Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-02
GARBAGE DISPOSAL
Some Inquiries Made by the Local
Health Authorities.
SYSTEMS IN Use IN OTHER CITIES
Cremation or Reduction is Extern
sively Employed.
EEDS OF THE CITY

Health Officer Woodward this afternoon
transmitted to the Commissioners his re-
port made on the subject of collection and
disposition of garbage and dead animals.
The report was made by direction of the
Commissioners, because Congress in
August last asked that such a report be
made.
The report, which was prepared by
Deputy Health Officer Mclean, Is as fol-
lows:
This department., pursuant to your in
structions, undertook, months ago. spe-
cial investigation as to the best method of
collecting and disposing of garbage and
dead animals within the limits of the Dis
trict of Columbia, with the view of sub
uniting its findings to you for use in the
preparation of the report that, by direc-
ton of an act approved August Z, 1894 ian
act making an appropriation to provide for
the expenses of the government Of the
District of Columbia for the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1880, you are to make to
Congress at Its present session
1T Is with regret that am compelled to
state that this all-important question has
not received such attention and consider
alton as 1t deserves, not however, because
it's Importance has been underestimate or
the necessity of action has been over
looked, but because the unexpected out
break of smallpox within the District has
for months SO engrossed the time and at
tention of myself and the chief clerk as to
preclude the thorough consideration and
investigation of the garbage question that
we had hoped to make
Menace to Health.
This problem involves the sanitary dis
position of all vegetable and animal refuse
arising from domestic life, that If not
promptly removed and properly disposed of.
becomes a menace to the health and lives
Of the community, composed as it is CT
matter that under climatic Influences must
soon ferment and purify, poisoning the at
mosphere with it's noxious effluvium.
'Bacteriology has demonstrated that in
decaying organic matter the various Or
ganisms. pathogenic and otherwise, find q
fertile soil for growth and multiplication:
moreover, the various gases arising from
such substances tend to injure the health Of
those exposed to them. and so render them
ready victims for such palhogenic organ
isms as they may come in contact with.
This problem cannot. therefore. receive
too careful consideration too thorough
and labor devoted to res earcn into the
fullest and most comprehensive scientific
views on this subject would be no more
than its gravity calls for.
garbage already in vogue should, too, re-
ceive personal examination and study, that
the results attained both from an economic
and hygienic standpoint might be prop
erly stated. Without such study and ex-
animation no conclusions worthy of serious
consideration can be advanced.
Information Frem Other Cities.
THE current work of this department,
au. mented by the unremitting labor en-
tailed in the suppression of smallpox, has
precluded the possibility of any personal
examination Of the respective garbage
plants, beyond the most hurried one that
was mace at Philadelphia and Atlantic
City. and have, therefore been compelled
to content myself with the collection of
such data as could be obtained by corre-
spondence with the municipal authorities
of the largest cities in this country"
Communications were sent, the report
states. soliciting information on this SUBJ
ject to the mayors of a large number of
cities in this country.
or the reports received the only ones Civ
ing information or data of any value are:
Atlantic City, N. J.-Dispcsing of garbage
by the NJ. V. Smith system of cremation.
Atlanta, Ga.-By the Dixon system of Gre
nation. Augusta, Ga.-Burned in open air.
Boston, Massey the New England sys.
TEN OF reduction. Brooklyn, N. Y-By
dumping at sea- Buffalo, N. Y.-By the
Merz system of reduction. Baltimore, Nd.
BY hauling into country for fertilzing
purposes. Columbus, Ga.-By dumping in
TO ravines in suburbs of city. Columbus,
ohlo-By dumping outside of the city and
covering with ashes. Cleveland, Ohio-By
dumping into the lake Detroit Mich-Rv
the Merz system of reduction. Harrisburg.
Pa--Ey dumping into swamp outside of
city. Jacksonville, Fla.-By the Engle sys-
tenn OF cremation. Kansas City. Mo.-By
dumping part in river and delivering mart
DESIGNATING
BY dumping in salt meadows
Lowell Mass, by the Epgle system of
cremation; Los Angeles. Cal. by the Done
gan system of cremation; Louisville. Nv
by dumping on lots at the outskirts of the
city: Manchester, N. H., by hauling into
country for fertilizing purposes and food
Tor hogs; Mobile, Ala, by dumping on lots
outside of city and covering with sawdust:
Milwaukee, Wis, by the Merz system of
reduction; Muncie, Ind, by the NJ " Smith
system of cremation; Minneapolis. Mimi,
by dumping in ravines outside of city lin
it's and hauling away for fertilizing pur-
poses; Newark. N. j., by dumping in salt
meadows; Norfolk. Va, by the Engle sys-
tenn of cremation; Nashville. Tenn, by
dumping on sandy soil outside city; Port
land. Me, by hauling to the country and
feeding to swine: Philadelphia, Pa. by the
Arnold system of reduction. also the NJ. "
Smith and Bowling systems of crema alton;
Pensacola, Fla, by burning in open air;
Pittsburg, Pa, by the Rider system of Gre
nation; Portland, Ore. by cremation, a
local invention no name given. a total fail
ure, so pronounced; Providence r. l., by
hauling to the country and feeding to
swine. the Simonn system was in use but
now abandoned; Rochester N. Y. by haul
ing to the country and feeding to SWINE
also for fertilizing purposes.
Richmond. Va, by the Engle system of
cremation: st. Louis, Mo-, by the Merz
system of reduction; San Francisco, Cal,
by burning in open air, covering with ashes
and chloride of lime; savannah, Ga. by
the Engle system of cremation; ST. Paul,
Mimi. by hauling into the country for fer
tilizing purposes; Scranton Pa, by the vi
Utah, by the Engle system of cremation;
Toledo, Ohio. by hauling into the country
for fertilizing purposes; Wheeling, w. Va.
by the NJ. V. Smith system of cremation;
Wilmington, Del, by the Brown system of
cremation