Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-02
THE GARBAGE MENACE
Still Piling Up in Heaps at the
Wharves.
NO PLAN DECIDED ON
Serious Danger in Case There
Should Be a Thaw.
OFFICIALS ED

OFFICIALS PERPLEXED
The garbage problem remains unsolved
and the garbage pile at the foot Of G street
wharf is assuming startling proportions.
Nor Is this all. Dead animals are being
piled up at the foot Of South Capitol street,
and altogether the situation Is more ag-
gravated and alarming every day.
That the Commissioners are determined
to compel the contractors to carry out the
contract is not doubted, but how or when
the accumulated garbage will be removed
is asquestion that no one seems competent
to answer.
Representatives of the Fidelity Company
of Baltimore, which, as the bondsmen OF
the old National Sanitary Company, is
prosecuting the contract, appeared before
the Commissioners this morning and asked
for instructions, adding that the company
was not only willing, but anxious, to carry
out the terms of its contract and take the
garbage outside of the limits of the city.
When Commissioner Ross arrived at the
District building this morning he found
Mr. s. p. Bayly. manager for the garbage
contractors, waiting for an interview. He
was accompanied by Mr.. j. N. Warfield,
brother of the president of the Fidelity
Company, and Mr.. c. 2. Landreau, general
inspector.
Manager Bayly explained the situation
He said 1t was more aggravated than 1t
was Monday. when The Star first called
attention to the condition of affairs. Mr..
Bayly said: Gentlemen, I desire to report
that the contractors for removing garbage
are powerless to take away the garbage
that has been piled at the street wharf
by-reason of the ice in the river, which
prevented it's transportation. We have
offered to pay double rate for scows. but
could not get one to do the work. The ice
Is increasing in thickness every day. and
see no prospect of getting rid Of the gar
bage for some time to come"
Some Suggestions.
Commissioner Powell asked how thick
the ice was.
.About four inches" replied Mr.. Bayly.
THAT Is thick enough to bear the weight
OF team. Why, since the channel is open,
could the scows not be brought up opposite
the wharf and loaded? Or, better still, why
not put a force of men to work with wheel
barrows, and load the scows?'
tJfWhile such scheme may be feasible"
rejoined Mr.. Bayly, land it may be possi-
ble" to load the scows, provided We could
get them, where are we to deposit this
garbage? The authorities of Maryland and
Virginia have repeatedly prohibited us
from landing scows loaded with garbage
in either state. So. even though it were
possible to get the scows outside of the
city limits. where is the garbage to be
dumped?"
the river?" suggested Commissioner Ross.
,,..Why, there's a United States statute
against that. and we would be liable to a
fine of $1,000 for each offense.''
with twinkle in his eye, you would have
been liable to a fine of q great many thou
sand dollars last summer, for the report
vas current that many load of garbage
was emptied into the river
True enough said Mr.. Bayly. "but we
were never caught, and consequently there
is no proof that such were the facts"
'The Commissioners have nothing to do
with where you put this garbage, so long
as you get it outside Of the city limits"
said Capt Powell, returning to the original
proposition of getting rid of the garbage.
The District is in no way responsible as
to where you put it, and the Commission
ers are not required to provide place for
you to deposit it,
..'The contract states" replied Mr.. Bayly,
that the garbage must be deposited be-
yond the limits of the District, at such
point or points approved by the health
officer. If the Commissioners will desig-
nate point where this garbage can be
deposited, 1 promise you the contractors
will not be found wanting. AS the situa-
ton now exists, we cannot even haul it
into Maryland or Virginia by teams, and
SO, You see, we are barred all around from
doing anything"
5sc In Case of Thaw.
Commissioner Ross said: you can GER
tainly take 1t outside of the District on
scows."
1--WE might be able to do that and dump
1t in the river, if we could get the neces-
sary authority. Would it not be practicable
to get a joint resolution through Congress
giving us permission to do that?'
That would hardly be possible" said
Commissioner Ross. There is not time
enough, and then 1 hardly think 1t would
be possible to get such resolution
through
ITS just this" said Capt. Powell: when
a thaw comes the stencil will be awful
"The garbage is so piled that it could be
transported in a very short space of time
after a dump is located volunteered In
spector Landrean.
Where are your scows now?' said Mr..
Ross, addressing Manager Bayly.
'1They are frozen in down the river some
where. There are three of them there and
they cannot be moved. All OF them are
frozen tight in shallow water and no tug
could get to them to break them out"
You say the river is frozen over! que
ried Capt. Powell.
"Yes, sir, that is correct.
Must BE Done.
But the steamboats, are plying between
here and Norfolk and the channel must
be free. Get your scows in the channel
opposite your wharf, and load them by
wheelbarrows."
IT have already said, captain. that even
were this possible we have no place to de-
posit it outside of the District. We don't
know what to do with it afterwards"
That's not the business of the Commits
sioners," said Capt. Powell, rather testify.
1--WE are ready to carry out your orders,
gentlemen. but you can't expect us to work
impossibilities.''
II think you ought to carry it away from
Washington. 1t must be done" said Com
missioner Ross.
Then there was q long silence, during