The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-07

tends tc promote economy, and greatest 1 of all it leads to the only solution of the garbage question in it's last analysis that of incineration, private incineration l if you please.
 The shameful record of death and dis ease in the United States army camp at Miami Fla, in 1898 during the Spanish American war was due to it's inadequate sanitary arrangements. Filth breeds flies and flies bring fever. The record of the United States army camp at San Antonio Tex, in 1911, when the troops were mobil- ized to invade Mexico is among the
 brightest in the annals of the army fol death and disease was practically un- known. The secret of this wonderful change can be truthfully ascribed to the system of incineration adopted by the medical corps at the Texas camp.
 With 16.O0O troops in the field in full marching order there was not garbage can in the whole outfit. Every company or troop had it's own incinerator a large hole in the ground lined roughly with rock in which every scrap of garbage, sW1ll, trash or otherwise was burnt up, almost the moment it was made. For istance when the cook peeled potatoes the peelings were thrown in the incinera- tor; when the men got through eating the remains where placed on the fire, in fact everything from the refuse of the cookhoUse to the sweeping of the tents We're 'incinerated." There were no flies and consequently no fever.
 While it is hardly practical for the army incinerators to be installed in the city. yet there is so much garbage that could and should be destroyed in the kitchen stove or open fireplace There is Cn the market an individual incinerator that can be installed in the basement of dwelling houses at comparatively small cost, and there are many other ways in which garbage can be destroyed if the people will make it their duty to do SO.
 As an illustration of what can be ac- oomplished by the individuals helping to keep their premises clean, let any one look back few months previous to the inspection of buildings in regard to in- flammable material being allowed to ac- cumulate around their premises, and look at them now since the city enforces. bv arrest and fine the keeping of the said premises clear of such trash. There is hardly person who would not today admit that a few months ago he was almost crimnally negligent in this mat ter.
 So it will be with the system of incin- eration when once the people grasp it. They will look back and wonder how they could have allowed disease breed- ing filth to accumulate waiting for the garbage collector to come and haul it away when it could have been so easily and immediately destroyed.
 Today at the auditorium of the Cham Der of Commerce mass meeting will be held under the auspices of the Woman's S Civic Board and Equal Suffrage associa- tion. At this meeting the garbage aues- tion will he discussed from all angles. Speakers from different organizations will express their views and all who are in- terested in this vital question should at tend. It will be of special interest at this time. Destroy the filth and you destroy the fly, conceded to be the greatest con yeyor of fever in our country today Swat the fly is a good slogan. but it won't be necessary if you destroy the filth in which he "moves and lives and has his being"