The Washington times., 1902-01-14
Superintendent Suffers
Reply to Mr.. Morris.
NOT A BUSINESS PROPOSITION.
Declares Mr.. Morris in Error Both In
Facts and Deductions - Present
Method an Economy to Household
ers md to District as o whole
Cost of Ash Receptncles.

"A iSn udSS ago w. j. MOTIFS sent 2
communication to the District Commits
sioners in which he took exception to the
statement submitted by Superintendent
Warner Stutler relative to the ash serv-
ice. Among other things. Mr.. Morris
stated that the Superintendent of Street
Cleaning does not go about the collection
OF data regarding the service In the right
manner.
In reply to this criticism, Mr.. Stutler
submits the following statement:
Mr.. StutIer's Reply.
THE only data referred to by Mr. Nor
risa in connection with the eight houses
in his immediate neighborhood Out of the
eight he admits that seven receive serv-
ice and but one does not. At the same
time he says he only receives partial serv-
ice, but admits that it Is his own fault,
In that he has not provided a sufficient
number OF metal receptacles to contain a
weeks accumulation of ashes.
Since the regulations are part Of the
contract. Of course partial compliance
with them entities him to a correspond
ing service; but if he will observe them
as they should be observed he will receive
full service.
Present Methods Upheld.
"As to his suggestion that a houseto-
house canvass should be made, our ex-
perience has proved that In many cases
householders do not report all the facts,
whether by reason of relying on the
statements Of their servants or otherwise,
and it therefore follows that the only
true method of arriving at the actual con-
ditions is the one l have pursued of hav-
ing the inspectors go with the wagons,
thus enabling them to see just how mat
ters stand.
THE statement that it takes ten min
utes to serve house is simply erroneous.
and anyone wishing to satisfy himself
in that respect may do so by timing the
collectors, who in ninety cases out Of a
hundred have only to pass through the
gate, pick up the can. walk ten steps
and empty 1t into the wagon. This, my
inspectors report, does not take over two
minutes.
Average Cost of ReceptncIes.
Mr.. Morris states that the cost of one
regulation receptacle is S2.25. and that as
each house would require three or four
of them it would necesstate an outlay
of s6.I5 or 50, as the case might be-
AS a matter of fact the average cost of
cans is s1.50 each, and two of them (eQuaI
to two barrelsl will ordinarily contain a
weeks accumulation. making the average
cost SO for each householder under the
present system; whereas under the old
method it cost ten cents per barrel.
Two barrels per week for twenty-five
weeks, when all fires are going. and one
half barrel per week during the remain
ing thirty weeks, gives a total of fifty
nine barrels per annum, which at ten
cents per barrel equals $3.50, the average
amount expended by each householder
yearly when the private collector was in
vogue.
Saving to HOusehoIders.
Taking these figures, $3.50 is saved the
first year. and $3.50 for each subsequent
year during the life of the cans.
Admitting that it would only cost 40
cents per cart load by private collection,
as stated by Mr.. Morris. in fifty bar
rels, the average number per house dur
ing the year, there would be fourteeen
and three quarter cart loads. which at
10 cents per load would equal $3.50.
AT the foregoing average rate per
house it would cost to remove the ashes
from 80 600 houses s2O6,5OO under the old
method; whereas, under the present sys-
ten. 1t costs but s29,919
Mr. Morris further states that as a
business proposition the householder
should be allowed to dispose of his ashes
at his convenience.
Would Revive Old Abuses.
Gas shown heretofore, his is not busi-
ness proposition, and even if it were it is
questionable whether the householder
should be permitted to dispose of his
ashes at his own convenience.
IF he were given such permission what
would be his convenience, and would he
dispose OF them? Experience has taught
US that some people would have them
moved weekly others monthly, and others,
again, annually; but the majority would
pile them in the back yard and wait until
the Health officer forced them, or the
landlord after they had left the prem
ises to remove them. Such has been the
result of convenience.
How Old Plan Worked.
."The householder who had his ashes
and paper removed. weekly, monthly or
annually under the old method did not
dispose of the material; he merely turned