Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-18
REMOVAL OF REFUSE
PROBLEM BEING CONSIDERED BY
THE COMMISSIONERS.

The problem Of promptly securing the re-
moval Of the waste material from places OF
business and from residences, nearly always
regarded as a puxzling municipal question.
il being considered by the District authori-
ties with view OF making 1t in the future
a matter Of profit. rather than an expense
to the city. At the present time the city Is
paying a contractor the sum of $165O0 an
nualiy for the removal Of refuse from resi-
dences alone. The scheme contemplated is
to include all mercantile establishments in
the service Of collection of debris. and to
either put up the privilege Of handling the
waste at auction. or else to invite sealed
proposals to the same end.
One man. who recently wrote to the Com
missioners. made the suggestion that the
collection OF refuse be made a source of
revenue instead of drain on the city's re-
sources. and he added that he had learned
that many other Large cities had discovered
to their profit that waste material could be
converted into q large item on the right
side OF the municipal ledger each year. 1t
was further declared in the letter that local
merchants are compelled to handle the trash
that accumulates about their establishments
as best they can. There Is no regulation re-
quirfng the material to be carted away at
stated intervals. the business men being
bound only to observe such of the laws re-
lating to prevention of fire as will keep
their cellars or Easements reasonably clear.
Many times the men hired to remove the
waste have been detected dumping the ma
terial in the most convenient nearby place,
and sometimes increasing rather than d.
minishing the conflagration dangers.
Profitable Industry.
It is believed that the addition of all bus
mess, houses to the schedules of collection
of refuse. with the corresponding extension
of the city inspection service, would not
oyalty To fI,.a1 han 10 =
business men. but that the result would be
tho successful bidder for the privilege and
to the District government. Many mer-
chants. 1t is said. would be glad to exert all
their influence to obtain this result.
Under the present system, where the con-
tractor receives S16.50O per annum for col
lecting household refuse throughout the
city, the waste material Is either given or
sold to another contractor, who operates a
disposal plant at the foot Of South Capitol
street. This plant consists principally of a
long. wide belt. divided into compartments
in which the refuse. as dumped upon 1t, IL
carried slowly between a double line of COL
ored women. OF these one woman is charged
with the duty of picking out every piece of
paper. another takes old shoes another
pieces OF rubber and rubber shoes. another
tin cans. and so on through the gamut of
articles which find their way into the COL
lectors' carts. For some time past an in
spector for the District has been on duty
at the disposal plant. and from his reports
IT. Will be possible for the Commissioners to
reach a close approximation of the amount
Of refuse which will be collected. Prices re-
ceived for the various articles can be easily
learned. and at the opening of another
fiscal year the authorities can place Them
selves In possession of sufficient Information
to decide whether the business, side of the
proposition contains sufficient inducement
to warrant the invitation OF bids for the
privilege. The advisability OF adding BUSH
ness places to the schedules in this connec-
ton Is receiving consideration,