The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-11
CITY GARBAGE PLANT.
Plan Now Is to Build One of Its
Own.


There is some possibility that the
eventual solution of the city garbage
question will be the erection of a city
crematory plant. to be owned and OPP
Grated by the city, and from which the
city will get a revenue, instead of be-
ing constantly obliged to pay out money
to have its scavenger work done By a
private company.
DE. c. F. Menninger, chairman of the
board of health, is interested in such a
movement. He says:
Sooner or later the city will have to
take this garbage question into its own
hands. We have tried the private COM
panies for good many years, and have
not been satisfied.
I'VE now have some propositions be-
fore US from the proprietor of the pres
ent crematOry, but have so far been
unable to reach an agreement with nlm-
The board of health does not propose
TO surrender everything simply for the
privilege of entering into a contract
with these parties. Unless we can get
some sort of an agreement with him
very soon, 1 shall be in favor of
crematory owned and operated by the
city. 1 believe the chief point of diff
ference between Me Osborn and our
selves Is concerning the location of the
plant He wants to use the company
present site on the river, and we want
to get him away from the river. 1t is
my idea that he could get a good site
somewhere south of town on the Santa
Fe tracks or else east of town out
toward the old starch factory. These
locations would be the line of the
railroad, and therefore in reach of an
ample coal supply.
II think possibly it might be a good
plan for the city to buy Just the site
it thinks ought to be used, and then
lease it to Mr.. Osborn. This might be
profitable arrangement for the city
AS the negotiations between the board
of health and the crematory company
stand at present, it is up to the board
to make move. Mr.. Osborn has sub
mftted to the board a communication
stating his willingness to comply with
some of the changes made in his pro-
posed franchise, but positively declining
to comply with other provisions which
the board thought necessary. The
board of health tried to have a meeting
last Friday night. but owing to the fact
that the ways and means and streets
and walks committees were in session,
nothing was done. The next meeting
of the board of health will not be held
until October "a. but a special session
may be called before that time.
In some cities the cost of burning all
refuse, dead animals. etc, is borne by
the city at large, and the board of
health has the work done wherever and
whenever it is needed. The property
owners pay for the work by regular
tax levy. When operated by a private
company. as has been the plan in To-
peka, there is considerab BILE profit in the
work. The company gets 80 cents
DdfIel AOL Hdu4iiS ilSHt sun anu es'ou
fees for hauling dead animals and all
kinds of refuse. The company also COL
lects a lump sum from the city every
month for taking care of dead animals
which have no owner, and stable refuse
from the fire department and patrol
stable. One of the points of difference
between the Osborn company and the
city is that Osborn wants the city to
pay him 500 month for this work in
stead of $50, as he is getting now.
The cost of building a complete Gre
matory plant sufficient for the needs of
Topeka is about $4,000. If the city had
the money to invest in this way, it could
no doubt effect saving on its present
expense for garbage collection. and
probably return a handsome profit to
the city on the commercial work done
The greatest advantage, however, would
be in putting an end to the constant
difficulty which the city has had with
the various crematory companies about
the improper management of the plant.