Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-12

AS the building Is open fore ana ait thlS
smoke mingles with the outer atmosphere
and Is sooner or later dissipated. Every
effort is made. however, to keep the place
clean by constant sweeping and washing.
and the contractors claim that this crema-
tory Is as free from Objectionable features
as 1t Is possible to make 1t.
The health office Of the District govern
ment Is responsible for the faithful per-
fcrmance OF the duties imposed upon the
garbage collector Health Ohicer Wood
ward takes b personal interest in the mat
ter. realizing Its Importance to the san
itary condition Of the city. and Is making
an earnest effort to compel the contractor
to carry out his obligations to the entire
satisfaction of the citizens. To this end
regulations have been made in accordance
with the terms Of the contract which
make 1t to the advantage Of the contractor
himself to do good work, by imposing tinan-
cial penalties for failure.
During the summer season every house
holder Is entitled to have the garbage re-
moved from his premises once a day. ex-
cept Sundays. IL he desires. If there is fail
ure to do the work on the part Of the con-
tractor, and complaint Is made to the
health department in writing. an inspector
is sent to investigate the circums tances
If good case Is made against the con-
tractor, showing him to be at fault he Is
fined for his negligence.
Complaints and Fines.
From August 1 to August %, including
the exceptionally hot weather. there were
eighty-three complaints to the health Of
fee. Investigation was made and as result
thereof the contractor was fined nineteen
times, 81 each time In the remaining cases
there were extenuating circumstances or
the blame for the non-removal of the gar
bage was found to lie with the householder.
When a complaint came in an inspector
was sent to look up the circumstances.
He would ascertain the date of the alleged
failure to collect, see If the garbage was put
In an available position for the collector
and then inquire Of the neighbors whether
their garbage had been collected regularly
not. 1t was considered safe to assume
that the collector would not neglect one
house systematically. and If the neighbor-
ing houses were properly served, 1t was
taken for granted that the fault for nom
service must lie with the complainant in
not providing facilities for the collec tors to
get hold Of the garbage.
The books Of the health office show that
during the latter part of August the
service las been good, II 1t can be judged
by the number of complaints received.
August Is there were two, on the 10Th there
we're four. on the Goth none at all. on the
21st only two and on the oath but two. The
health Office also employs inspectors to fol-
low the garbage carts about the city, un-
known to tho collectors. and to observe the
manner in which the work is done. In
and reported. and in many cases this Is
done before the citizens themselves COM
plain.
The Carthage Wharf.
The greatest bulk Of the garbage collect
ed in the northwest section is carted to the
wharf at the foot Of G street and loaded
upon a scow to be transported down the
river and disposed of beyond the District
line. This method of getting rid Of the
erection Of q garbage crematory in the
west end of the city. Investigation shows
that the contractor does pretty much as
he pleases in handling this branch of the
service and that he can violate the regu-
lations of the health office with impunity
The garbage scow lies at the foot Of g
street until a full load Of material Is gath
cred. This sometimes requires two or three
its contents form putrid spot on the river
'front.' When the load Is completed 1t g
supposed, according 10 the general belief
CT the health Office, to be transported out
Of the District and sold 10 farmers for fer
tilizing purposes.
A few evenings ago reporter of The
Star went down the river in steam
launch to the spot where the garbage is
supposed to be deposited. for the purpose
Of ascertaining the method Of disposal
The landing place of the scow is on the
Maryland shore. southeast of Alexandria,
adjoining the excursion resort known as
Motley Hall. Mr.. Smithson, the Waterman
at Motley Hall, gave the following infor-
nation:
There has been no scow down here for
a week. Sometimes the garbage is sold to
farmers along the shore and sometimes 1t
Is dumped into the river. Not long ago
they brought down a load for which
offered so. This was refused and they
dumped the garbage into the river. The
stun was left on the shore by the falling
tide and made an intolerable nuisance"
A farmer living near by said he had often
bought the garbage for fertilizing pur-
poses, but that the contractor had raised
the price 50 a load recently and there had
been no sales. He had not seen any scows
for q week or more.
Dumped Near Giesboro'.
After learning these facts the Stars ex-
petition steamed up the river and arrived
about shutdown at the entrance to the
Georgetown channel, expecting to see the
garbage scow being towed down the river
as its trips are made at night. Instead Of
this, however, the scow was brought down
by tugboat and anchored at the mouth Of
the Eastern branch. opposite the arsenal
point Here it remained until dark, when
party Of men came off in small boats and
poled the scow into shore. the landing be-
ing made on the south side of the Eastern
branch. Immediately back Of Buena Vista,
what was formerly known as Giesboro'
point. Here the scow was made fast to the
shore. The next morning the farmers Of
the neighborhood came down with wagons
and carted the refuse away.
This spot Is within the District of Column
bia. The scow was unloaded within the
District. contrary to the import OF the
contract with the District Commissioners,
and the ill-smelling garbage was distribut.
ed within a quarter Of q mile of the ar
senal and directly in range with all South
Washington. SO that gentle south wind
would carry the odors over a large area of
the city.
Health Officer Woodward when asked
yesterday what were the requirements of
the department as to the removal Of gar
bage by scow, said:
I'VE require 1t to be carried beyond the
District line for deposit. We also require
the contractor to obtain the consent of the
authorities of the state where 1t is desired
to dump the refuse for such disposition of
the garbage We would not allow 1t to be
unloaded In the District II we knav A.