Evening journal., 1899-08-18
CREMATORY INSPECTED
Council Visited Garbage Con-
suming Plant Last Night.
MORE ASSISTANTS ARE NEEDED


lily, BUT SAY THAT THE PRES
ENT OPERATING FORCE is IN
SUFFICIENT.
"The city crematory is in frst-class
order, but the present force OF en-
ployes is insufficient" was the unani-
nous opinion expressed by the twelve
members Of Council who visited the
plant last night.
After the adjournment of Council all
the members of that body, with the
exception of Mesrs. Cannon and Kane.
who were prevented by other business,
accepted the invitation OF Chairman
Willis, OF the Crematory Committee of
Council, and paid a visit to the city
garbage consuming plant.
The party boarded a Maryland ave-
nue. car at Fourth and Market streets
and proceeded to the crematory, where
they were received by Michael German
and John Friel, who compose the night
force, and were shown the workings OF
the plant.
IN GOOD CONDITION.
Although the visit was entirely un-
expected on the part of the employees.
as it was intended it should be, every
thing about the place was found TO be
in first-class condition and work going
on in satisfactory manner. After ex-
amining carefully the details connect
ed with the operation of the crematory
and inspecting the building and fur
naces, the members present to a man
pronounced the plant to be in good
working order.
THE WORK NOT KNOWN.
Although the attention Of the public
has, during the past two weeks. been
directed to the crematory by newspa-
pers which have given publicity to the
constant complaints regarding gar
bage which are daily received by the
Board Of Health, but comparatively
few are conversant with the actual
workings OF the plant
The building contains four FIRE
boxes, two at each end of the furnace
which extend the. entire length Of the
structure, and which have a consum-
ing capacity OF eighty tons OF garbage
per day
About the building are now employ
ed five men, including the superintend-
ent, three of whom are on duty during
the day and two at night. Two fire
men are on duty in the day, as owing
to the increased amount OF work at this
season Of the year, an extra fireman
was temporarily appointed July 1 and
will remain until October 1, when the
rush is over.
NIGHT MEMS DUTY.
The duties of the night men are more
onerous than those OF the day force,
as the two men on the night shift have
to keep the furnace in full blast, be-
sides stirring the garbage to facilitate
its consumption. The usual amount Of
coal consumed on a night turn is
something over two tons, and the work
OF firing the furnace is anything but
an easy task for one man to perform.
On Wednesday night last Fireman
John Friel wheeled and handled 5000
pounds of coal during the shift Of
twelve hours. Besides this work he as
sisted Michael German, who has charge
of the furnaces. in stirring the gar
bage by raising the heavy iron caps
which cover the dump holes on the sec
ond floor. There are six OF these holes,
and the caps have to be lifted by
means OF weights and pulleys every
half hour in order that the garbage in
the furnace may be lOOsened up by
means OF large fork. For this work
the men receive $50 per month.
On Monday last forty-one tons Of gar
bags were consumed, on Tuesday for
ty-four tons, Wednesday thirty-eight
tons, and the same amount yesterday.
All the garbage collected during the
day up to o'clock and dumped in the
furnace must be consumed in twenty
-four hours in order that the furnace
may be clear for the next days work
usually about fourteen barrow loads
Of ashes are taken from the lower fur
mace every morning.
The day is divided into two shifts Of
twelve hours each. and the furnace il
! kept red hot all the time. Although
the garbage contractors do not deliver
) any garbage after noon on Saturday
S the furnace is kept going until mid
= night. as it is necessary to have al
b, the refuse consumed by Sunday morn
r. ing so that the fires and furnace may
r be cleaned. A great deal of material il
g brought to the crematory Saturday az
= ternoons by private parties and com
e mission merchants, which is also burn
ed.