Evening journal., 1921-03-19
CREMATORY IS
fire SWEPT
SECOND Time
(eontinued from flrst paeel

the floor. lie saw two boys standing
near the building soon after the fire
was discovered, he said.
In answer to questions of tho
board. Thomas stated that the fire
started on the inside OF the building
and somo distance from the electric
wiring along the roof.
Thomas statement regarding the
bsence OF rubbish on the floor were
eorroborated by Thomas Welch.
superintendent OF the plant, who said
that the plant had been shut down
at $40 o'clock yesterday afternoon
and the floors cleaned UP. He
thought the fire might have origin
ated from oiled waste thrown
through a window or by sparks from
the electric light wires dropping on
the floor.
Mr.. Welch told the board that It
is possible by the expenditure OF
$1,000 to put the machinery in con-
dition for temporary use in about
two weeks, and the matter OF roofing
the plant could be considered later.
He also suggested that It would pay
the city TO build a plant at a cost OF
$4,000 for incinerating garbage. It
would cost the city approximately
$4,000 a year to operate such a
plant. he said. II the work is done
by contract 1t will cost the city
probably $4,000 a year. and no
contractor would want to undertake
It under a shorter term than ten
years. As temporary measure the
superintendent suggested spreading
the garbage and covering It with
lime.
Another proposition was made to
the board a few days ago by william
Il. Eldredge, OF 11S West Twenty
third street. and the offer was read
to the board this morning. Mr.. Ed
redge, who was present, stated that
for the sum OF $50 a week for
term OF not less than one year, he
will dispose OF all the garbage. aver
aging from 40 to 20 tons daily. by
ploughing it under on the marsh
lands along the Delaware. The city
is to lease a plot OF 100 acres Of
land between Fourth street wharf
and Edge Moor, at an annual rental
OF $500: haul the garbage; furnish
six men for spreading the garbage.
eight horses. four dump wagons. two
l 3-horse plows. one 1-horse roller,
and pay for the feed of the horses
and the upkeep of the apparatus.
1 Eldredge estimated the total cost at
$4,000 a year.
The board promised TO give the
matter consideration.
/ There was little insurance on the
burned building.
This is the second city garbage
( disposal plant to be destroyed by
] fire, the previous one in January,
1920, entailing a loss of 1920, 1000.
Owing to the bad condition of the
roads leading to the plant and the
scarcity of water in that vicinity
the fremen were able to do little
toward extinguishing the blaze, and
though greatly handicapped fought
the fire for more than an hour. The
closest alarm box. No. 325 was al.
most a mile from the scene Of the fire,
which had gained considerable head
way before the alarm was sent in
But two companies could work be-
cause Of the scarcity of plugs.
John Williams, colored OF Nancy
street, watchman at the plant, suf-
fered burns about the face and right
arms when the roof on the building
fell on him while he was trying tC
unreel a hose in the burning build
ing. He was treated at the Della
ware Hospital where it was said his
, injuries were not serious.
The fire was discovered by vii.
liams who rushed into the building
and attempted to unreel the hose
kept there for emergency purposes
AS he worked the-hames gained such
headway that the roof fell and show
cred him with burning wood. He
was rushed to the hospital in tn,
automobile of Elmer Smith, 122.
Delaware avenue.
At this point oBe Of the men EN-.
; ployed at the Harlan plant of the
. Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
j. c. Raughley. saw the blaze anC
ran to the Delaware Pulp Works, al
most one mile away, where he strucl
Box No. 235. II was $50 when th'
alarm was struck, but as early a
ten minutes previous the glare wa
attracting attention all over the city
The Fame and Weccacoe com
panies responded, being compelled
TO drive slowly over the rough AM
unkept Marsh road.
It was discovered that but on
plug was near enough to be put int
use. It was located directly in from
Of the plant. Second Assistant En-
gineer Townsend, who was actinl
chief. ordered the Weccacoe engin
TO run into the Harlan plant and e
couple to a plug in that yard. Thi
necessitated the use Of more thai
1900 feet OF hose.
The fire had gotten too much Of
start, however, and the companie
! we're unable 10 save it from destruc
I ton.
John Welch. superintendent OF tn
plant. who rushed 10 the seen
= shortly after the alarm was struck
E declared the loss would be abou
$4,000 or $4,000. The plant ha