Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-18
BACK TO BARBARISM.
Dump Boats a Wornout Institution
of Medieval Times.
oDORS THEY CREATE In SUMNER.
Arguments Against the Abolition Of the
Garbage Furnace.
COMPARISONS OF COLLECTION SYSTEMS

At the recent State Sanitary Convention
at Erie, an able paper on the collection and
disposal of garbage was read by Colonel
W. F. Morse, the noted sanitarian The
ordinance now before Councils, providing
for the establishment of a dump boat sys-
TEN and the recommendation of the Super
intendent of the Board of Health that the
garbage furnace be abolished in favor of the
dump boats, has forced the question of gar
bage disposal upon the attention of our
citizens. Some brief extracts with COM
ments from Colonel Morse's paper may
prove of value to those who have not had
the time or opportunity to study the
matter for themselves.
Colonel Morse begins bv describing the
various systems of garbage collection in
operation in different cities
'The Individual System"-Under this
system each person disposes of his garbage
in the manner best suited to his own con-
venience. Those who are intelligent,
cleanly and have the means to afford it,
have it hauled away at regular intervals,
but do not interest themselves inits final
disposition. 1t may be dumped into the
upon vacant lots, or incidentally into a
garbage furnace-in any case the household
er feels no responsibility.
Those who cannot afford to have it carted
away periodically throw it into an alley, or
let it accumulate in their own back wards or
cellars This individual system is found in
villages and in towns without Board of
Health. 1t is also the only system in
operation in the large, wealthy and intelli-
gent cities of Pittsburg and Allegheny.
Disposal by the Contract System.
The city advertises for bids and lets out
the whole work of garbage service. This
system has good features. and is probably
the most convenient for the authorities, but
1t has also many serious drawbacks. The
contract is let to the lowest bidder, and the
contractor is compelled to do the work at a
small margin of profit, giving poor service,
causing endless complaints and general
feeling of annoyance Often changing his
employees the householders are overlooked,
sometimes Intentionally, until petty svs-
TEN of blackmail is established, and, there
being but a limited responsibility because
of the usually short term of contract the
contractor takes little pains to do good
work, preferring to skim over his district as
quickly as possible.
"The Municipal System"-In this case the
city does all the scavenger service with its
own teams and men. This makes it neces-
sary to maintain an extensive equipment
and to provide for the stables, etc. but if
this be placed under control of the bureau
of streets these men and teams can often be
used for other work, dividing the expense;
the responsibility for cleanly work is more
definite, the service more thorough, CON-
plants are more promptly attended to, the
employees are more careful, and, with proper
management, can be made to take pride in
their work and give efficient service
Comparisons of the Expense.
The following table shows the approx
mate cost per capita under the Contract"
and Municipal Systems"