Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-23
WANTS A LONG CONTRACT.
The Garbage Company Still Uncertain
as to Future Plans.

aa 70 ftanS.
The Commissioners are beginning to real
lie the Importance of immediate action
with reference to the garbage problem
Manager Bayly of the National Sanitary
Company was summoned before them sew
eral days ago. and asked what his COM
pany proposed to do with the garbage this
summer.
His reply was rather indefinite. He
stated there would be a meeting Of the
bondsmen Of the company shortly. when it
would be definitely determined what the
course Of the company would be.
This morning Manager Bayly called at the
District building and had a conference with
the Commissioners. He stated that the re-
ceivers for the company had applied to the
court for an order to sell out the National
Sanitary Company to satisfy the claims of
its creditors. The president of the Fidelity
Company of Baltimore which is the bonds
man for the company. will be to see the
Commissioners Monday, when the future
Of the contract for removing the garbage
will be decided. 1t Is understood that this
gentleman will represent to the Commits
sioners that the bondsmen are willing 10
complete the contract under certain condi-
tons. These conditions are that a reason
able appropriation be obtained for destroy
ing the garbage, and a contract for ten
years TO do the work 1t is claimed by the
bondsmen that it would be folly to enter
into a contract for shorter time, and they
cite the history of the Sanitary Company as
evidence. That company erected a plant at
a cost of $4,000. and during its paimest
days there never was time that II paid
expenses President Warfield of the Fidel-
ity Company Will make proposition to re-
construct the garbage plant at the foot Of
South Capitol street. with the understand
ing that IL contract for ten years Is
awarded the plant will be removed within
two years, and placed wherever the Com
missioners may determine. The nearness of
summer. he will say. makes 1t totally i'm
practicable to locate anywhere else than at
the foot of South Capitol street. There a
new plant can be erected within six weeks
while 1t would require as many months to
build IL elsewhere.
Meanwhile complaints are beginning to
come In. The recent warm spell has stirred
citizens to action. and there have been a
number of complaints already received
From down the river, where the contractor
has been in the habit of depositing the gar
bage, the farmers are complaining that
they want no more and its continued dump
Ing is a menace to health. Then the great
question arises, Where is the garbage TO
be deposited?'
The Contract.
This is what the contract says on this
subject:
"All garbage and dead animals must be
incinerated or removed by rail or water be-
yond the limits of the District of Columbia
" d pidCe VI pidCeS u De dppTONeU Dy the
health officer"
1t is claimed by the Sanitary Company
that a proper construction of this means
that the health officer Is to find a place out
side Of the city where the garbage must be
deposited. There is no place on either the
Virginia or Maryland side of the Potomac
within a reasonable distance. where the
garbage can be deposited. In the mean
time 1t is being piled up at the points of
shipment in the District to such an extent
as to make ii menace to health. The
contractor. when called upon to remove it,
says all right. where shall we take 1t. This
is embarrassing to the health officer who
knows of no place. 1t is no secret that the
garbage Is being dumped into the river.
When 1t happens that the tide is ebb, moth
ing Is heard of 1t, but 1t is by no means an
unfrequent occurrence that 1t is dumped on
the food tide, and much of it finds its way
back in front Of the city.
Commissioner Truesdell. under whom the
direct charge OF the disposition of garbage
comes, Is giving considerable time to a
study of the situation. He says he is de-
termined to compel a strict compliance with
the terms of the contract. and do all in his
power to help matters.