The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-07
MAKING REFUSE USEFUL.
London UtiIizes 1t as Fuel to Make
Electric Light.
From the London Daily News. so RI

From the London Daily News. ~
At ore stroke the vestry OF st. Leonard,
Shoreditch, has done two notable things.
1t has cheapened electric light and it has
discovered a value in house refuse. House
refuse has hitherto cost IS I'd per ton to
carry away by barge and shot into the
sea, and hoQye refuse is now to be used
as the only fuel for generating all the cleo
trio light and power required by the dis
trict, and, incidentally, for heating water
for the baths and washhousts and for
other purposes. In a word, what was ex-
PEELED as an enemy is to be retained as a
friend; what was a source of expense be-
comes Source of profit Waste pro-
tunes; one now promises to save the
pockets of the ratepayers.
A large site Gan acre and a half was
secured at Coronet street, for dust des-
tructor. electric station, baths and wash
houses technical institute and free libra
ry. Il was estimated that, so far as dust
destruction and electricity were concern
ed, the annual charge during a certain
period) for interest and the repayment of
principal would be 1851, and that
the DTOlL on the sale Oh the current To-
gether with the savings connected with
the disposal of refuse, would be 1927.
The Instructor house Is eighty
feet long, and contains twelve cells and six
water-tube boilers, each with 1900 square
feet of heating surface. The boilers and
thermal storage vessel are designed to
work at a pressure of 200 pounds per
square inch. There are three motor-driven
fans, and each is calculated to deliver 5000
cubic feet Of air per minute. Gases pass
out of the cells al the front, thence
through the boiler tubes and out into eth
er of the two main flues Leading to the set
Ting chambers and chimney. The cells are
fed by means of patent changing trucks.
Thus IL is possible for one man to keep
all the twelve cells supplied. The refuse
is always kept cool and well ventilated, in
stead Of being allowed 10 ferment on hot
brick or iron work-the mistake sometimes
made. IL IS believed that the most efficient
rate Of combustion will lie between eight
and twelve tons of refuse per cell per day.
a visitor thus describes the working Of
the plant:
ION the ground floor a dust cart shot its
load into the chamber OF an electric lift,
and It was lifted out Of sight. on the first
story of the great framework we were on
q level with the furnaces. We were prom
ised that We should see the load OF refuse
shot into one Of the cells, only Il would be
necessary to ascend another nearly per-
pendicular ladder. our guide went up and
/ followed him. II. r, Ferguson conduct
ed me to "A place where, leaning on a rail,
we looked down great opening in the iron
floor truck containing the rubbish
came into View and I was told that II was
Just over one Of the cells, and that the
bottom of the vehicle and the top Of the
furnace would be simultaneously removed.
/ looked with interest at the contents Of
the truck. Among lot that was black
and lndistinguishable we're several pieces
OF wall paper Qestifying to house dccora-
tom, "A playing card, "a spOtlcsa teapot
and most pathetic or alp a sawdust doll
that had seen better days. Suddenly the
miscellaneous mass disappeared For a
brief moment there was a beautiful vision
OF incandoscont things, ana great wave
OF heat smote our faces; then tho bottom
roappoarod lu the truck, which was at
once Withdrawn. / asked n the stun was
IN any way picked over or sorted before
It was consumed.
NO was the reply. unless the dust
men do 80 before 10 comes here. We burn
It as we receive IT,
And are there any noxlous fumes to
be carried ofW
mo- my informant made answer. so
great n heat 81 maintained that the fumes
are rendered quite lnn0cu0us'
"And 81 appears that the vostry ia trying
the experiment Of purifying gas from the
sewers by passing % through furnaces.
The fires Will Boz kept going night and
day and aa tho carts only deliver their
loads between 5 aud reserve Of stun
had 10 boz accumulated. For this purpose
thoro o. "a chamber capable Of holding 100
tons As tho energy b. only needed dur
ing The day. there are also facilities for
storing the heat
s-a-s-