The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-26
THE HEALTH OF RICHMOND.
Action to be Taken to Keep tho Streets Id
Cleaner Condition.
THE CONTRACTORS FAILURE OF DUTY
Tho Number Of Men and Carts Now Employed
VIII be Doubied-The Title oil tho 'ie-
matory Lot Being Examined

matory Lot Being INafninco'
The monthly meeting Of the Committee on
uaalth was 70 have been held on Thursday
evening. For some reason, however, IL was
not held until yesterday afternoon az LOU
O'Clock. Chairman Christian and Messrs'
Davis. Belvin and Grimes were present III.
Oppenhimer, the president OF the boaro u
Health, was also in attendance.
A number of bills were ordered 20 be PAID
and the payroll for the month was appro'eu
The chairman stated that owing 10 the delay
in the selection Of q site for the crematory, an
extra claim of about 200 would have 10 20
paid the Engel Company. who had been re-
tarded in their work of constructing the Iur-
mace. Ii was decided that report 20 tnae
effect be submitted to the City Council WIN WIN
q view of obtaining On appropriation ol 'nas
amount nj
DR., Oppenhimer complained that Mr.. Rich
ards the garbage contractor. was not doiuS
his duty and that in consequence the streets
were IN u very unclean condition. ile auuou
that the force Of his department was nos
sufficient to remove oil the ashes aud at tue
same time keep the streets clean.
INCREASE THE FORCE.
Mr.. Grimes suggested that the force IN the
that if the number of carts were increased
they would certainly ind enough work to DO
10 keen them busy While the city had been
constantly growing during the past seven
years. oil that time tho force OF the Health
Department had remained the same.
DR.. Oppenhimer called attention 70 the
fact that there were new houses being built
all the time and that il was Impossible, WIN
his limited number of carts. 10 carry away al
tho ashes from the additional houses and at
tho same time keep the streets clean.
Mr.. Davis said that the city Of Richmond
for her size spent less money TOT the Health
Department than any other city IN tho United
States he knew Of.
Mr.. Christian mentioned the fact that tho
garbage carts used by the contractor were IN
an improper condition.
Dir. Bevn stated that the city was full Of
decayed vegetable matter. and for that reason
he moved that Dr. Oppenhimer be instructed
10 double lis force and add twenty-two carts
for the next two weeks 10 clean up the streets
and haul away all tho accumulated decayed
garbage.
Mr.. Davis said the difficulty was that they
did not know where to take the garbage ana
refuse. for the reason that the county author
! tiles did not allow q single head OF cabbage
10 be carried across the border Of the city.
DR. Oppenhimer stated that his force at the
present time consisted Of forty-elght men
and twenty-five carts. and he thought that no
| could clean up the Guy WlbLlu lno nbcho IT
this force was doubled
THE CONTRACTOR.
Chairman Christian called attention to the
fact that the contract with Mr. richards
was still in force and if the force II
/ tho Health Department was doubled this
would simply mean that tho city would DO
/ the contractors work. II this were 70 Do the
! case the contractor certainly should not re-
oeived any compensation. IL was apparent
I Ill 80 N..tt l4I If4fn
and some steps should be taken to have the
contract snnulled
DIR. Oppenhimer said that the contractor
/ should employ as many carts a. the Commit
! tee on Health should deem advisable, and as
soon az the crematOry was completed he was
/ 20 haul the garbage and refuse to that place
at q compensation 20 be fixed by the com
mittee.
Mr.. Christian suggested that If Mr. Rich
! ards did not comply with the provisions OF
\ his contract he should be compelled 20 pay
! for the extra work thereby caused 10 the city.
4 Mr. Belyln thought that the present con-
/ tract expired on October lst, and That II
would be for tho best interest Of the public
{ health 10 have the oity authorities step IN NJ
/ once 20 secure a thorough cleaning of the
| streets.
AN OBJECTION.
Nj Grimes objected to having the work done
/ By the city which the contractor should do
| under his contract
| Or. Oppenhimer stated that the contract
would not expire until November lst and he
advised that it would be best 30 have any
| extra work in the way of street cleaning dOno
az the expense OF the contractor.
Mr. Grimes suggested that the contractor
be given an opportunity TO be heard IN the
matter before any definite action was taken
. by the committee.
Mr. Davis moved that DR.. Oppenhimer in
/ struct the contractor 20 increase at once the
/ number Of his carts 10 twelve for the removal
/ of the garbage up 20 the expiration Of his con-
| tract and that if he should fail % do so. Dr.
! Oppenhimer should hire tho necessary num-
| Der OF carts at the expense OF the contractor.
Mr. Belvn then withdrew his motion and
that Of Mr.. Davis was adopted without any
! DR.. Oppenhimer asked that authority be
| given him % increase his force IN case OF
| necessity.
Mr.. Belvin made motion that this power be
granted 10 the president Of tho Board OF
| Health in q case OF emergency and that he re-
| port the same 10 the committee. Tie motion
was carried.
Mr. Davis stated that no called on tho City
| Attorney TO ascertain whether q clear title
| could be given 70 the st. Paul-street lot.
which had been selected for the site Of tho
| cremat0ry. lie was informed that tho abb
stract was being made out aud that the OK
animation Of the title would soon be com
pleted.
Mr.. Christian stated that he would hand
I over the lot 30 tho contractor ~ soon as 10
! had been asceItained that the title was clear.
| The contract with the EEgcl Company pro-
| yded that the crematory should be finished
within sixty days after the work had been
| commenced.
The committee then adjourned.