Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-05
COLLECTING DEAD ANIMALS.
Mr.. Crane Replies to MT. Clarlxe's Explain
ton and Aaka Some Ouesfiorrs

Mr.. Crane Replies to MT. Clarke's Explana-
ton and Asks Some Questions.
To the Editor of Tie Evening Star:
The letter Of Mr.. b. W. Clarke explanatory
Of his connection with the garbage service,
published in The STAR of the 29th ultimo, con-
tains statements and silent admissions that
should be brought out more clearly before the
public.
The alleged sacrifices that Mr.. Clarke made
for this service can be best understood after
reading the following figures furnished by
himself, to wit:
IL wagons at Soc. each per day, profit. ESQ
wagons at 81 each per day. profit. 700
l dead animal wagon, Sc per day, profit. 200
Total profit per day. 1880
which is equal to IS, AGO per year, besides Sun
days, on which DAYS che dead animal wagon
was regularly paid for.
This is more than FIVE times the salary Mr..
Clarke receives in the War Department. 1t is
more tEan TIE salary of a member of Congress
or the District Commissioners and nearly twice
the salary of the health officer. This liz a kind
of sacrifice for the public good that, considered
only IN pecuniary point of view, few people
would shrink from.
Mr.. Clarke admits that he now has on twenty
teams, oil hired, on which he makes a profit of
$40 per day, besides what he makes on the S4-
per-day dead animal wagon. 1t would seem as
II $40 to Sli per day. besides 50 per day as an
officer OF the United States. If a pretty good
kind OF business for . man wi tn no capital in
vested, who runs no risk and who has been
favored with being paid every week.
Mr. Clarke says concerning the collection OF
dead animals: III got from this service about Fl
per-day for my work up to the 18th day of Oc-
tober, having entered into an agreement on the
9TH to perform this service for "a per day from
the 18th instant"
1t will be seen that Mr.. Clarke INDUCES in
the word about" instead of giving the exact
figures Also that he says Il entered into an
agreement by which thought could get - a
day for my services"
Why not state what that agreement was? He
says, Il got about 81 per day for my work up
to the 18th day of October
The vouchers show that Mr.. Clarke received
IS per day, including Sundays, from Septem-
Der to October u for collecting dead animals
"a period OF thirty-eight days. amounting to
1904. Mr. p. Mann said to me in his store on
the 2Sth ultimo that he had received from Mr..
Clarke up to that time only !72 for collecting
dead animals. This would leave n balance
in Mr.. Clarhes hands, besides the s31 he says
he paid for extra service, of S20l up to Octo-
Der L.
When asked why he had not been paid the Sc
per day Mr.. Clarke states he agreed to pay, Mr..
Mann replied: Il have not been paid because
l have not put in bill" But" 1 answered,
Mr.. Clarke put in bill. and was paid $50
every week in September for collecting dead
animals that he says he contracted with you to
collect; how does it happen that up to this date,
near the LIST Of November, he has only paid you
S722' Again the answer came: Il suppose it
is because have not put in a bill"
1t is well known that Mr.. p. Mann has been
hunting for dead animals for years; that he has
| been paving 81 each for dead horses, besides
the expense of sending a wagon two or three
miles to get then. and then the further ex-
pense of transporting them on a scow to his
bone-boiling establishment down the river.
Mr.. Mann can be reached by telephone when
| ever his wagon is wanted for the removal of q
dead animal. Why did not the health Office
treat with Mr.. Mann direct in the first place in
stead of reaching him by the roundabout way
of the War Department, at an expense to the
District of So per day, when Mr. p. Mann or
any other man familiar with the dead animal
business and with facilities for utilizing them
would have been glad to have the privilege of
collecting and Transporting them free of all
charge to the corporation.
Mr. Clarke stated that he is now performing
the dead animal service for "a per day. just
one-half of what he received up to the 18th of
October for the reason tn t there are fewer
dead animals now" But this reason won't
hold water. The more dead animals the better
it suits Mr.. Mann. While glad to pay 81 for
dead horse and 60 three miles for it, he is still
more glad to 60 the same distance and pay $40
for ten dead horses, as it costs but little more
to transport ten dead horses on a scow than
one.
There is one point I wish to bring out here,
which is this, that where Mr.. Mann had for
years been paying for dead animals, besides
collecting and transporting them at his own
expense, he is now not only being paid by the
District-through Mr.. Clarke-for collecting,
but also for transporting them to his bone
boiling establishment. 1 also wish to state,
and am ready to make oath to what say,
| that Mr.. Mann has repeatedly told me that he
is not only willing to collect the dead animals
free of all charge but that he is ready to pay the
District $500 per year for the privilege, and
that he was surprised when he heard that
charge of % per day was being made for this
service. This / am informed he has said to
others. ]. II. CRANE.