Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-04

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The Result OF an Investigation by Health
ONCE inspectors.
Mr.. Benjamin F. Peters and Sanitary Inspec-
tor WEIGH, to whom were referred complaints
about the alleged failure Of the garbage con-
tractor to remove the garbage outside the Dis
trict limits, as published in Tuesdays STAR,
made the investigation ordered by Health OFF,
Ger Hammett and yesterday they made their
report to the health officer. The report is as
follows:
I'm compliance with your instructions an in
spection OF the low grounds on the east side Of
the Potomac from Giesboro' Point to Shepherds
Landing, within the District of Columbia with
a view to ascertain if nuisance is created by use
of garbage as q fertilizer by the farmers and
market gardeners OF that section, has been
made.
THE complaints Of John scrivener. who
gives his address as Anacostia, ID. c.. and D.
Railroad Company. stationed at shepherds
Landing, relative to odors arising from garbage
deposited in the vicinity Of GiesborO' by the
contractors, have been investigated and the
following facts elected:
'The country bordering on the Potomac
from the Eastern branch to shepherds Landing,
opposite Alexandria, within the District Of
Columbia, for some distance back from the
shore consists OF low grounds very sparsely
populated and used principally by the owners
and tenants for market garden purposes only,
from which the cities Of Washington and
Georgetown are in a large measure supplied
with vegetables. They represent that fertil-
izers must be had for this purpose and, in con-
pection with stable manure, they use garbage
to propagate and grow our vegetables. A small
quantity Of this garbage is furnished by the
contractor to the farmers and truckers. Take
one Case, for instance. During the past month
two scow loads we're delivered to Mr.. Victor
Boyer. who owns and operates a market garden
Of thirty Five acres across the railroad from the
cottage occupied by the agent OF the Baltimore
Gently been appointed, or rather transferred,
to this place and who is the principal COM
plainant. Inquiry failed to show the where
abouts Of the other complainant, Mr.. John
Scrivener.
The following named gentlemen, resi-
dents OF the surrounding country, were inter-
viewed. They state that they have resided for
years in this locality, majority Of them using
the garbage as afertilizer without causing sick
ness in their families, VIZ: Messrs Fl. 5. Nal
ley, J. II. Roland, flames Boyer, Victor Boyer,
John f. Sundy, John s. Ring. George b. Penn,
W. Simmons, H. B. Sweeney, W. E. Hayes. s.
II. Wright and A. T. Grimes, as well as the
manager of the summer resort at Giesboro.
Their statements, made individually, and
cmphatically given in presence Of witnesses,
euOW tudt no UcletcrlOub eueCt 70 their ue6ltu
or to that Of the members of their families is
experienced by the use of this material on
their lands as a fertilizer. Some odor ia gen.
Grated during transit from the scows to the
land Of the gardeners to which no objection
is made by the parties interested in raising the
vegetables and who are the permanent In
habitants of this section.
These persons also unite in saying that it is
only during the winter season that they utilize
the garbage to enrich their ground.
''During this inspection, which took several
hours time Of the officers, nothing was OBJ
served which could be termed under the health
ordinances as nuisances injurious to health.
In connection with this report it would be
proper to say that it has been the practice OF
the health department to grant permission to
the contractor to deliver a limited quantity OF
garbage to the people along the Potomac be-
tween the points heretofore mentioned.
From the statements OF the persons men,
toned herein and from a number whose names
were not ascertained we do not think that the
garbage used in the manner described, if
promptly removed from the scows, scattered
over the land, piowed and narrowed into the
SOIL would be more injurious to the health OF
those who choose this locality as their abiding
place than the ordinary manure, poudrette and
other fertilizers required to keep the land in
proper condition for agricultural purposes."
Before Health Officer Hammett took charge
Of the affairs Of the health Office the contracto
was permitted to dispose OF garbage in this
section during the winter months.