Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-19
HOW TO COLLECT THE GARBAGE.
Why the Work Has Not Been Satisfactorily
Performed-Some Intelligent Suggestions
by Mr.. John II. Crane.

| OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Intelligent suggestions
| by Mr.. John II. Crane.
| To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
| You will remember that some time ago you
requested me to give my views in regard to the
best mode of collecting garbage, with the
reasons. which in my Judgment, have pre-
vented its prompt collection.
was in hopes when the change came in the
head Of the health department that there would
come with that change an enforcement of the
garbage contract, which would make any fur
Their discussion of the subject unnecessary. In
this, 1 am sorry to be obliged to say. am dis
appointed, for never during the thirty years
have resided at the national capital has the COL
lection of garbage been SO poorly executed as
| during the past two weeks.
am ready to concede that the health officer
! should have fair opportunity TO show what
he can do in the way Of making improvements
| over the administration Of his predecessor. He
| should not be judged hastily, but should be
| given ample time to show what he can do. 1t
should be said, however, that he took tine Office
during an emergency when the health of the
| city was IN peril, and during such an emcr-
| gency twenty-four hours would seem to be
ample time to notify the contractor that lie
| must comply with the terms of his contract.
| The contractor also has his rights, which
should be respected. he should not be found
fault with unjuStly or prosecuted. Neither
| cAceau AS oc " lAt.su tue D1bI aCl-
lie entered into a contract with his eyes wide
| open to remove 'all animal and vegetable mat
| ter, called garbage, and all dead animals from
| the city OF Washington and rs most denscly
| populated suburbs for period OF five years
| from the list OF July, 1884, for SIS 900 per year.
lie Is q shrcwd business man and it is fair 10
presume, knew we'll what he was about.
REMARKABLE CONTRACT.
may be mistaken, but believe that this is
the first time in the history of tho District OF
Columbia that any man was ever awarded five
| years contract. This remarkable contract was
| signed by William Is. Webb, Samuel II. Wheat
ley and William Ludlow Commissioners. and
by Felix NJ. Draney, contractor, with Philip
| IL. Chrlstman and Charles ". Uniquely, as
sureties in the sum of $4,000, for the faithful
execution Of the work. Why talk about 1.-THE
inadequate appropriations: They have been
all that the contract requires. and even more.
| MIR. Draney has not only received regularly his
| $4,000 that he agreed to do the work for, but
| even more than that sum. Nobody asked him
to take this five years contract. On what
ground, then. can he set up the claim that the
| appropriations are not sufficient: Surely no
man was ever more favored. With this five
| years contract uneXecuted and the contractor
| standing in the position of "a delinquent, the
Commissioners on the 30th day OF last August
| awarded Mr.. Draney another contract, called
| mo. 1901" by which they agree to pay him an
| extra sum OF S537.SS per month for collecting
| garbage during the months of August,
| September ard October 1890, and Anril,
May and June, 1891. in strict accordance
| with the specifications contained in his five
| years contract" This contract il signed by
John W. Douglass, l.. Il. Kine and Henry N.
Robert, Commissioners. and by Felix NJ. Drany,
contractor. with Francis Miller and John W.
Schafer sureties in the sum of S3,250 for the
faithful execution OF the work. 1t VII be CD
served that this contract giving the contractor
an extra allowance, commenced on August 50,
| 1880. just at the close of the heated term. and
| ended on juno 30. 1881, Just at the commence
ment of the heated term, showing that the con-
| tractor is granted an extra allowance during
| the fall and spring months. while during th3
months of July and August, the warmest of
the whole season. 10 eAtT1. allowance is made.
| The appropriation made for the collection of
| garbage by the last Congress was $4,000. Con-
| gress adjourned March 4. The Commissioners
had four months between March and June 30
in which to enter into another extra allow
ance" contract with Mr.. Draney. to go into
effect when his other extra allowance con-
tract expired. II would seem by this that Mr..
Draney il getting the least pay when lie has
| the most to do.
HOW THE CONTRACT IS VIOLATED.
| By the terms Of the five years contract the
| contractor is required to remove all garbage in
''air-tight vessels of uniform size and clearly
appearance" but it seems by report OF the
late health officer that permits have been
granted to the lS6 farmer wagons TO collect
! garbage from private residences. 40 two OF
| these wagons are alike They take away the
| garbage when it Best suits their convenience.
asserting over and leaving on the ground what
they regard as not worth cartlng away. This
is nay experience, and hear it is that of
others.
The contract requires the garbage TO be col.
| lected and carted away, IN alright vessels )"
but many of these farmers collect garbage in
| barrels containing no covers. met one yes
terIay. The wagon contained four barrels
| without covers, and no two of the same Size
| 1t WAS in the most densely populated part of
Washington. on a square built up with nice
houses, without vacant lot ihe stencil those
uncovered barrels gave forth polluted the
whole square. 1t is bad enough to be obliged
| to endure this hot weather the foul odors
from garbage that accumulates on ones own
premises, without having to endure the retail
ing about the streets of noxious odors that
come from other peoples garbage.
| II is we'll for us that cur streets are wide and
| open. We're they narrow and close like some
cities it would not take long with the present
state Of things to create pestience. Let us
| not flatter ourselves because the death rate is
T, no higher that we can continue to violate we'll
| known sanitary laws with impunity. The seeds
Of disease are now being sown. The harvest
will come in due time as sure as night follows
| day.
| THE HEALTH OFFICER HAS AMPLE POWER.
The contracts have cited make it the duty
of the health officer to enforce their provisions.
His power is ample, though he claims a Lack of
legal authority to enforce them.
The act OF the old corporation Of Washing
| ton, approved August &c. 1862. makes it the
duty of AL occupants OF dwellings to deposit
| all offal or garbage in such place on or about
the premises as the ward commissioner may
designate in order to facilitate its speedy re-
| moval," under penalty OF rot less than one
nor more than five dollars for each offense.
This law has never been repealed, and it is as
binding today on that part Of the District en-
| braced in what was the old corporation 1t
ever was. Said act also requires the daily re-
moval of all garbage from private residences
between ''the first day OF May and the first day
of December and three times u week from the
first day Of December to the first day OF May"
1t will be seen by this that 1.-THE old corpora
ton" was much more watchful Of the health of
the people than the present District govern
ment The city is much more densely popu-
lated now than in 1862. Tho population has
trebbled but it seems that even If the garbage
contract were executed in good faith il is
only required to be removed one-half as often
as then.
Contractor Draney states that he has put on
five extra carts and yet is unable to collect the
garbage. But what have the people to do with
how many carts lie has on? He contracted to
! remove all garbage and dead animals for
period of five years for the sum OF Ell, 900 per
| year Why does he not do II! 1t Is shown that
he has sublet, with the permission o: the Com