Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-06

hasten the time when another bridge will
span the Eastern branch, and open up
cheaper lands for settlement upon the other
side Of the river.
I'VE respectfully recommend that Ben
ming road be widened. graded and macad-
amized from 18th street to Benning. or at
least to the bridge This road Is one Of
the main arteries Of the city, and over
which there is an immense amount OF
travel Should car tracks be laid upon this
road as is now contemplated. there Will not
be room enough between the tracks ana
curbs to conveniently accommodate the
heavy hauling to say nothing of the pleas
ure driving, which Is hardly second to any
other road In the District Owing to the
great amount of travel over this road We
think that the cap Of the hill should be
graded as much as possible. and then the
road be put AMI kept in the best possible
condition for both pedestrians and drivers
On the Garbage Factory.
Gen. Birney, chairman of the committee
on garbage submitted a report on the gar
bage factory In South Washington. He
had read the complaints and the discussions
In the daily press and considered 1t his duty
to investigate the matter on his own be-
half. On approaching the factory he per-
ceived no odor. He examined the works
and found them in a condition as near
perfect cleanliness as such an establish
ment can be kept. Gen. Birney explained
the workings of the factory and submitted
a sample of the pressed garbage. which the
members shifted. The charge of nuisance
was, he thought without foundation. The
charges made against the factory were. he
thought, made by mistake. 1t was
caused by the strong stencil which
rises from the bodies of dead ami
mails which are hauled to the foot Of
South Capitol street and deposited in scows
to be taken down the river. 1t was his i'm
preston that the methods pursued at the
garbage factory are the true ones for the So
luton of garbage removal and disposal He
had no doubt that with a few years exper-
fence and observation on the method, aided
by more stringent laws for the prompt de-
livery of garbage to the contractor, the
District government may be able to relieve
the citizens from any expense relating to
garbage except for reCeptacles for each
house.
President Babson added that In Detroit
he had met a gentleman connected with
the factory which destroys garbage, and he
had said that II he could be assured of the
contract for thirty years he would gladly
do it free Of cost. This demonstrated the
amount OF money! there was in the business.
Mr. Il. W. Clarke. the ex-collector Of gar
bage. desired to be heard. He was. he
thought, competent to speak. The garbage
service had been imperfect primarily on ac-
count of the failure of the people to place
the garbage In accessible places. One-half
minute under favorable circumstances
would remove garbage from house. Now
at least four minutes were required to do
the work. The advent of the tin horn had
reduced the time OF collection at least so
per cent. In Baltimore he understood the
garbage was collected from half dozen
houses In one minute. He believed in a
few years the collection of garbage in
Washington would be done gratis. There
was no question that the garbage service
has been unsatisfactory, but time would
improve it. A daily service would correct
all complaints, and allow the contractor to
systematic the service. At the present
time there was not much system. In some
districts as many as three four individ-
ual collectors gathered the garbage.
Mr.. I. r. Mccain threw consternA alton
into the meeting by opposing daily gar
bage service. If the contractor were
compelled to live up to the spirit Of the
contracts II would not be necessary. Mr.
F. A Lehman. under the call for new bust
ness, said he desired to move the recon-
sideration Of the action of the association
In refusing to indorse the report of Asses
sor Trimble recommending that the Com
missioners ask Congress to allow a reduc-
ton OF 10 per cent in all taxes paid prior to
November 30. After some discussion the
motion was carried.
Old Officers Reelected.
The secretary called attention to the
election of officers, which came up as the
new business of the association under a
clause in the constitution. Upon motion of
Mr.. Lehman, the secretary was directed to
cast the vote of the association for the old
officers. who were in turn declared elected
Mr.. Patterson called attention to the in
active part some of the members of the diff
ferent committees were taking in the busi-
ness of the association, and moved that the
president be authorized and requested to re-
wise. so far as possible, all committees of
the association to the end that they may be
brought to a condition of intelligence, ju-
dicious and preserving. The motion was
carried The meeting then adjourned.