Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-26
cREMAToRY PLANT
Contiau sh from rAss /

were treated II VIA At hrst though,
Doughcrty had sustained fracture of TN
skull, but he recovered quickly at tn.
hospital altar being treated.
The cause of the fire was not determined
Tha origin of the cscmatpry Plant hre
h also an unsolvef mystcry. 10 far. Tall
Of inccndiArism wns frequent last night
when the news spread about, and there
viii probably be an investigation John
Fowler, watchman, and George Bradley,
fireman, were the only pcrsons ia The
building at the time The former dis
covered flames neasr the furnaces about
0.45 O'Clock and Immediately CIV. the
alarm, but beforc the hrenen could
reach the scene the entire building was q
mass Of flames.
Grease and other oily ingredients, repre-
senting the liquid surplus of the COM
modities handled, EArbage and other ma
terisl furnished highly infammable ma
teyiai 10 the spread Of the fire.
The building was Of brick, three stories
in height, 40 by 81 feet In size. II was
built by the city few years ago, for the
ime Of the contractor for garbage dr-
po.ai TO whom il wa leased. The original
cost Of 100000 would represent con-
siderably greater sum At prnent prices
Of material and labor. The incincrator
was on the upper floor, the material
being carried up by conveyors..
In addition 10 the incinerator for ordi-
nary garbage, one for the burning OF
carca.ses Of dead animals, after these
bad been dcspoiled Of their hides, hoofs
and horns and the portions available
for fertilizer. This particular part d the
plant has been the center If controversy
for some time, ~ IL wac claimed TO be the
cause Of sickening odors which have been
waited 10 other parts Of tie city when the
wind is in certain quarters. II WAS also
charged that this part Of the work done,
by the Wilmington Sanit.vy Company,
was carried on az a privste proposition
10 an extent beyond what the ordinary
requirements OF city garbaze collection
called for.
Proceedings by the Board of Health TO
force the disconfinuance o: this branch Of
the work we're recently initiated by the
city solicitor. The fire of lag. night secnls
TO have put qiictus on this phase Of the
dispute, but brings up a much more serious
question, that Of the steps 10 be taken for
handling the daily collections until such
time 81 new facilities are provided 10 re-
place those DESTROYED II Is thought tha.
citizens will be instructed 20 dispose Of
their own refuse, as far as possible, for
the present.
GARBAGE WILL BE TAKEN CAKE oYY.
The Wilmington Sanitary Co. contract
srs for garbage disposal. stated this NOM
ing that while the destruction Of the city
crematory plant will be an embarrass-
ment 70 them in their work, they do not
anticipate that this will affect house
holders 70 any appreciatle extent. They
are fitting up a building on the property
that has been IN disuse for the part three
or four years, although employed before
that time. and expect 10 be able 10 make
shift with the facilities which this will
afford until the necessary steps are taken
to replace the burned plant IN ShoIe or
IN part.
a conference with the Board Of Health,
which will hold special meeting this
afternoon, vii! probably result in action
on this matter. The garbage collector,
Sylvester Haley, will also be present at
the conference.
It IS Understood that between 80 and 35
tons Of garbage are collected every day,
and while they may not be able 10 render
it all. means will be found 10 handle it
in other ways 40 that il viii not be
menace To the health conditions. The
cold weather is of course favorable eie-
ment IN the situation at the moment.