PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECTIONS. 361 
Secondary to expense though good scavenage may be, the 
former is, notwithstanding, a condition which must be reckoned 
through its aldermen, provided the operations are subject, in case 
of necessity, to the control of a central authority. Bearing these 
two considerations in mind, and recalling the now well-known 
much as 50 per cent. Now I do not for an instant intend to dis- 
pute the power of these companies to make a profit, if their own 
terms of contract are accepted ; but whence is it to come? From 
the manufacture of poudrette? Not entirely, at all events. There 
is not one of them but asks a subsidy in one form or another. 
Sometimes it appears as a heavy charge for deodorization ; some- 
times as a charge, not for collecting the material, whether that be 
nightsoil or garbage, but for receiving it at the company’s works, 
after the labour of collection has been borne by the corporation ; 
sometimes, again, as a heavy charge for collection and disposal. 
Hence some of the profits. But the chief expense of scavenage 
lies in the process of collection, not ef disposal ; collection being 
done gratis, disposal may doubtless be made a source of profit. 1 
there any chance that a company might seek to increase its margin 
ing the expenses of collection to a point at which 
it would become impossible to do it well? In fine, when all things 
are considered, is it not pretty clear that councils would best con- 
sider ratepayers’ interests, both of pockets and health, if they were 
to undertake this business of scavenage themse ves } 
