Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-24

TO the Editor Of the DlspAtcn: ~,
Your editorial on the ''Trash-Paper Nu'-
| sance" in this mornings Dispatch
hint to the Council which should De nee 20
ed by II. Free dumps. "doosen ~ ~
iiII-uoetinx are three Of tho cause: oI
this nuisance greatest of when -
The free dump On these heaps OF Nun
the citizen has been taught to throw
everything OF which he desiree TO d. rid'
and paper, tin-cans. and matter eo'e'
ferrous to health find rcttinR-piacc
there. The first gentle zephyr that comes
FANS the paper up and down our streets'
the writer has repeatedly bad 10 com
nlaiu of the odors rising from these
dumps In his neighborbood. ana IN .ne
vicinity OF one of those spots the sess
look "a II they were paved WIN ~ .
tires OF bicycles.
let the Council abate these nuisances'
and then give us laws similar to those
OF Paris. where q citizen who throws eve"
the smallest bit OF trash on the ssreot 70
politely requested to pick 1t up ana on re-
Susal. il arrested. Then let the city-cart-
drivers refuse to take anything but asnes
from the householders. and report any
other matter to the garbaee-caru 10 %
taken up and burned. ~
There IA much ground for the complaint
mad. by our correspondent. 1t 10
wonder to US that the police ana the
BOARD OF Health do not combine to aoate
these nuIsances: we think they would
find plenty of authority to do 30 under
existing ordinances. The dumps near
north Tenth street and In the neignpor-
hood of the penitentiary are repuAve
sights. and cannot but be Injurious 70 tns'
public health. And such Is the accumu-
latIon OF waste-paper on these piles That
there was recently a fire Of threatening
proportions on pile. on.Arch street, near
the penitentiary. the coDbustible ma
terial being paper. and other trash de-
posited there by cartmen. As for the
new part of Spring street (recently opened
through the -grounds). 1t has
been an eyesore ever since II was
made, 80 great are the deposits there
OF paper-trash and sweepings OF back
Yards and alleys. 1t is bad enough that
the sight and smell OF our own people
should be offended by these dumps; but
there is not day that many tourists. who
are doing the city" do not drive along
Spring street on their way to and from
Hollywood or CANDLES Hill. The State
Of Virginia gave the ground for the ex-
tension of this street; but. IL the street
IL to be made a depository for dumpage
the Legislature will have reason to regret
Its grant to Richmond.
III we mistake not. there IS q growing
sentiment here, not only In favor OF
street-improvement but In favor OF clean
er streets. There is not one street
in Richmond kept In tip-top order. In
deed II Is impossible to keep any great
thoroughfare in nrst-rate condition. un>
less there are stringent police regulations
against the paper-litter nuisance. and un,
less its sidewalks and driveways both
are swept clean every day.
II our police force and Board OF Health
would wage unceasing war upon dirty
streets alleys. and dump-nulsances. they
would be most heartily and gratefully
supported by the public. Householders
should be made to help keep the streets
and alleys clean. The City Treasury never
will be able to afford the expense Of keep
ing our streets clean unless each house,
holder IS required to do his part-that is,
help by not making the streets dirty with
trash swept from his own yard: help by
carting away stun which he now impro-
perly turns over to the Board Of Health's
carts. And, II the ordinances now In
force are insufficient We feel quite sure
that upon proper representations being
made to IT. the City Council would grant
the Board Of Health and the police larger
powers than they now have.