Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-02-12
SYDNEY'S SCENT BOTTLE.
A Monumental Outlet for n City's
eve Gases.

Why ;
Sewer Gases.
The strangest monument in the world
exists in Sydney, Australia. The shaft
itself is not of an unusual sort, but.
while it is a unique ornament to the
community in which it stands. it is also
the most precious and the least under
stood of all structures in the great
southern city.
This odd spire has no inscription upon
II, 1t is as plain as a monolith, with a
plinth and a slightly elevated pedestal.
facetious people who are not yersed
IN sewerage and sewer gas call it the
scent bottle" Strangers scar it, strain
at its unlettered faces, carry their Vi
slon up its plain sides to the pinnacle.
which stands about $50 feet above the
street level, and wonder what notable
person or event it commentaries
lhree-fonrths of the people of sydney
nave not the remotest idea of what this |
modified Cleopatra's needle represents.
This scent bottle" commentaries
S"'' II II a'duds as Il monument
TO the people who are not killed by that
vile subterranean agency.
AS it has no other name, ~"scent hot.
tie will serve with which to desiona,o
It here, since the nickname somewhat
sylnbolizes its business. This lonely
stands on Elizabeth street in
= small circle against Hyde park.
it are a Gordon of low. rnnpd.
headed posts at short distances and
to each other by strong traces
which the park loafer and small
'o!s lounge. None of these thousands
II people ever think that the tall snirs
u the unique circle is the safest friend
hey and the city have. Take it away
lose the ls-foot square hole, and in less
nan = hours the whole country about
quiz De strewn with wreckage and the
II h!Ied with foul, poisonous gases.
1t and leave the hole open, then s
J less than a day the lower city would +
e unit for habitation. The GREAT g
'wers of the city have their vent here. $
neN come down with their filth and
eauiy gases, throw the latter off I
rough this shaft, join the main sew or il
carry the remaining sewooe IN c;
'er the high bluffs of Hawkesbprv tc
.hdstone to the sea. ri
he scent bottle" sits over tbis mos.
& OF the waters and draws off the for1 m
.ses from the burdened pipes below ki
is hollow, of course, and has an open. W
: al the top which is not perceptible kr
tne eye upon the ground. Tbrouob II
great throat the underground oil te
Pathes and all the sewers of tbo o;,S, 10.
relieved. The bottle" BEING pear. no
1oo rect high, rises above any inhob.
u mouse in the city, and the rnshino
'erS giving the gas a forced draft ia
'o' II many feet above the ton Of
) great gray chimney. whence this
'Serous aeriform fluid is carried clio
'y' so that it never reaches n bumon vo
n.y. lhis perpendicular gas sewer She
ool,' before 1850. 1t feeds the Gle. hoo
ats daily with enough foul stuff IN sic,
soou-slzed city OF to blow 9Th. the
al INTO atoms. Since its constrro. tbe
at their junction there has NOT dir
U one explosion along the LONG line L
l'in'ned sewers which CONVERGE mo,
ara this point. The ~"scent bott,ev ono
" an eyesore. Its business is so dis. cir
eu mat it is an object of beauty and
1t is readily mistaken for n reai awp
nment. Indeed, it is the biooast oir,
I conspicuous and picturesoue of in +
notable monuments in New ann,
n Wales, of which Sydney is tbs q,
TAI hyde park is the loveliest mr.. tbe
OF the heart of this beautiful ci,y tbc
people and this huge pillar and
OF its chief gateways is in keen. othe
h wea,,h extravaganza with pioy
49, a"u Pronlgate govern- IS
nave enclrcled and adorned tbis he &
park. The Sydney scent hot. icnll
Is not an expensive structure. II tho
'ggested to other cities in o,ba, tho ,
OF the world as vertical lungs for Won
aiety of sewers and the neryout Io,o
lace who tramp thereon in tho nrr] IN =,
Oh other things.-Chicago Inter- watc.