Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-19
THE REMOVAL OF ASHES
District Commissioners to Specially Recon-
mend Aotisn by Congress
The Suggestions by Superintendent,
Omcer, Respectively.

1t is understood that the question of the
collection and removal of ashes by the
municipality will soon be considered by
the District Commissioners, and 1t is be-
lieved they hope to dispose of the matter
by recommending to Congress the grant
ing by that body of the necessary author
ity and funds. Such a recommendation was
made to Congress by the Commissioners
during the last session, but the desired ac-
ton was not taken.
In his report for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1899 Mr.. Warner Stutler, the SUI
perintendent of the District street cleaning
department, said:
IT respectfully renew the recommended
alton of $4o,O00 for the collection and dis
posal of ashes. The systematic collection
of ashes and debris has long been a crying
need in Washington. The street cleaning
department and the health department
very frequently receive letters complaining
that ashes mixed with decaying matter. tin
cans and Objectionable refuse have been
thrown, swept or dumped into the public
alleys, usually in the neighborhood of the
residences of the poorer classes of people,
who cannot afford to hire ash man to
haul their refuse away. The result is a
most insanits'ry condition. until the street
cleaning department is compelled to remove
the debris, and at the expense of its own
appropriation. The citizens almost univer-
sally favor The removal of ashes by the
municipality which is done in nearly every
city of any size in the United States and
In every other civilized country"
Health Officers Comment.
DIR. VIM. C. Woodward, the District
health officer, in his last annual report re-
ferred to the matter follows:
1T is to be regretted that no progress has
been made toward the establishment of a
service for the collection of ashes and gen.
eral refuse and for removal of the contents
of box privtes at public expense. The need
for such a service is becoming more and
more urgent each year.
The Commissioners did not include in their
estimates for the expenses of the District
government during the coming fiscal year
an item covering the recommended collec-
ton and disposal of ashes and other refuse,
but II is understood that Commissioner
Wight will recommend to his associates
that they make the question a special one,
and ask Congress to grant them the neces-
sary authority and funds. Speaking of the
matter today, Mr. Wight stated to a
porter of The Star:
Il convinced that the recommended
tons of the health and street cleaning de-
partments both wise and reasonable,
and 1 will be glad to act with my associates
in approving them. l believe that ashes
and like refuse should be placed on the
same footing, so far as their collection and
disposal is concerned, as garbage, which is
corrected ana disposed OF at the expense OF
the municipality. Indeed l would like to
have Congress grant the Commissioners
authority and funds with which to collect
and dispose of all refuse, including, of
course, street sweepings. OF course, l
realize that if the whole matter should be
placed under the control of the municipal
ity many poor and worthy persons now
earning a livelihood by collecting ashes and
like refuse would be deprived of an oppor-
tunity of making living, but, on the other
hand, many persons now unemployed would
be engaged in the work by the District and
the evils mentioned by the head of the
street cleaning department would be re-
moved.
Will Meet With Public Approval
Il believe that such action by Congress as
Mr.. Stutler states" continued Mr.. Wight
would meet with the practically universal
approval of the people of the District be-
lieve, too, that the sanitary condition of the
District would be vastly improved. Certain
ly the complaints which the Commission
ers receive from time to time of the mis-
cradle animals drawing the wagons and
carts of many persons engaged in the col
lection of ashes of the dilapidated condi-
ton of these vehicles, and of the dirt
winch drops from them the streets and
is down into the eyes of the people would
be removed From every point of view l
am OF the opinion that municipal collection
and disposal of all refuse and waste mat
ter form subject which should receive
the early approval of Congress-"