Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-08
WRANGLE OVER The CREMATORY.
Discussion in City Council over Contract
Win HrieIklayerslto Make Rep1irs.

Discussion in City Council Over Contract
With BricI<iayersto Make Repairs.
y Some time ago she crematory COM
niittee of City Couocil contracted with
Stannard & McCloskey, bricklayers, to
keep tho city garbage crematory in
repair for q, 600 year, but that fact
did not become public before Council
until Thursday, when the regular
monthly bill OF Stannard q McOIoskey,
amounting to S93.33, was presented. 1t
represented the July instalment. The
bill was sent up to the presidents desk
by Chairman Willis of the committee,
and when he had made a motion that
1T be allowed Mr.. Simmons, the Re-
publican member of the omnitiee,
called attention to the fact that he had
not signed the bill. He said 1t was
something new to him, and as he had
no knowledge of contract between
Council and the firm he objected to
approving the bill.
NOhairmnn Willis explained that ii
was necessary to keep the crematory in
repair and the committee had found it
advantageous to have mon regularly,
employed to do the repair work, as
that arrangement is cheaper than
having IL done by the day and gives
better satisfaction. Mr.. Kane wanted
the bill referred back to the committee
Mr. Smith thought there was no need
to refer the bill TO the committee, as
the committee mad already passed upon
it. He explained that it bad been
found necessary to have somebody TO
make repairs who could he called upon
during the day or at night, as all re-
pairs must be made without delay.
That's no argument at all, " Mr.. Kane
said, lit is matter for Council to
settle. Mr.. Smith said the crematory
was overtaxed ard 1t was liable to need
repairs at any time.
Mr.. Stewart said the crematory was
not overturned. He claimed that It was
worked only TO about one third of its
capacity, the average daily consumption
of garbage being 26 tons. Mr.. Smith
said such WIS not the case. He held
that the plant is worked to its full
Opacity and 1t is necessary to lay
garbage to one side at times until there
Is an opportunity to burn it.
President Blaine wanted to know il
the committee had taken upon itself
the matter of employing the brick
layers at a contract price of 81, coo O
year without being authorized by
Council to do go. Mr.. Smith replied
~ that all crematory matters had been
loft with the crematory commit tee, the
outy Of which was to keep the plant la
,ronning order. Finally, Mr.. kane's
otion to lay the matter over for q
seek was carried.
n s MIR. Stewart wanted an opportunity
to present some data relative to the
cremat0ry, but was not given an op
portunity. According to a report which
n he held in his hand, last year garbage
d, was collected as follows: First district
Nh091 loads, 9S7. so tons; contract price
81, 500, cost per ton, 81. 80; Second dis
trict, 1883 loads, LOB 40 tons: con
tract price, 81, ESQ; cost per ton, 81. Al
Third district, 2, 1876 loads, l, CIT tons
contract price, So, 033. Is; price per ton
Sl.5S; Fourth district, 1851 loads
3, 1856. 80 tons; ountract price, s., 166. so
price per ton, sl.62. The cremator,
was in service sol days and consumed
8,740 loads, or Is, 1853, 700 pounds of gar
bage. The average pounds of coal uset
to consume one ton of garbage wa
3l5. 10; average pounds OF garbage Ii
one load, ], S40.2 pounds; average mum
,n,ber of tons consumed each day, 26. IS
The bfyage pounds OF garbage per perso
'pi1speh lear, 206.1; average cost per hea
4 for collection and burning, 30l4 cents
The cost in detail, according to tina
calculation, was;