The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-27
TO COLLECT GARBAGE.
Councilman Nettel's Ordinance,
To Be FaVOrabIy Reported.
Little Opposition Among Those
Who Have Studied 1t.
It Will Insure an Inspection af the
Alleys at Least Once a Week
Garbage Will be Collected
Once OF. Twice a Week.

Councilman NettelS' garbage Ordl-
nance will at least find its way into a
consideration by the city council. The
committee on health decided last even
ing to report it favorably. There is
very little opposition to the ordinance
among the counciImen who have had
time to study it. By its adoption To-
peka viii have a regular system of
garbage collection which will insure an
inspection of all the alleys in the city
at least once week and an assurance
that they will be kept free from filth.
There is not an alley in the city which
is not made the dumping ground for
kitchen garbage which is a source of
disease
Councilman NetteIs' ordinance fol-
lows closely that now in force in Kan
sas City and other towns. Recepta-
cles are to be placed adjacent to the
alleys where the garbage is to be emp
tied and the collector with a tight wag-
on box comes around once or twice
week and empties the cans and dis
poses of the garbage at the city dump.
This work is to be done by the sani-
tary officers who are to be paid $50 per
month.
At the meeting of the committee to
consider the ordinance last evening
Councilman Warner presided. City
Physician Mitchell met with the COM
mittee.
Councilman NetteIs said in explain
ing the ordinance: My first thought
was to not modest the present method
OF sanitary inspection but that would
nave added $3.50 per month to our pay
rolls which L know is impracticable at
this time. The garbage collectors could
do the work of sanitary inspection 1t
is true that they would not be men
specially skilled in the work of santa
ton but / understand that
force IS not made up of men selected
with reference to their skill in sanitary
matters They are good men of ordi-
nary intelligence selected from the cit
liens of the city,
City Physician Mitchell: How MANY
men are employed in doing this work
Councilman Nettels: I think that
three are employed there. In Kansas
City, which is a town of 100000. I be
HeYe, that Is men are employed
DR.. Mitchell: 1t occurs to me that
the city should at least furnish the
garbage wagon boxes. A man might
be found inefficient and have to be dis
charged and he would be left with
wagon on his hands which would be of
no use to him.
Councilman Warner: I think it
would be more satisfactory if the CITY
would furnish the wagon boxes at
Councilman Drew: I can see no val
id objection to that. I would, however,
object to the city furnishing the run
ming gears to the wagons.
DR.. Mitchell: A cart might be bet
ter It could be readily turned around
in the alley and could be dumped much
more easily.
Councilman NetteIs: That would ne
cessitate putting two men in each dis
trict which would require eight men in
stead of four.
The question of making the garbage
cans uniform in size came up. Coun-
Gilman Nettels said that cans such as
prescribed in the ordinance, 80 inches
in height and Is inches in diameter
would cost from S1.0O to $3.50 He said
that in view of the general good to the
city that could not be regarded in the
light of a great burden.
DR.. Mitchell said that there were
many poor people in the city who
would not be able to buy the cans.
Councilman Drew suggested that two
families might dump their garbage in
the same can.
1t was finally agreed that the kind
of receptacle should be left to the user
but should not hold more than six Gu
bic feet and should be provided with
stout handles.
City Physician said that the board
of health had some time ago recon-
mended that a garbage ordinance be
passed.
It was then agreed that the ordinance
should be reported favorably to the
council at the next meeting.