The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-20
REDUCES HIS FIGURES
EXPERT FILM THINKS CARRIAGE,
COULD BE COLLECTED FOR $4,000.
Driven Over the City I'm Company
with Pfttsburg's Mayor, Who Takes
Liking to Indianapolis.

Mayor Denny and Or. Hays and President
Holton, of the Board OF Works yesterday
had talk with Charles T. Finn. of Pitts
burg, who is an expert in the business OF
collecting garbage. Mr.. Finn was accom-
panied by Mr.. Bernard McKenna. Mayor OF
the city. The presence of the latter was
said TO be merely of a social character. The
party was taken over the city in a car
rage for the purpose of giving Mr.. Finn an
idea of the size and topography of Indian
apolis, with view TO securing an adequate
idea OF the cost OF handling the garbage.
Mr.. Roosevelt, president Of the American
Reduction Company, refused to- sign the
contract submitted by his representative.
Mr.. Campbell, until he should hear what
Mr.. Finn had TO say about the cost of the
collection of the garbage in indianapolis
after an inspection OF the city. Mr. Finn
praised the fine character of the streets in
warm language, saying that they are kept
cleaner than in most any city he had ever
visited. He commented fayorably upon the
level surface and smooth paving as condu-
Give to low cost of garbage collection. He
found, he said, that while Pittsburg has a
much larger population, it covers only
about hfteen square miles, while Indianap-
oils has about twenty-one square miles. But
the level surface, he said, makes il much
easier 10 make the collection with less cost,
especially as there are diagonal streets
which cut out long hauls. Mr.. Finn and
Mayor McKenna spoke in high praise of the
general appearance of the city
After the ride the party went into con-
ference In Mayor Denny's office. The con-
sultation lasted for two hours. and the con-
tract proposed between the city and the re-
auction company was discussed. Mr. Finn
so Tar modified his estimate of the cost of
saroage collection as to say that it would
nad at first reported. He said he would in
FORM Mr.. Roosevelt of the result of his visit
mere by long-distance telephone this morn
ing from Pittsburg. He and Mayor Nc
kenna took the evening train home In
conversation with DR.. Hays, Mr.. Finn said
tnat, on basis of $4,000. night soil in
cluded, indianapolis would have its garbage
removed more cheaply than any other city
In the United States, and for less than any
future contract. Mayor McKenna told Dr.
Hays that he had been making an inyesti-
cation or this subject. and that at the esti-
mate named Indianapolis had an Opportu-
nifty 10 secure the removal of garbage at a
less cost than is paid in Pittsburg, where
$4,000 year Is paid for the removal of the
green garbage alone.
The contract price on which an agreement
between the Board of Works, representing
the city. and Mr. Campbell, representing
the American Reduction Company, reached
an agreement was $4,000, but when Mr..
Roosevelt made other Investigations he told
Mayor Denny and MIR. Holton. on the occa-
sion of their visit to New York, that he
would not approve the contract, though il
was not questioned that Mr.. Campbell had
authority to act. Mayor Denny was asked
last night If the city would attempt TO hold
the reduction company to the contract but
he refused TO discuss this point, saying that
II was yet too early to formulate a policy
on this point. MIR. CampbelPs action
disapproved by the company, and was called
a blunder. Mayor Denny thinks IL was due
to false ideas gained by Mr.. Campbell by
what he thought were adequate investiga-
lions at the present crematory. Instead of
there being only eighteen to twenty tons
daily of garbage, there are really from
thrty-five TO forty tons. Mayor Denny
asked Mr.. Finn TO make his report at once,
in order that there may be no delay in clos
ing the contract.