National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-07-31
THE oARBssE TROUBLES.
Health oEcor Townshend Explains the SIT
alton to the Commissioners.

hton 10 the commissioners.
Health. Officer Townshond, who was absent
from the city when Mr.. Carter, the agent for
the bondsmen of the garbage contractor wrote
a rather sharp letter 10 tho heath.oficc, has
sent communication to the District commits
sioucrs saying. About tho 10th of tho pres.
ent month, finding that complaints of neglect
on tho part of tho collector of garbage wero
becoming moro frequent, and recognizing
tho fact that We were about entering upon the
season when large influx of melons, green
corn, otc., would greatly increase tho amount
of garbage 10 DO removed, instructed Mr.. s.
A, Robinson, ono of our sanitary inspectors,
to devote himself for tho period Of one week
to making a thorough investigation into the
manner in which the service was Boz
ing performed, and TO make a report
thereon giving q plain statement OF facts
In the case. l did this in order that
| might know to what extent extra service for
tho increasing accumulatons might be re.
qnired that the cause Of neglect reported in
certain sections might be ascertainod, and that
| might DO enabled to act intelligently IN an
endeavor TO rcmcdy defects ifany were found to
exist. On the 18th Mr.. Robinson presented his
report, very thorough one, showing that he
had fully canvassed the two cities and in
quirod into all matters pertaining to tho garb-
ago service. From this report learned that
only nine wagons were employed; that seven
Of tho nine had only one man to
accompany each, and carried only
FIVE barrels; that certain sections Of
the city were entirely neglected.; that in
others collections were being made irrogu.
laily, otc The report showed plainly that
the contract was far from being complied with,
and would have fully justified me in reporting
that fact tn yourselves Thinking, however
that the agent for tho bondsmen might, when
the facts reported were made known TO him, go
to work to remedy defects aud increase his ser.
vice as necessity required, l wrote him n
polite letter calling attention to neglect of
certain sections and requesting that few
additional wagons be put on for the present
season, ending my letter with the statement
that unless improvement was made would
not feel justified in certifying TO the fact that
services had been duly rendered. This letter
was handed tho agent in my Office on tho Goth
lust, and on tho 22d, in reply thereto, there
was received lengthy document denying, in
the most insulting terms. every statement re-
garding the service made in my letter, in
temperate and unreasonable through
out, and fillod with vituperation
and abuse from beginning to end.
So far as the personalities and silly asser'
tions contained in this epistle are concerned
| care nothing but as it shows plainly that
the parties concerned consider that the SER
vice is now being properly performed, and
nothing moro should be required of them, and
as | am quite Of an opposite opinion, know.
ing that tho garbage is not being removed
from all dwellings in the cities of Washing
ton aud Georgetown three times weekly as re-
quired by contract, would request that some
action be taken to protect tho community
and relieve the health department from
responsibility for the contractors neglect"
The District commissioners yesterday re-
turned to Mr.. Carter his letter referred to
them by Health. Officer Townsend, informing
him that they did so on account of its inso.
lent tone that it was shown by the statements
from the health officer that the service was
not properly performed, and that he must
comply with the requirements of the contract