The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-21
NIGHT SOIL PROBLEM
CABINET CONSIDERS THE PRESENT
CARRIAGE CONTRACT.
Committee Appointed to See if 1t Can
BE Legally Hr0ken-Dr. Hayes
Recommendations.

The Mayors cabinet met last evening and
took important steps toward the lettering
of the sanitary condition of the city by
taking action whereby the city can be r.
leased from the present unsatisfactory con-
tracts for the disposition of garbage and
night soil. Controller TrusIer, President
Holton, of the Board of Works, DR.. Hays,
of the Board of Health, and Councilman
Rauh were appointed a committee to con-
fer with the garbage contractors and report
means whereby the present contracts can
be broken. DIR. Hays, of the Board of
Health. submitted the following report upon
the garbage question upon the investiga-
ton of the board:
w have made an inspection of the
crematory for garbage. :. is our opinion
that the garbage delivered at that place
is satisfactorily disposed of. The premises
are free from bad odors and all noxious
gases. The sanitary conditions of the es-
tablishment are good and in no way hurtful
to the health of the neighborhood or city.
There is reason to fear that under existing
delivered at this place, and that there is a
disposition to dispose of the garbage in
ways somewhat hurtful to public health:
the contractor, but rather that ii depends
upon the nature of the contract, which has
Away been regarded unfayorably by our
citizens. 1t is our opinion that as long as
this contract remains there win be trouble
The board has given considerable atten-
ton to the problem of disposing of night
soil. The present plan of burying 1t, as now
practiced by the contractor, Is not satisfac-
tory nor does it come up to the fulfillment
of the conditions of his contract with the
city. The contractor seems willing to dis
pose of the substance in a way that will
be satisfactory to our board, but up to this
time he has failed He nov proposes s, a
posed to regard with a degree of favor,
viz, to spread it in sheds, treat it with
mari and convert it into fertilizing ma
terial. If this experiment results as we now
believe it will we will be inclined to approve
posing of both garbage and night soil com
priSeS much more than has been
or considered by the city authorities. The
solution of these matters seems to be en-
barrassed by the existing contracts, and
will require much thought and thorough at
tsntion on the part OF those intrusted with
DR.. Hays has made a thorough investiga-
ton of the methods employed by other cities
in disposing of night soil and garbage and
he made a report TO the cabinet. He said
he had communicated with the officials of
all the leading cities in this country and of
many of the principal cities of Europe.
From the which he has In this
way gathered, he is confident that the only
way for Indianapolis to proceed is to have
the garbage and night soil disposed of by
private parties and for the city to make
the collections. DIR. Hayes said all those
cities which have tried to dispose of their
own garbage and night soil report adverse
~ to such a proposition. He said other
cities have proved that garbage can be
collected by a city and the cost of collect
Ing PAID Tor from n Iund Tor tnaL purpose
DR.. Hayes advanced other opinions regard
ing good sanitary measures which met
with the approval of those present. 1t was
thought that all vaults should be filled and
property owners made to conect with sewers
or else adopt the drawer system. The mem
bers of the cabinet conceded with DR..
Hays, and all said his plans should be
considered after the city has worked out
of the present contracts.
Representatives of the crematory COM
pany and the garbage collecting company
were present. No complaint is made of the
they are willing TO burn all garbage brought
quantity of garbage is brought there. The
collecting company claims to be ready to
collect the city garbage, but the representa-
tives said the property owners interfered
with their work, by objecting to the ordi-
nance rates and declaring that they will do
as they please with their garbage. The
committee appointed to investigate are to
begin work at once and report as soon as
possible. If the present contracts can be
annulled new methods on the line suggested
by DR.. Hays will probably be adopted.
The question of a location for a South
side market consumed but a small portion of
the cabinets time. The petitions for the
establishment of the market at the street
car barns on Shelby street and the pur-
chase of the Dean property on Madison ave-
nue. were heard. 1t does not seem as If the
city is financially able to make the pur-
chase Of any additional property The ques-
ton was referred to Councilman Stott with
the suggestion that the Council tcSe action
upon the question.