Tensas gazette., 1916-11-03
HozU cities and tozvnS can
concert this troublesome
suaste product into pracf-
cal profit An enterprise
auhch promises TO yield
btq returns TO 4vide-a4uake
communities in America
communities in America

!: !: :: :: 8: : !: : ! {: : !:
M \ : AN OfAC1ORlNG n Nigh
NHN grade fuel from garbage is
NWU new industry that prom
ises to solve the problem of
EGM dispOSing of the waste of
W cities and towns. In No
vember of last year the first
experimental plant of the new garbage
disposal process was established in San
Antonio, Tex. 1t proved so successful
that the city of Austin decided to order
the construction of a plant. and the
factory, which was opened n few weeks
ago. Is now running to full capacity,
manner and converting it into bricks
of fuel which tests have proved to be
the equal of bituminOus coal. The in
,ventOr ofthe new fuel is Mr.. f. l.. Cul
yer of Chicago. who began investigat-
ing theSpossibility and practicability
of cOmrhercializing municipal garbage
about five years ago. AS a result of
"a long series of experiments he proved
the adaStability of method for max
ing fueE bricks out of the refuse. In
additiOE to the plant at Austin, Regina,
Canadas has entered into contract for
the erection of a municipal plant.
The process of manufacturing
Oakoal. name given to the new fuel
because of its similarity to oak wood in
burning, is similar to the making of
stiff mud bricks, practically the same
machinery being used. although much
less power is used. and less care is re-
.quired to produce perfect bricks of
fuel. The combination producing the
best results for domestic purposes Is a
mixture of equal parts of coal dust
the waste dust from coal mineS-and
garbage, with the addition of about
Z per cent of coal tar. For steam pur-
poses no coal dust is required. Each
brick weighs, when dry, two pounds,
so that 1000 bricks make ton. For
convenience in handling, as well as the
protection Of the public against short
weights, the fuel is sold on a schedule
of prices for 1000 or 100 bricks.
One stiff mud brick machine Of the
type used at the Austin plant turns
out In eight hours run. $4,000 bricks,
or % tons of Oakoal, and in erecting
plants this is termed One-unit plant,
which has a full capacity of 75 tons
daily. In erecting municipal plants,
other units can be installed to suit the
capacity of the city, or until all of the
available binding material of the city
is consumed. 1t is estimated that a
city will produce for each one thou
sand people approximately a ton of
garbage day, or for domestic pur-
poses over two tons of brick fuel.
The manufacture of the new fuel is
extremely interesting inasmuch as II
is made up entirely of waste material
handled by common labor. The waste
which the city formerly had to burn
in an incinerator at considerable ex-
pense is now taken by carts direct to
the factory, where 1t is dumped on
sorting platform and sprayed with
creosote as q sanitary precautiOn. as
well rs to allow the sOrters to work
: I'm comfort. Openings are provided In
= these platforms where the different
parts of the garbage are dropped into
conveyors and conveyed as follows
the pieces of iron to storage; the
bottles to a washing tank. where they
are sterilized before being stored; the
rags to a washing machine. where they
are sterilized by being ashed In boil
ing water; the ashes. :, ne. brick. ETC.,
10 a storage and used for fills. and the
tin cans to a press where they are
baled and conveyed to storage.
That which is left and Of cOmbust'
,b,e nature is placed on large 4O-foot