee VIII
recommend, although be acknowledged
| that the committee must make some
recommendation very soon, Inc mem
| bers arc very wisely making inquiries
with Wow to formulating II report
| Thursday they visited Philadelphia at
no cost to Wilmingtonians and in
spected plant!
The party consisted of Councilman
James B. Oberley, Caleb S. Watson and
Dennis +. Leary and Clerk William
p. Morrison, and W. Fl. Price, DIR. M.
J. Hughes, City Engineer James vii.
son and Clerk Charles II, TenWeeges OF
notes of all data aud other information
received. The delegation inspected the
plant of the American Product Co.,
located on the Schuylkill river at the
B. & o. railroad bridge. The company
has contract with the city of Phila.
delphia to fliaIoae of all the garbage OF
West Philadelphia and Philadelphia
proper south OF Poplar street, contain
ing population of about 600, 600, and
uses the American Reduction Go. IS
System. The only coat to the city.
, so the Wilmingtonians we're informed
, by the representatives of the company,
, IN the expense OF collection. The com.
pany converts the garbage into oil and
, fertilizer. The plant was permeatet
with an odor resembling that of coffee
| and was not at dill offensive. The 7isi
i made favorable impression on tht
I members of the delegation, but
: although they were npn-committal, il
, is believed they consider that such 1
system would hardly be practicable il
: Wilmington.
, Invitations have been received to in
spect plants in Trenton and Camden
@ N. j., which may be accepted.
. But even after the Philadelphia ex
o perience the councilmen appear to b.
almost as far at sea as ever, and the
Il will undoubtedly have to look furthe
{ before they come to any conclusion.
O If the plant now in use here could b
l. made to carry out its object at mini
: mum cost and il Council could get
guarantee for term of years the
a might be satisfied TO have the neces
d sary repairs made. To casual OF
n server the plant appears to be beyon
l. repair.
10 The company which furnished th
;, outfit has sent to Every Evening th
Is following. which is printed for tn
benefit of all concerned:
10 Editor Every Evening: From clippir
IL taken from your paper of recent date v
h notice that the statement is made that IL
" garbage crematory at Wilmington, built
us, is in such a state that it will not be ab
IS to destroy the garbage The coming summe
We wish you to state, if you think best, tn
10 the American Garbage Crematory Compan
the builders, will take the furnace at al
nj time and put it in thorough condition al
N burn the garbage of Wilmington under co
~ tract of two or five years at very low CO
r to the city. This would relieve the 'ci
10 fathers of any responsibility in the matt
a. and would insure Wilmington u good 90
lie bage disposal system with the plant tn
at have. The plant has proven itself capat
IN already and with proper management CT
:, burn the entire garbage Of Wilmingt'
. satisfactory. Samuel IL. Brown,
s. President American Garbage Co.,
70 400 New Jersey ave-, Washington, ID. G.
n l 'nI,n no