The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-17
FACTSANDF|CURES
Municipal Heads Re-
spond to Inquiries
Of the Spy.
MUSTCOME
Statistics Show Very Small
Cost Of Collecting
Ashes.

ASHES.
The commendation given privately
and publicly to The Spy's agitation for
municipal collection of ashes, shows
plainly that an ordinance providing for
this reform would be eagerly welcom-
ed by the city officials and by house
holders generally. 1t seems scarcely
too much to say that the city council
could not adopt a more popular mea-
sure than one that would relieve house
owners and tenants of the annoyance
and expense of carting away their own
ashes and household refuse.
OF the bearing of this question on
public economy, health and fire pro-
lection, nothing more need be said.
The fact is admitted, and the only
doubt is one of expediency. Whether,
for example, it is desirable that the
city should undertake the enterprise
in view of numerous other demands
made upon the municipal revenue.
The answer to this question depends
upon the expense which e enter
prise will entail.
The Spy suggested few days ago
that those who raise this objection
have probably overestimated the ex-
pense. This is not an undertaking re-
quiring an outlay of half a million
dollars, not a quarter of million, nor
yet a hundred thousand. Both the
cost of the plant and the expense Of
yearly maintenance would be relatively
small But first, let us see what is the
probable permanent burden to be i'm
posed by the enterprise.
In an endeavor to obtain basis for
computing the probable cost to the city
of the collection of ashes and house
hold refuse, The Spy addressed a series
Of inquiries to the mayors of the three
Massachusetts cities nearest to Wor-
cester in respect to population, viz:
Fall River, Lowell and Cambridge. In
each instance the information desired
was promptly and courteously granted.
The questions propounded were as fol-
lows:
a. What does it cost your city an
nuallv to collect ashes from houses,
shops, factories, etc?
o. Is this collection separate from
the collection of swiH or garbage?
(31 How often are collections made?
a. How many men, horses and
carts are employed in the businessE
(5O Under what municipal depart
ment is it conducted?
The answers received were as fol-
lows: ,.oo
Fall River, Mass, April IA, lS99.
To the Editor of the Spy:
Sir: Your inquiry of the 18th to his
honor Mayor Jackson has been referred
to me, and in reply would. say that the
cost Of collecting ashes from houses,
shops, etc, was about S2l,OOO last year.
The ashes and house refuse are sepa-
rated from the garbage, and are collecteu
once a week. In the course of COLLEGE,
ing the ashes and house refuse we use
70 wagons, "a horses, and TWO men 10
each wagon besides the driver We aV-
erage about eight teams, 16 horses ana
Is men besides the drivers every oay
throughout the year.
This department has entire charge OF
the work, 80 that when our teams ana
men are not engaged in collecting TINS
matter we can use them on street work
The ashes of the cotton factories are
very much sought after by the depart
ment, and is not figured in with scaV-
enger but is charged to the street work
account. as they are used to great
extent in making sidewalks.
Respectfully,
Frank A. Thurston,
Superintendent of Streets.
Lowell. Mass, April 18th, 1899.
To the Editor of the Spy:
sir: Yours of the 18th inst. addressed
to the mayor having been referred TO
nc would say that it cost 81, 209.70 in
1898 and s12. 1915 in 1897 for labor alone
ia collect the ashes from the houses and
stores in the city of Lowell. The fdcto-
ries and corporations take care Of their
own ashes.
q Collection Of ashes is separate
from the collection of garbage.
3. once a week
a Twenty-three men, IA horses and
II wagons are employed.
;. Health department.
While the collection Of ashes and
garbage is separate, the cost is not en-
tirelv separated, outside of the labor,
as the same stable is used, and mar
nesses. equipments, care, etc, might
he used for both. Any further informa-
fion on the subject will be gladly fur
nished by
Yours respectfully.
F. A. Bates,
Agent Board of Health.
April IA, 1899.
To the Editor of The Spy:
Sir.-Yours of the 18th instant to His
Honor Mayor Champlin has been hand
ed to me for reply. Answering your
questions in order would say:
% Our annual appropriation for the
collection of ashes is about twenty-one
thousand dollars CS21 ,000). This is in
tended to cover collection of house dirt,
syveepings. etc, and the ashes produced
Inv the consumption Of fuel by heating
buildings and domestic purposes only,
and is not intended to cover the collec-
ton of ashes, etc. made by factories,
foundries, etc.
C2) The collection Of ashes is entirely
separate from that of swill or garbage,
which is done by another department.
(0 Ashes are collected once a week
for each household. The city is divided
into six districts, and a regular ash
dav'' is assigned for each district.
CD The force for doing this work
consists of a foreman, eighteen single
teams. specially constructed for this
sort of work, nine helpers and two
90 The work is done by the street
department.
Yours respectfully.
G. A. Brown.
Superintendent Of Streets.
The value of these figures as the basis
Of an estimate depends somewhat upon
the population of the respective cities.
fcontfu11ed on Second Pagel