Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-24

AIexandrians who complain of the often
sive nuisances epgendered by the passage
or the r>asence In front OF their city of
scows containing WASHINGTON garbage are
quite right when thew Indignantly protest
and demand a remedy. That this city must
rid itself of the surplus matter the odors
of which cause Alexandr'ans so much an
novance Is certain. hut there Is no reason
why the method employed should be of
sort likely to disturb any ne'ehboring COM
munitv For years past GARBAGE scows on
the river have detracted considerably from
the pleasure which people expect to find on
the Potomac during the warm nights Of
summer time but the grumhling of thou
sands seems to have been without avail
although the case has been often presented
most forcibly by some who were not con-
tent to suffer in silence. Vigorous efforts
have been made to modernize the views of
the authorities as to this extremely-im-
portant matter. and, as the result of con-
sc,entious agitation. Congress was finally
brought to recognize the dangers that Turk
in the ancient methods against the con-
tinued existence of which the people of
Alexandria have rebelled Washington is
therefore in sympathy with Alexandria as
to the urdesirability of the present method
OF garbage disposal; 1t realizes that great
injury may be wrought by the anti-hy
gienic plans of those who are permitted to
work their financially-economcal wills as
to the disposition of the city's offal; it
pledges itself to do all that is within its
power to correct state of affairs most dis
creditable to those who dwell within the
limits of the national capital. The good
people of Alexandria will, 1t is thought. be
as deeply interested in the moral garbage
heaped UP at Jackson City and Rosslyn-
most offensive to the nostrils of Washing
tomas they undoubtedly are over this
physical garbage which dsturbs their OIL
factories. Remarkably patient during a
long period of time, the people of Alex
andria seem to have reached the conclu-
sion that 1t would be proper for them to
use force in Kidding themselves of the
smells consequent upon the passing before
their river-front of Washington's garbage
scows: even though they pass in Mary
land waters. Logically they will, there
fore, admit that Washingtonians who OBJ
ject TO the pestilential and morally de-
structive influences emanating from jack
son City and Rosslyn are not unreasonable
In their demands that Virginia apply an
effective remedy. Residents of the District
of Columbia have no desire to annoy such
a good neighbor-a suburb. in fact-as
Alexandria has been and still is so they
will see to 1t that the cause of complaint
is removed as speedily possible. Vir-
ginia and Alexandria county have prom
ised to do whatever lies In their power to
render Jackson City and Rosslyn less in
curious to the capital and recent indica-
tions point to the probability that the
promises made will soon be redeemed.
Then. when the physical garbage of Wash
irgton no longer annoys Alexandria and
the moral garbage which Alexandria county
has permitted to be dumped upon it by
New Jersey and other states has been 50
diminished as to cease to threaten the well
fare of the District of Columbia, all will
be well in this vicinity. The Star has re-
peatedly urged the District Commissioners
to compel at the earliest moment the cree
ton of a reduction plant which will render
unnecessary the scow method of disposal,
and there is likelihood of sweeping reform
In the near future. The race may be an
exciting one. Will Virginia or the ma
tional capital be the first to be cleansed in
such a manner as to avoid offense to
others. while purifying and benefiting it.
self?