Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-27
CITIZENS CO MPLAIN
Grievances From South Washington Before
the Commissioners.
A Delegation Has n Somewhat Inter
estfng Infervfew-The OdOrless
COmpnny's Plant.

A delegation from the South Washington
Citizens Association, headed by Chairman
Brown of the nuisance committee, appear
ed before the Commissioners this morning
relative to the opening of street south
terminus bv a wharf the property of the
Odorless Excavating Company, from which
place the night soil Of the city is shipped.
The hearing developed some unpleasant
features. Chairman Brown accused the
Commission ers of treating the association
like a lot Of children, which statement was
promptly denied by Commissioner Ross.
Chairman Brown continued with the state
ment that the association appeared to have
no rights. 1t lad complained time and
time again of the nuisance that existed at
the cid of street, but nothing had been
done. He claimed that Major Powell had
promised i'm to open the street, and moth
ing was ever done beyond the driving of a
few pegs The street should be opened and
the Odorless Excavating Company remov-
ed from the end of the street. where 1t
constituted great nuisar ce.
Commissioner Ross thought the Odorless
Excavating Company was not maintaining
a nuisance. He would like the association
to suggest some other place from which
the night soil could be shipred.
Chairman Brown thought it could be
shipped from the G. street wharf, where
the garbage was dumped onto the scoWs.
He added that the Commissioners had
promised the citizens association to re-
move the other nuisances In South Wash
ington. VIXEN TIE crematory was located.
They had not kept their promise.
One of the committee appealed to the
owner of tho crematory fer a substantial
ton of this statement, but the latter as
tcnished every one by charging the COM
mittee with being lot of prevaricators
The hearing can to an abrupt ending af-
ter the lyrctechnical display of words.
Chairman Brown Of the nuisance COM
mitlee exhibited the following letter. which
he had recently received from the Com
missioners, relative to the street matter:
"In response to your memorandum left
with Captain Fiebeger. stating that the
South Washington Citizens Association
request to be informed whether the Odor-
less Excavating Company Is occupying the
wharf at the junction of 9 street and the
Eastern branch by the permission of the
Commissioners. you are respectfully in
formed that. according to the report of the
health officer permission for the nse of the
wharf was originally granted by Gen. o. F.
Babcock. T.S.A.. in charge of public build
ings and grounds, and that it has been so
occupied for the shipment of night soil
since 1872. The Commissioners have con-
fcrred this morning with regard to the
matter, and agreed that the service per-
formed by the Odorless EXcavating Com
pany is Of vast Importance to the COM
munity. Within the past few weeks the
company has been required, under orders
fl ON the health office. to place metal COW
over the empty barrels used at said
wharf. The Commissioners desire to have
the wharf so used as to avoid complaint
and unnecessary Inconvenience to any one;
but they have been unable to devise any
plan whereby the material so collected can
be shipped and conveyed from the city
with less inconvenience than at the point
named