Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-16
DISTRICT AFFAIRS
The Commissioners Report on the
Subject Of Garbage.
HISTORY OF The CON TRACTS
How and Why the Present Sys.
tenn Was Chosen.
HER LOCAL NOTES

By resolution of the Senate adopted Feb
ruary 2S 1896, the Commissioners of the
District were directed to make full re-
port of their action under the act of March
3 1895, in the matter Of the removal OF the
garbage Of the cities of washington and
Georgetown. The Commissioners nave
completed their report in accordance with
this resolution, which has been sent with
accompanying papers to the Senate. AT the
outset the Commissioners state that the act
mentioned in regard to the removal OF the
garbage refers also to disposal and to the
collection and disposal of dead animals.
and that therefore the report will neces-
sarily treat of these subjects in addition
to the matter of the removal of garbage.
The report then proceeds to give his
tory of the contract for the disposal OF
garbage and dead animals which was in
force at the time Of the passage of the
act of March .. 1895. In 1892 they state,
the contract for period Of five years was
made with Benjamin w. Clark OF this
city, who assigned 1t to the National SAM
tary Company of Baltimore, and on fail
ure Of this company, the receivers assigned
the contract to Edward Warfeld of Balti-
more, who was performing the work when
the act above referred to went into oper-
alton.
The contractor received $4,000 per an
rum, with $1,000 per month additional for
the daily collection of garbage during
July August and September, 1894, and by
the above mentioned law s., 900 was appro-
priated to provide daily collection DUR
ing the months of May and June. lS'1.
Daily collections were made In the district
between 9th and nth, b and streets
northwest. Fer the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1895. the total amount of the con-
tract was s29, 400. The report states that
the service was extremely unsatisfactory,
and the reason alleged by the contractor
was the failure of the householders to
keep their garbage in proper receptacles or
render 1t accessible.
The report states that there was law
under which they could remedy this state
Of affairs. 1t was also stated that the
method of disposal employed by the con-
tractor carrying the garbs ge down the Po-
tomac on open scows was Objectionable In
view of these conditions the report adds,
the Commissioners deemed 1t advisable to
avail themselves of that proviso i'll the act
of March ., 1895. to enter into new con-
tract for the collection, removal and DIS
posal Of garbage and dead animals.
Negotiations were begun to terminate. by
mutual consent, the then existing contract
with Mr.. Warfield In order to allow suffi-
cient time, the report continues for the
erection of such crematory or other device
for disposal might be determined upon,
it was deemed advisable to terminate this
contract on June 30, 1885, and to enter into
supplementary contract with Mr.. Edwin
Wartield for a period of four months. COM
mencing July l. 1895 This contract was
executed June II, 1880.
New Regulations.
In the meantime. the report states exer-
eising the authority conferred upon them
in the act referred to- the Commissioners,
on April /, 1895, issued regulations for the
collection and disposal of garbage in the
District. The object of these regulations,
far they applied to the householder,
is to require him to preserve his garbage
free from the elements in a receptacle read
lily accessible that can be easily handled by
the collector.
AS the force of inspectors was INSULT
cient to enforce the garbage regulations,
the report states that this duty was in
trusted to the police department, so far as
the securing compliance on the part Of the
householder is concerned. On the 10th of
May, 1885, continues the report, proposals
for the contract authorized by the act of
March ., 1893, were published. and on the
18th of June following, the report adds, The
bid Of Josiah n. Warield for collecting
and disposng of garbage and dead animals
in the District of Columbia by crema ton
being the lowest and best bid for the
method Of disposal, made in conformity
lions, (which method the health officer
recommends as the best for the present
conditions was accepted
Different Systems.
The report then refers to the experience
in other cities and in view "of favorable
reports from cities using crematories the
Commissioners selected cremation as the
most desirable method to be employed in
this District Reference is also made 20
the investigation by the health officer of
all the reduction systems in practical op-
Grafton in this country and several sys-
TENS OF cremation, and copy of his report
is appended. The Commissioners further
state that they gave hearings to persons
interested In various systems of garbage
disposal and personally inspected crema-
tories of three systems.
AS result of the investigations the
report states, 1.-The Commissioners deemed
1t advisable to enter into contract for
TOUR years and eight months for the col
lection OF garbage and dead animals in this
District, and their destruction by the pro-
cess Of incarceration. the furnaces to be
employed being known as the Smith and
the Brown crematories.
Believing, as the Commissioners do"
says the report, that a properly con-
Quoted garbage crematory is not in itself
a nuisance, 1t is deemed advisable that
such establishment should not be located
at too great hauling distance as any in
crease in the length of haul necessarily in
creaSeS the amount of nuisance arising
IRON such transportation, a Brown crelna-
tory has been erected on South CapitoI
street near street, and is at present in
operation.
Great difficulty has been experienced in
securing a site for the Smith crematory.
which 1t Is proposed by the contractor to
erect. AS yet nothing has been done to-
ward its erection"