Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-15


ley-He Is 4 ccused of Being the De-
fender of Nuisancss-Ths Red Pond
Dump.
At the meeting of the Emergency Coun-
ell in the May yor's Office yesterday morning
His Honor metaphorically jumped upon
Superintendent Baker, of the Bureau of
Health, with both feet. Rev.W H. Knox,
of the Tenth U. P. Church, who lives
on Reed street, near the Red Pond,
appeared to complain against the dumping
OF garbage in the hollow where the pond
used to be.
Mr. Knox said the pond had been private
property for four years, during which time
it had been used as public dumping
ground, much to the annoyance of residents
for squares around. 81 have tried to dispose
ofmy property to get away from that disease
breeding stencil" continued Mr.. Knox, ''but
no one wants to buy there. Finding it
impossible to get away, and Superintend-
ent Baker refusing to abate the nuisance,
some of the citizens for their own protec-
tion did what Mr.. Baker should have done
They sued the owner of the dump, and yes
terday he was convicted in court But the
dumping is still going on. Garbage and
filth OF all kinds are thrown into that hole
without hindrance and by authority of the
Health Bureau. 1t is wonder that q
pestilence has not resulted before now.''
Superintendent Baker was an impatient
listener to this arraignment of himself
When Mr.. Knox ceased Baker began a de-
fense of his actions, and denied that the
garbage on the dump was burning as had
been stated by Mr. Knox, and intimated
that Mr.. Knox was not exactly truthful in
his assertions. That gentleman retorted
sharply:
Dead Animals on the Dump.
fsWhy, it is common to see dead dogs and
cats on that dump, and it has only been
short time since dead horse was covered
up there. The odor of burning and decom-
posing animals is at times abominable and
positively sickening.''
Mr.. Baker turned to Mayor Gourley, who
had been listening with interest," saying:
mayor L have gone to that dump num-
Der of times, but have never been able to
detect bai odor.
His Honor was angry in q moment He
wheeled around in his chair facing Baker
and exclaimed:
Il don't believe you can see nuisance or
smell one! Your nose must be badly out of
order! Ten days ago. when Inspector Nc
Even and Chief Clerk McKelvey of your
Office reported the horrible condition of
George Frees dump boat down at the Point.
you got up Immediately after and denied
their statements You said you had been
down to inspect that boat and found
it sweet and clean-no bad odor,
nothing to find fault with. Yet
all the residents along Duquesne way
had been complaining of the frightful
stencil. 1 will be charitable enough to say
that this difference of opinion results from
physical defect, that your sense of smell
is detective. I am satisfied MI. Knox's
statement is true. 1t Is verified by many
complaints l have received. 1 shall in
struct the proper officers to enter suit
against Elliott, the owner of the lot on
which this dump is located, every day, if
necessary"
Baker Told the bumpers to Quit.
Mr.. Baker interposed here that he had a
week ago ordered the dumping of garbage
to cease at that point.
'Then you should have entered suit
against him az soon as you found out that
he was disobeying your orders, replied the
Mayor. 'You have plainly neglected your
duties, Mr. Baker, and this is not the first
instance"
''Why-why," began Baker to explain,
Dut tne Mayor went on:
81 have observed that in our conferences
you have seldom spoken except to defend
nuisances that have been charged"
The general conference yesterday was the
last until further notice Hereafter the
Mayor and Chiefs Brown and BigeIow will
confer daily until it becomes necessary to
call the subordinate officials in for instruc-
tions or information. The chiefs will have
their subordinates report to them so that
less time will be required in the confer
ences and the remedies will be considered
only by those in position to cure.