The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-02-16
SYDNEY'S SCENT BOTTLE.
Monumental Outlet for City's
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 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
Il. 1t is as plain as 4 monolith. with a
plinth and a Slightly elevated pedestal
Facetious people who are not versed
in sewerage and sewer gas call it the
scent bottle" Strangers sean it. strain
at its unlettered faces. carry their VI
sion up its plain sides to the pinnacle.
which stands about $50 feet above the
street level. and wonder what notable
person or event il commentaries
Three-fourths of the people of Sydney
have not the remotest idea Of what this
modified Cleopatra's needle represents
This 'scent bottle" commentaries
sewer gas, and it stands as a monument
to the people who are not killed by that
vile subterraneaB agency.
As it has no other name. scent bot
tie" will serve with which to designate
it here. since the nickname somewhat
symbolizes its business. This lonely
column stands Oh Elizabeth street IN
small circle against Hyde park
Around it are a Gordon OF low. round
headed posts at short distances and
chained TO each other by strong traces
upon which the park loafer and small
boys lounge. None OF these thousands
of people ever think that the tall spIre
in the unique circle is the safest friend
they and the city have. Take it away.
close the 1s-foot square hole. and in less
than "a hours the whole country about
would be strewn with wreckage and the
air filed with foul. poisonous gases
Remove it and leave the hole open. then
in less than 4 day the lower city would
be unfit for habitation. The great
sewers of the city have their vent here
They come down with their filth and
deadly gases. throw the latter of
through this shaft, join the main sewer
and carry the remaining sewage on
over the high bluffs of Hawkesbury
sandstone to the sea.
The scent bottle sits over this meet
ing of the waters and draws off the foul
gases from the burdened pipes below.
It is hollow. of course, and has an open
ing al the top which is not perceptible
to the eye upon the ground. Through
its great throat the underground city
breathes and all the sewers of the city
are relieved. The bottle" being near
~ 200 feet high, rises above any inhab-
tied house in the city. and the rushing
sewers giving the gas a forced draft
shoot it many feet above the top OF
this great gray chimney, whence this
dangerous aeriform fluid is carried,
away. so that it never reaches human
being. This perpendicular gas sewer
was bullt before 1880. 1t feeds the ele-
ments daily with enough foul stuff TO
kill good-sized city or to blow Glib
raltar into atoms. Since its construc-
ton at their junction there has not
been one explosion along the long line
of ramified sewers which converge
toward this point. The scent bottle
is not an eyesore. Its business is so dis
guised that il is an object of beauty.
monument. Indeed, it is the biggest,
most conspicuous and picturesque OF
all the notable monuments in New
South Wales, of which Sydney is the
capital. Hyde park is the loveliest por-
ton of the heart of this beautiful city
of 100000 people. and this huge pillar
at one of its chief gateways is in keep
ing with the other extravaganza with.
which wealth and profiigate govern
ment have encircled and adorned this
superb park. The Sydney scent bot
tie" is not an expensive structure. II
is suggested to other cities in other
parts of the world as vertical lungs for
the safety of sewers and the nervous
populace who tramp thereon in the pur-
suit of other things.-Chicago Intes
Ocean.