Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-27

Generators are upon the market. but the
idea that the results of this incineration
can be product of commercial value Is
comparatively new. 1t has been we'll
demonstrated in London for two years,
however. that brick can be made from
this product and the introduction OF a
similar system in American cities already
has been given consideration, especially
in Philadelphia.
1.-The London refuse destructor consists
of a series of furnaces whose only fuel is
refuse of every conceivable Kind. Gar
hase. ashes. street sweepinss, dead ami
mails, bones and offal, excelsior, paper,
crockery. glass and cans, all are thrown
into the furnaces. The ashes into which
they are finally turned are Manufactured
into a new brick of exceptional quailty.
having a hard surface and capacity OF
sustaining heavy pressure The ashes
also are used extensively to macadamize
roads In several English towns cleo
tricity is generated by the heat or the
Instructors, but it is generally conceded
that these vitreous, waterproof bricks are
the most valuable product OF the process:
A large portion of the street railroads OF
Madras. India, is said to be run Dy the
Americans have objected to the destruc-
tor on the ground that there is too much
wet waste from 1.mer1can housenoids 10
make household reuse a satisfactory
fuel for the deStructor, but 1t is tnousht
that this difficulty might be overcome
4 street commissioner of New York hopes
eventually to introduce the destructor IN
that city. as, in his opinion. 1t is the only
really sanitary, satisfactory and econom-
ical way of disposing of city's waste.
DAYS of White Wings Numbered.
"The day of the white wings, the white
uniformed street sweepers. who have
been familiar figures in most cities for
years. is soon to be past. A machine will
Il cafiCfa cto1ily One OF
the best types of street-sweeping ma
chimes is that now in operation in Den
ver which was the invention of the pres
ent commissioner of highways. 1t is a
combination gravlty-HuSher ana sweeper,
and is so constructed that the water
flows from the tank and runs through
perforated pipe just in front of the broom
and extending its whole length. There
is enough force to the water to loosen
the dirt without injury to the pavement.
and the broom. Immediately following the
sprinkling, sweeps all the dirt into the
gutter, leaving the pavement clean and
nearly dry. A second machine follows
close upon the first Pushes the cutters.
and sweeps the dirt into the sewers.
When the weather is too cold to use the
sprinkler there is provided reconstruct
ed sweeper which is expected to be alb
solutely ,aastproof and can be used upon
the windiest day without detriment to
the eyes and lungs of pedestrians.
THE water supply of the city has much
to do with its cleanliness, health and
general attractiveness. During the past
year exhibits have been made in many
cities, in which all of the conditions
bearing upon the water supply of town
were demonstrated to the public. The
water works of q city must supply clean,
pure water in sufficient quantities to al
low sufficient per capita amount to
every inhabitant. At the same time a
properly constructed system must pro-
wide against waste. Most American cities
Waste large quantities of water and do
less sprinkling and street washing than
sometimes is desirable The European
cities are greatly in advance in the mat
ter of proper utilization of water. The
average daily consumption of water in
Pittsburgh is 30 gallons per capita in
Philadelphia, 205: in Chicago, 225: in
Buffalo and Salt Lake City it reaches
80 gallons. These figures seem high in
comparison with 6o gallons in Paris; 30 in
London: IS in Liverpool 2i in Dresden,
and - in Berlin. AS result of the ag-
itation which recently has been given to
the water supply question. & large num-
Ter of towns are improving their water
systems this year. While precautions
are being taken against waste, an in
creased number of public fountains and
baths being established