The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-01-03

The dust yards Of London IN the time o
Dickens B0filn's Bower" were nothing il
Comparison to what they were twenty year.
after, owing to It's vast and rapid growth, it,
sanitary arrangements, and the COntcnding
rivalry OF the contractors to get the work, and
the vast amount OF wealth invested in its col
lection. Indeed, great fortunes have been
made as well as lost in this very business, and
corporations Of London, instead OF paving tc
have the dust removed, were receiving five
and six thousand pounds per annum for that
privilege, so that TO be dust contractor
eithcd meant to be a very rich man or u
wealthy company; and now TO describe the
system of their work
One OF the things that strikes a stranger
and more especially foreigner, in London, il
he happens to stroll that way about half past
six in the evening, especially IN the summer,
Is in crossing Hyde or the Queens park, to
meet 4 number of women and girls, poorly
clad and looking very dirty, each one with a
large flag basket on her head filled to over.
flowing and apparently heavy enough to crush
her INTO the earth, and all hurrying toward
Westminster, in the poor part of which the
most Of them live They are returning home
from their work IN the dust yards IN Padding
ton.
Come with me, reader, and will introduce
you there at their busiest time AS we turn
INTO the wharf road Cd the banks Of the canal,
where the yards are situated, one is surprised
at the immense number of large one-horse
carts going in loaded and coming out empty
They are strongly built, all alike and very
large, requiring a short ladder for the men to
load them; with magnificent Flemish horses,
not one of which cost less than El0O to el25
each, and strong and heavy harness IN proper.
ton. Each cart has the name of the contractor
and the number OF the cart written on il in
large, white letters and figures so that the
pusllc can make report of any neglect, Ill be
havor, or, in fact, anything that would war
rant It, the authorities being very strict as to
this Here we are at the first yard, but we will
go on to the next, the largest Here what II
busy scene bursts upon the view; carts enter.
ing one after another, continually, each driver
handing in at the Office window ticket with
number of his cart as tally as to how many
loads he collects IN weck-the men being
paid by the load. Having discharged his
load, he goes out by the other gate, so rs not
10 clash with the incoming ones. Within the
yard (Which stands upon from two to three
acres Of ground, independent of Offices, stables,
&c.) all seems hustle and confusion, but il is
not so. Each one knows his or her work, and
has to do it, too, all being paid by the piece,
80 there IS no loating or skulking, as It is
called, there. Along the yard. from the front,
or road, to the canal are rows of women facing
each other, with a hill Of dust between them,
sometimes four, sometimes six, and even elgh!
rows. l have seen $50 women in this very
yard. Each one has a large seive before her
ana the process Is this: the fillcrin one man
TO every three women, tshe is surrounded by
ola baskets and receptacles of every dcscrip
nom, throws shovel Of dust into her sieve ;
sne sits II and then commences sorting First
she picks out all the straw. hay and vegetables
OF every description, and throws into large
basket; this is called ssft core, and is the mos,
useless and prottless Of all that is collected IN
The yard, being tit for nothing but manure
Next all the wood is picked out; this she puts
IN her own basket it being her per.
qnisiLe; then comes rags OF all sorts,
which are duly deposited IN their recep,
receptacle; next all the paper, books, etc.
after that all the leather boots and shoes; then
come window and other glass, bottles, walls.
etc, crockery and earthen.ware for roadbe,ls,
all TO their baskets; now come the bones, "a
most important item; next comes what calls
for the closest searching, viz, metals, iron,
brass, copper, etc, gold, silver and Jewelry
You smile! Many Of these find their way To
the dust yard through the carelessness Of ser.
wants. Watches, bracelets, earrings, rings,
knives, forks. spoons etc, all are carefully
picked up and handed 10 the bllmap, or sub
contractor, who deposits them in the office, in
case they should be inquired after; If not, AFTER
8 reasonable time, they sre sold, and The gets
|