The sun., 1919-02-06
HEAT FROM GARBAGE
IDEA SUITS HYLAN
Commissioner Copeland Sug-
gests Incinerating Plants to
Generate Steam.
PRESENT SYSTEM COSTLY
City Pays $1,000 a Day for
Reduction on Barren
Island.

Heat may be furnished for many OF
the city's public buildings from the
garbage. rubbish and ashes that the
city now pays good money to have
thrown away. This slluring prospect,
outlined by Health Commissioner Cope
land In a letter TO Mayor Hylan con-
demmine the present method Of handling
tho garbage, led the Mayor last night to
reply that he would take up with tho
Board OF Estimate the question OF build
ing incinerators Immediately In the
various boroughs.
Under a contract with the Metropoii-
tan By-Products COMPANY made by the
Mitchell administration the city would
have been the gainer by thousands OF
dollars because OF the commercial value
~ the products. But the Hylan admin
'stration made a drive against this COM
any on the ground that the process of
the modern plant on Staten Island was
= nuisance. Tho company finally went
!r.o the hands OF a receiver and the
plant was shut down. Then tho admin
istration made contract under which
II Is paying $4,000 a day for the re-
duction OF the garbage At Barren Isl
and.
BIG Garbage Ring Blamed.
II have promised the people Of Brook
lyn that on or about the frst OF April
the city will discontinue sending garbage
to Barren Island" said the Mayor last
night in his letter to Commissioner
Copeland. referring 10 the protest that
has been made against tho reopening
OF the Barren Island plant, land the
only other method we have OF 6.sposi-
tion Of garbage 10 to take II out to sea.
unless these plants. which can Re con-
structed in three or four months, are
ready for use
Commissioner Copeland. writing to the
Mayor, drew n most distressing picture
OF the "rauscating" and "unsan!tery''
method Of carrying garbage long dis
tances 10 reduction plant. lie init
mated. however. that there may be
trouble IN putting through his plan for
incinerators, saying. II have been long
enough in ONCE to realize that great
financial interests will be better salts
fed TO have the reduction method con-
tnue In use In this city. The Mayor
confirmed this when he wrote:
The financial and powerful interes'.
that control the Barren Island disposal
plant and the 0reve- Bai!ey Rey M lds
crowd that control the garbage plant at
Staten Island are ct work TO thwnrt ~
p'osspiN tHo tuVTlh on tne part OF inns
Administration to devise some practical,
scientific method OF hnai disposition.
During the hrst year OF this admin
lstrat!on We were kept busy fighting and
preventing raids upon the city treasury
by the contracting ring that had control
OF the Anal disposition Of garbage. ashes
and rubbish.
To Utilize Waste a. Fuel.
According TO the Mayor Il now costs
the city 81 n load for hnaI disposition OF
rubbish containing paper. boxes old
mattresses and the like after the city
takes II to the dump. although - could
be burned In three minutes time n. a
cost Of less than three cents a load. This
material 10 now used as fuel to burn
garbage IN incinerators now working In
Queens and Richmond. and the Mayor
asked why could Il not be done In the
other boroughs.
After outlining the history OF garbage
removal In the city and dilat!ng on the
nuisance and menace OF carrying stale
garbage for long distances through the
city Commissioner Copeland said:
IT would not be true to the trust I'm.
posed upon me II did not frankly sa,
that We have no proper or adequate
method OF garbage dispose, at present
In operation In New York city. and fol
the safety of our people there should bs
q forward movement TO provide without
delay such a method of disposal. Tht
obnoxious. disgusting and flthy odor,
resulting from the reduction system
should be done away with. and. as fai
ms I am concerned, I am satisfied tina
incineration offers such method. Ir
my opinion no action that could pos
sibly be taken by the Board OF Estimat,
could be more helpful to tho health Of
the people and TO the reputation OF ar
administration pledged to honest AND
progressive government"
1T is most amazing" wrote the Com.
m issioner in condemnation. that the
people OF this city have 80 long tolerated
the reduction system OF disposins OF
garbage. II is proba bic that in the