The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-06

A CREMATORY FOR SEATTLE.
The Necessity for One Here to De-
sfroy Garbage and Refuse.

Seattle. March 3. EsI.
To the Editor: In order that the tax
payers and citizens of Seattle may set
correct idea Of the crematory. and as the
matter Is now being agitated In tie coun-
ell being Of so much merit and impor-
lance that the sanitary committee" has
seen fit 10 refer IL 10 the COMMITTEES OF
the whole" or the city council proper,
desire 10 give a few important points on
the subject.
First. the present method of dispoSing
OF all garbage and refuse matter is very
detrimental TO the health of the city, as
IL Is gathered up from residences, restau-
rants, butcher shops, etc, hauled by open
wagons through the streets. then dumped
on scows, which are towed out In the bay
in front OF the city and there thrown into
the water. where with the ehb and flow OF
the tide IL remains until sunken or svapo-
rated. At present this method Is an ex-
panse OF upwards OF 500 per month TO the
taxpayers Of the city. as well as an ad-
dltionai expense OF keeping up repairs on
the scows. The process OF cremaung this
garbage has been thoroughly Investigated
by such cities as Detroit, Milwaukee. New
York Philadelphia. San Francisco. etc.
and IL has been proven by careful investi-
cation that Il is the only method of dis
posing of city's garbage and refuse and
improving it's sanitary conditions
The building of a crematory In Seattle
such as have proposed to the city coun-
ell will carry out the plans adopted in the
above cities and be source OF revenue 10
the city where IL is now an expense. and
compel cleanliness and purify the health
of the city. The method of Cremating this
garbage and refuse Is done so effectively
by the improved Dixon cTematory that no
offensive oder or gas Is emitted, and tx is
completely consumed.
The proposition TO build this crematory
will be accepted II the city will grant a
franchise as asked from other cities, and
while the city is far below the size of other
cities i'm population where the source Of
revenue is greater. here In Seattle IL viii
be many years before any source Of reve-
nue. will pay for the outlay. Yet. IL the
city is so fortunate as TO secure IL now
with its present population, Il will place
Seattle to the front with such cities as
San Francisco. Detroit and Milwaukee,
The Crematory company asks for no sub
sidy of any kind. not even location
simply the franchise-and will pay cash
fer its ground, employ all the labor and
material procurable ia Seattle as far as
possible and expend a. least So, 90 in
buildings. etc. exclusive Of ground. Ny
object in going into the matter so fully is
TO inform the citizens that X IS public
necessity and. as a sanitary measure, alb
solutelv the most vital towards better
health and cleanliness.
The article in Yesterdays Post-Intelli-
gencer vas published without any author
ity Of the council. and the method therein
described was not the Dixon method q"
bat q back number and one not now in
use and tended 20 throw a dispara ging
ueht on the matter. The council VIII do
we'll 90 give this matter careful thought
and throw no obstacles IN the way towards
securing this creEnatory for Seattle.
H {. C0LVER