Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-29
THE ASHMAN IN DEMAND
Rush for the Wagon, but Empty Space
Observation-Disclosures
Stutier,a.-COmment.

The newly constituted "'ashman'' is the
subject of a letter. of complaint to the Dis
trict Commissioners. written by Mrs.
Emma M. Sheridan tof $500 G street north
west, who declares there is no collection Of
coal refuse made in that section of the
city. Mrs. Sheridan comments upon re-
Gently published letter of complaint about
the ash removals on Capitol Hill, and de-
clares the experience of that portion of the
city to be the same as in the northwest
After referring to the new and splendid"
ash wagons, the Commissioners cores
pendent says:
I'VE were informed that the collection Of
ashes was to begin August 1, the little yell
low book telling us to provide cans. etc:
also that we should be notified by card
When the ashman would call. Failing In
this, we put our cans regularly, front or
back, as the case might be, merely to take
them in again.
AT last. on Tuesday, August p, 1900.
when most Of us had given it up and were
thinking of hunting up the old uncles and
their ramshackle carts. a sudden noise was
the patrol? No, 1t flashed on us that it was
at last the collector, especially as between
eongs one could hear the doleful dfrge,
.Ashman! Ashman! Ashman! Everybody
rushed downstairs to snatch up the for
gotten ashcans. but he had gone, as a dis
tant echo told us. Folks and children IN
the street saw him. He was described as
driving along feisurely, without stopping.
Inc cart was bright green, with the word
ashes written upon 1t in large red let
ters-a gorgeous display-but the parade
fitted away and the vision of beauty had
gone forever. Was he accompanied by
man on foot to take up the ashes? Was he
to step down himself and take them? Were
we to run after him with our cans. like so
many milkmaids after reluctant cow?
Held u Consultation.
Then the neighborhood consulted. Was
this merely parade to fnaugurate the sys-
tenn and to introduce the ashman, or was
1t to be called the collection in fact? AS it
was announced that he would call once a
week we are breathlessly awaiting the re-
turn, and we shall be ready. VIII that Wis
ion of green loneliness, that heavenly voice,
and that celestial thunder ever reappear?
I'VE agree with the northeast that the
amount of ashes is totally inadequate in
winter, but I interpret 1t that the book
does not limit each house to one can, but
insists on the fact that each can shall be
of a size to be easily lifted by one man.
Also not one of us knows whether the ash
man collects the trash or if there is another
collector for it, a separate can is in
sisted on.
az suppose that experience will teach us,
II we live long enough the card seems
to have CONCEALED en- route
superintendent Comment.
The letter OF Mrs. Sheridan was referred
to Warner Stutlsr, superintendent Of street
cleaning, who has supervision Of the ash
contract, and who. in commenting upon the
letter to a reporterfer The Star, said:
From the statements of an inspector of
r. v. Rusk, the ash contractor, which
agrees with the report Of my inspector,
there was no just cause for complaint in
the case Of Mrs Sheridan but merely a re-
ply to an article In a newspaper. In this
connection l would like to state that the
lady who gave the collector bottle Of beer
as bride must have been very unthought-
full. I should sag she was responsible for
more failures to collect ashes than the con-
tractor, besides setting a bad example The
collectors are paid Tor their services and
citizens are not expected to tip them. 1t Ia
the determination of this department to
make this servicei efficient and satisfactory.
and If citizens will comply with that part
Of the regulations and report promptly any
failure. the part Of the collectors their
communication will be given prompt atten-
tiOn."