The Washington times., 1895-06-23
There Is money in Dirt
Found on City Dumps
Small Army of Men, Women, and Children Earn a
Precarious Living by Raking Over the Loads
of Refuse Brought There.

tive Jealous dump man, and be may look
forward to the timo when he will sit by
and see the paint rise in bubbles and burst
on his cans as they craekle in the fire,
il disease does not first seize upon him as
an easy victim. These people are es-
pecialiy liable to contract whatever con-
tagion may be floating around, and 1t is
but seldom that you see either q man, wo-
man or child of a couple Of years of eX-
nerience in the profession whose cheeks do
not bear the hectic feyeDsh flush, and
whose body is not Tacked by distressing
cough.
The toilers are generally colored, but
white persons are not infrequenuy met
with The male and female are indis-
criminately mixed, and children and ma
ture folks stand on an equal footing and
vie with one another in plying their trade.
LIKE JOSEPH'S COAT
Cloths of all colors of the rainbow are
found in their costumes ana garbs. When
ever u brilliant color and odd design is
raked up place is made for it in the
rags, where il can be pinned, sewed or
tackled, and when standing with the sun
shining on them upon beautiful, bright
day, a group OF the dump dwellers forms
a picturesque figure.
Such huts and novels as those in which
these poor human beings live cannot be
imagined On the edge OF the swampy
regions near the river bank, back of the
Monument, can be found any number OF
residences OF these people. Not all have
means of shelter. The tramps and homeless
wanderers resort to the dumping ground
to take their rest, and they drop sweetly
off TO rest, being firmly convinced that
no policeman VIII cross the dark, foul
smelling swamp and dump TO look for
Sl n W "A
lie down many of tue piekers.
The next step is 10 drive four stakes in
the ground and upon these to build a roof
OF old Christmas bushes trees aud debris
Soon after. piece 10y piece, boards replace
the buughs and branches aud after some
mouths the four posts are no longer Wis
ible and the frame work of the house is
complete. The old tin cans and pieces or
roof tin which have been subjected TO the
roasting process are now nailed on the
boards. aud in cases OF storm, not only
help To keep out some OF the rain, but also
aid in keeping the rickety structure to-
gether M one who has ever seen collec-
tfun OF these shacks viii easily forget
them.
AMBITIOUS HOMES.
With their many -hued pieces Of tin af-
fixed To the sides they are curious Objects
and the queer collection with which they are
surrounded forms picture full OF colora aud
interest.
Some of the houses have small gardens
near them, which are under cultivation,
but that is not invariably the case. At
all eveuts, there is a Collection of objects
not exactly saIeable, yet possessing some
value, which have accumulated through
the years that the proprietor has been IN the
business. Iron gates and boilers, rusty
and badly worn, may be seen at the huts
? .,s.Vttls Str yTh IL
at others are grouped about steam pump,
an old anchor, hempen cables, wheel
barrows all kinds OF specimens or things
ON land and sea, and at one place, side by
side. renoSe the remains Of Il flying machine
aud water bicycle. An old organ piano
is esteemed great gift, and it is but seldom
/ that these come to the dump.
Whisky bottles are deemed jewels, and
/ but few bottles with liquids still in them
/ pass through dumpman's hand without
! undergoing a thorough inspection, con-
/ sisting Of either n whiff or a pull. One
! old woman, at least the individual looked
/ Ike an old woman, for she had on pair
/ OF old rawhide boots, derby hat and a
I red calico dress, was seen looking over q
barrel of bottles that had just arrived.
/ Without exception the contents of each
one were tasted, and although some
made her make very wry race, she per-
, sisted until a flask Of firewater was
found, and without any preliminary prep
/ aration she Immediately washed down
the dozen or so other drugs with about
a tUmbler full of fiery fluid.
1t should be understood that no garbage
or refuse animal or vegetable matter is
! allowed to be deposited in these places
RECLAIMING SWAMP LAND.
! In helping to reclaim the swamp lan'
about here the continual deposit of dir
and debris is a great factor Many Of tht
business blocks of the Capital City hav,
been built on dump-filled, marshy land
The authorities have recognized the i'm
portance of this dumping being done prop
erly and OF having only suitable materia
| deposited, so a supervisor has been place.
at each dump.
1 At the foot of Eighteenth, Ninteenth ant
Twentieth streets a marvellous change
has taken place in the last few years
The low, boGgy land is fast giving plac
to high and dry tract which in cours
of time Will be used as building lots
The swamp is disappearing at the rate Q
about 800 square yards annually, ant
old Uncle Samuel Taylor who is in charg
at This dump, is praying that he may b
spared to see the whole tract become hare
solid ground.