The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-26
THE CITY TO COLLECT
CARRIAGE PROPOSITION WILL RE-
QUIRE A NEW SYSTEM.
Treasurer of American Reduction
Company Confer with the
City OmciaIs.

John B. Campbell, treasurer of the Ameri-
can Reduction Company, of New York, ar
rived in the city yesterday morning and
was in consultation with the Board of
Health, the Board of Works and the Mayor
yesterday afternoon in regard to making
the city a proposition to dispose of its gar
bage. After talking with DR.. Hays a few
minutes in regard to the night soil, Mr..
Campbel said his company would be will
ing to erect a plant here and agree to dis
pose of all garbage and night soil free of
cost to the city, but it would have to be
delivered to the company's plant. 1t would
be one of the stipulations that all houses
not connected with the sewers should adopt
the drawer system for vaults, and the COM
pany would furnish free powdered phos-
phate rock to be sprinkled in the drawers
by the citizens. This would be regulated by
ordinance.
Under such a plant it would be necessary
for the city to do the collecting of garbage.
either by contract or the direct employment
of labor. Mr.. Campbell estimates that ff-
teen one-horse wagons and about twenty
men and boys would be a sufficient force.
1t was estimated by members of the Board
of Works that the expense to the city would
be about $4,000 a year for the collection, be-
sides an immediate outlay of about 5000.
At the present time the city pays nothing
for the collection of garbage, but the ex-
pepse to property owners and householders
for the collection and for vault cleaning is
much greater than the estimated expense of
collecting in this way. While the payment
now comes from the pockets of the individ-
uals, the m under the proposed sys-
tenn would be by the city. 1t would be an
increase in the city's garbage expense of
ABOUT $o,W0 a year, but a saving TO property
owners of four or FIVE times that amount.
While the members of the board do not
much like the feature of it that will add an
increased burden to the taxes of the city,
they are inclined to look with favor upon
the proposition from the fact that it would
and at the same time would be a great adj
vance as a sanitary measure.
Mr.. Campbell has made no definite prOpo-
sition yet, but will probably do so at a
meeting to be held this morning in the Off re
of the Board of Works, when the garbage
COMMITTEES appointed by the Mayors cabinet
will be present. This includes a Council
II have made some Inquiries regarding
DR.. Hays last night, s'and l find that 1t
has a contract which gives it complete
night soil of the cities of Brooklyn, Phila-
delphia, Syracuse, Rochester and Pittsburg,
and many other cities. 1t is my opinion,
judging from the men who are stockholders
and. officers in this company, that it is en-
tract that may be made. Among the gem
tlemen who are connected with this COM
pany are John b. Campbell, a representa-
tive business man of Brooklyn, treasurer
of the company; Samuel NJ. Roosevelt,
wealthy Roosevelt family of New York,
and Edmund Kelly, secretary of the COM
pany, who is founder of the Good Govern
ment clubs of New York, and, in a sense,
stands a sponsor for the reforms which are
being secured in that city. George w.
Kenyon of New York, and James w. Par
sons, of Philadelphia. both m~illionaires, are
stockholders in the company. So thorough
is the scientific and sanitary methods of
of great cities that it has
been approved over European methods,
and at the present time the company has
closed a contract with the city of Dub
lin, and favorable negotiations are being
carried on with London and other English
cities. The practical engineering depart
ment is under the control of Prof. James
Denton is one of the best known mechan-
fcal engineers of the world. If a contract
is made with this city the erection of
the plant will be under his supervision and
carried out in a way acceptable to the
Health Department of the city, and in con-
with the best and most recent
methods. The night-soil problem
is one which has perplexed the sanitary
officers in all American and European
by this company is in every par
ticular satisfactory. If it is carried out
the death rate of the city will be reduced
very greatly, and the disease rate as we'll.
The reduction company will put in a plant
here which would cost about $40, 600, and
would employ a great number of local bust
ness men and laborers."