Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-11
TO DESIGNATE PUBLIC DUMP
Mayor and Health Commissioner Decide "
Take Prompt Action.
FOOT OF JONES STREET is SUGGESTED
A. Result of Indiscriminate Garbage
Hauling There Are Eight Places
Now being Used for
Dumping.

A decisive step mas been taken toward
the abatement of the garbage evil. Yes
terday Mayor Moores and Health Commits
sioner Ralph had an extended consultation,
the issue OF which was a determination to
designate the foot of Jones street as a
public dump, at which point all refuse mat
ter. save ashes, cinders and carcasses OF
dead animals may be cast into the river.
Al ordinance making this provision will
probably be drawn up in time to be sub
mitted at the next meeting of the city
council.
This move is the o~utgrowth, indirectly, Of
Judge Dickinson's decision a year ago
wherein he held the ordinance under which
the City Garbage company's contract is
drawn to be class legislation. and, there
fore, unconstitutional. AS an effect OF
this ruling the doors we're thrown oDen
to indiscriminate garbage hauling. Forty
unofficial" wagons. few Of them conform
ing to the legal requirements for such
vehicles. are now engaged in the work and
the offensive loads are being discharged
wherever the within OF the driver dictates.
BY a kim Of common consent eight places
seem to have been designated as dump
inR grounds, all within the city limits.
These are as follows: Tenth and Nicholas
streets, Eleventh and Grace streets. at the
foot of Davenport street, Twenty-hrst and
Paul streets, near the shot tower on South
Seventeenth street, Forty-ffth and Dodge
streets, Thirty-sixth street and Poppleton
avenue, and Thirteenth and Locust streets.
These points seem to be the most popu-
lar among the drivers Of the wagons" said
Sanitary Officer Gibbons. but it doesn't
follow that all Of their loads are dumped
at any one of these places. They always
aim for a short haul, so many Of the loads
are discharged within a few blocks OF
where they were taken on.
Accumulation of a Year.
Las summer we didn't experience any
great inconvenience from the fact that we
virtually had no garbage ordinance, be-
cause there had been 30 little time for the
garbage to accumulate. but now there is a
whole years accumulation There is
scarcely a stable in the city that hasn't a
winters accumulation of manure back OF
It, while the alleys in the rear OF private
kitchens in various parts OF the city are In
deplorable shape. The eight public dumps
named are full OF carcasses OF dead cats
and dogs and other small animals. You
can imagine what the result will be when
the summer sun gets to pouring down upon
these heaps Of filth"
DR.. Ralph said: "If the way is to be
left open for the indiscriminate hauling Of
garbage, the only way we can maintain
sanitary conditions is to designate a public
dump and then provide a heavy fine for
anyone dumping elsewhere. The river at
the foot Of Jones street seems to meet all
the requirements in this respect. 1t is
easily accessible and the swift current
there can be trusted to carry the filth be-
yond any danger to the public health"
On the subject Of a creamatory for the
reduction OF city garbage. which was men
toned at the meeting Of the advisory board
Wednesday. City Engineer Rosewater said
81 shall investigate the cost Of such a
plant and report at the next meeting OF
the board. However, / hardly think the
city is ready to seriously consider such
a project as yet. My observation has been
that they work very successfully in some
Of the larger cities of the country"