The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-12
DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE.
Special Joint Council Committee
Takes Up the Subject.


The specifications for the collection
ana disposal of garbage for the year
1898 were discussed by the special
joint committee last evening. Present
at the meeting were Assemblymen
Johnson Craig and Albecht, Aldermen
Kenny and Stutzman and Health Com
missioner Stone. The result of the
meeting was that subcommittee con-
s1st1ng of Assemblyman Johnson,
Health Commissioner Stone and the
corporation attorney were directed to
prepare specifications providing for
the collection of the garbage in small
districts, and with the understanding
that not more than one district should
be let to the same contractor.
Assemblyman Johnson, who acted as
chairman of the committee. was in
favor of the scavenger SYSTEM by
which each resident would have to pay
for the removal of garbage. In his
opinion, the present system of letting
the contract to one firm for the entire
city was an injustice to the people,
and nothing more than robbery. He
also favored the taking of steps look
ing toward the purchase of a crema-
tory for the disposal of the garbage
and suggested that an amount suf-
ficient to erect a, plant be placed in
the coming tax estimate, so that the
plant could be erected next year and
would be ready for business Jan. /,
1S99
Mr.. Craig opposed the proposition of
the scavenger system, and stated that
he would never vote for specifications
OF this kind. The result, he claimed,
would be that a. greater part of the
garbage would not be removed.
DR.. Stone said the tscavenger system
would increase the work of the health
department, and would necessitate the
hiring of at least twenty additional
inspectors to look after the collection.
Hundreds of persons, who now had
their garbage removed at least three
times per week, if called on to pay for
the removal out of their pockets
would in some way get rid of the gar
bage without going to any expense,
and this would result in garbage not
being disposed of except in lots and
back yards. He favored the letting
of the contracts for the removal of gar
bage in small districts The best plan
for the disposal was to have a crem-
atory, but, as this could not be in op-
Grafton before 1899 at the best, the
specifications for next year could pro-
vide for the removal at least one mile
outside the city limits. 80 shj 9',iss.
Aid. Kenny did not think the crem-
atory plan good one, as it would
cost considerable money to run the
plant. On an average there would be
from twenty to thirty tons of garbage
to be disposed of daily, and it would
cost about $25 per day to run the
plant.
Robert Robinson, agent for a crema-
tory, stated that garbage could be dis
posed of for 35 cents per ton after col
lection, and the service of one man
would be all that was necessary to run
the plant.
Assemblyman Albrecht was not in
favor of voting $4,000 for a crematory
just at present He thought the best
thing to do was to attend to the speci-
flcations for the collection of the gar
baeg for the coming year, and discuss
the crematory plan later. He favored
the small district plan and the letting
of not more than one district to the
same contractor. The next meeting
of the committee will be held as soon
as the subcommittee has completed the
specifications.