The St. Louis Republic., 1904-01-22
REMOVAL OF ASHES
A VEX|NG PROBLEM.
Property Owners Pay Double the
Price Formerly Exacted
by Haulers.
DUMPS ARE FAR REMOVED.
Harbor Commissioner Whyte Of
fers. With Cooperation of
Citizens, to Provide
Partial Solution.

For several months property owners and
housekeepers have found themselves pay
ing more and more for the removal from
their premises of ashes and other rub
bish not included in the regular garbage,
until now they Fay double the price that
was once exacted
Downtown Office buildings and factories.
which are not located on or near rail-
roads. have been confronted with the
same proposition. which to them proves
much more serious.
The primary causes for the Increase in
hauling prices, 1t is stated, is the gradual
nliinS OF the Quarries, the restrictions i'm
posed by law against dumping into the
river. and the removal of certain dumps
maintained by railroads.
The removing of ashes is generally done
by rather indiscriminate class of per-
sons. for the most part negroes There
Is no company or union which attends to
this class of hauling. and absolutely no
organization among team owners who en-
gage in the business
The property owner or tenant is com.
PEELED to rely upon the casual visits OF
ASH dealers" They maintain that. as
they are now compelled to make their
nauls over twice as long a distance as
Matters have come 10 such pass that
the managers OF several office buildings
and department stores have laid
their troubles before Harbor and Wharf
Commissioner Joseph P. Whyte. hoping
that he might provide solution of the
GOVERNMENT LAWS.
The Government laws prohibit dumping
OF any refuse that will not float into the
river The present dumping stations at
Mullanphy street. Chouteau avenue, Bar
ton street and Smith street. are only for
the class OF rubbish that comes under the
law.
Butt the recent survey of the wharf, and
the establishment of new lines provides
Tor the extension of the St. Louis bank of
the Mississippi at some places 800 feet
into the stream Mr.. Whyte proposes to
allow office buildings to dump their ashes
at these points. upon the condition that
they pay some one to keep the piles level,
and. Of course. pay their own hauling ex
penses.
From Biddle street to Chouteau avenue,
from Barton street to Victor street, and
at North Market street, where there are
improved levees, no dumping will be per-
mitted.
Indiscriminate dumping will not be al
lowed, wagons being permitted to unload
only at such places as the Commissioner
several places dumping can be carried on
for three or four years before there is
sufficient accretion to project the bank 800
Only those who contribute toward the
wages OF the persons employed to keep
the piles level will be allowed the privf-
asked this permission, but Mr.. Whyte an
rounces that for residence property own
ers or tenants he will provide places If
posed upon proprietors of office buildings.
The removing OF the Terminal Railways
dump south of Poplar street, and be.
n
its effect in increasing the fees demanded
by team owners. Until the last month
and half. when the dump was removed
to make place for a new roundhouse the
Terminal did a profitable business as a
scavenger.
Fifteen cents was charged for the privi-
1ege of unloading a two-horse wagon load
of ashes. cinders. or earth. The railroad
then hauled 1t across the river and re-
ce.ved liberal price from East Side COM
panies desiring to fill n or MAKE ahd
says that the dump will not be re-estab-
iished. 1t would not be profitable east of
Jefferson avenue. he thinks. and all space
in this territory Is now pre-empted.
HAVE LIMITED CAPACITY.
A dump is maintained by the Iron Noun
teau avenue, but its capacity is small
The Wabash Is also collecting ashes and
cinders for future use near where it cross
es Sarah street. The possibilities Of this
dump are also limited.
Factories near railroads find little
trouble in disposing of separated cinders.
as the companies will pay IS a carload for
it. Factories and office buildings. re-
moved from railroads. would not profit by
such a bargain. as storing cinders until
a carload Is accumulated and the cost Of
hauling and loading would eat away the
gains and make additional expense.
The immense quarry at North Market.
Magazine street and Garrison avenue.
which served as dump for SO long. is
nearly filed. and property-owners of the
neighborhood have made protest on the
grounds of unsanitary conditions.
Carondele. is well provided for several
years, with a dumping ground at Eyer
mans quarry, Crittenden street and Iowa
avenue.
The garbage contracts with the city do
not require the removal of garbage mixed
with ashes. The presence of the ashes
makes 1t diff1cuIt Of reduction. 1t is stated
by officials Of the company that has the
city garbage contract that in certain
congested and tenement districts the dis
tinction is waived. and ashes removed
with the garbage.
Owners of low lands prefer the dirt
from cellars and excavations to ashes and
signs to that effect are posted. Persons
who have studied the situation think that
in view Of the growth of the city. the
filling of quarries. and the removal of
railroad dunps, the only solution Is that
offered by the Harbor and Wharf Com
missioner.