New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-16
WAITING FOR ORDERS.
MR.. F1.oCKEN CANNOT CLEAN UP COMFY
ISLAND WITHOUT HELP.
HE WILL, GET AFTER THE GARBAGE CONTRACT
oRs ON RECEIPT OF INSTRUCTIONS FROM
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENr-A
DrE-FIctT,T PROBLEM

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTAL
DIFFICULT PROBLEM
! Commissioner of Health Emery has made no
! direct move as yet to clean Coney Island, or
otherwise improve its sanitary condition. Super
intendent Of Streets Flocken has been waiting
for a Department notification from DR.. Emery
| authorizing him to order the contractors Norton
& German to provide handcarts. as was sug-
gested at the meeting on Monday afternoon In
the Commissioners office. Mr.. Flocken said yes
terday that he could not go ahead on his own re-
sponsbty Il am expecting daily" said he,
the order from the Health Office. Why II Is de-
| layed do not know A great deal needs to be
done at Coney Island and while the public may
think we are moving slowly, the condition OF ar
fairs is really due the new situation which has
| confronted us. This is really the first year that
/ we have had directly to do with Coney Island.
| and no one not directly connected with the de-
| partments involved can appreciate the difficulty
! under which labor. We have an unusually
hard class of people to deal with. They are ire
| sponsible. and would require constant watching
in order to bring about the best Of sanitary con-
! dtions. think that when we get fairly to work
Coney Island will present different aspect. pro-
vdng, Of course. the ordinances are enforced
That contingency will involve other departments
| than mine l am not only ready but anxious to
move. A great deal could be accomplished at
| the island by the enforcement of the ordinances
| relating to the ownership of proper receptacles
| Many Of the tradesmen and keepers Of the vari-
! Gus resorts the walks use ordinary barrels
and boxes to carry their refuse to Surf-ave
there to be taken away by the contractor. In
many cases the owners are either too lazy or In
different to take back the receptacles after they
| have been empted. They stand In the sun in
Surf-ave.. and are not only menace to health
| hut are disagreeable to the people on Surf-ave
| My idea is that each tenant on the walks or
rather each tenant at the island should be COM
PEELED to have the tin metal receptacle. with
| his or her name painted on the outside. The
work Of the contractors men. and the difficulties
under which we labor at present, would be great
~ reduced If this plan were adopted"
It was asked Would the departments not use
repressive measures against the irresponsible
foreigners and others who refuse to comply with
the Ordinances?"
1T would he effective" was the reply. but
the Administration officers responsible would be
subjected to a great deal Of criticism by those
against whom they proceeded. and great
! amount of i-feeling would be stirred up We
think II best to educate those people. To show
that have done all could, will state that
| have had circulars printed in various languages
! in Italian and Hebrew. for instance. calling at
|
| Of garbage
THE best thing to do would be for the Health
| Department TO detail special officers at Coney
! Island with instructions to report violations
with view to prosecution in case OF continued
! disregard to the law, would II not?' was sug-
| gested.
| Yes" replied Mr.. Flocken, that would. no
doubt be an excellent idea. But there. again
we would excite the resentment of those who do
not understand our institutions But as 10 the
! enforcement Of ordinances, that IL matter for
( the law department If Mr.. Moores opinion
| holds | think that the condition OF the Island
| will be greatly improved SOON
1t came out during the conversation with MT
Flocken that Brooklyn has only two places
where garbage can be disposed Of. The main
| station is at Sixth-st and Gowanus Canal. inc
| other place is owned by Norton & German and
IL situated in Eighty -sixth-st and Sheepshead
! Ray-ave The garbage delivered at this place Is
| burned in the crematory recently erected. The
garbage Of the entire city with the exception or
| that taken up by Norton & German In com
paratively limited territory, Is delivered at Co
| wanus Canal on scows, which take II TO sea me
| territory covered by the wagons Is about twelve
miles square. and the drivers in most instances
are compelled to go over four and hali miles 10
get rid Of their load. Mr. Flocken admitted mat
| Brooklyn Is badly off in the matter or garbage
dumping grounds and that the facilltles are
! really inadequate. He said that the water-tront
! was all taken up and that there was no avail
able space of all the miles OF frontage, mat the
CITY could get for a garbage dump. the only
way to do would be for the Law Department 10
begin condemnation proceedings on any site
that might he selected But this would be I'M
practicable at the present time.