Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-07-04
new YORE,S PERIL
HEALTH DEPARTMENT FAILS
with Garbage strswInc the Streets
Of the Metropolis. Men Refuse
to Accept Three Dollars Per
Day and Board.

D.
New York, July NEW York city
q experiencing an impressive demon.
etration as to what extent the comfort
~ the millions 10 dependent upon the
handful, comparatively, Of citizens or
dinarily engaged in collecting gar
hage and delivering Ice. Two tnou.
and garbage collectors and an equal
number Of ice wagon drivers are on
strike and the city is in peril OF an
epidemic Of disease. The garbage sit-
nation is the more serious, and unless
speedily remedied, the possibilities o.
evil are startling.
The health department which upon
direction Of Mayor Mcclellan assumed
responsibility when the street clean
ing department proved unequal TO the
emergency, is e1hausting Its almost
unlimited resources, but Sunday night
The best that DR.. Darlington could
promise was that. 800 men would De
a work Monday morning. Such
force will make little Roadway as
76S carts are required to remove each
days accumulation and the work IS
sIx days behind.
The great obstacle encountered BY
the department is the deep rooted
sentiment among men who work Tor
wages that one may not honorably
take the place Of q striker Thou
sands Of men, enough to many times
iii the vacant places are to be found
who want work, but not under the
conditions offered Three dollars a
day, board and permanent employ
ment ii offered; but has attracted
lew. Efforts to get men from other
cities have now been made and Mon
day recruits are promised from Phil
adelphia..
Possible violence at the hands OF
strike sympathizers does not figure as
4 deterrent with new men for all are
guaranteed protection, the entire 20
lice department being on duty or IN
reserve and an imposing guard accom-
panles each cart
The health department hook hold
late Friday and since has used ita
p1iice powers vigorously and Its emer
gency fund Of $4,000 without stint
but SO far has been unable to meet
conditions effectually. The officials
Of the health board intimated that
private citizens would be doing a pub
liz duty II they became for the time
garbage collectors. The only alter
native appears to be q compromise
with the strikers. Though the mayor
has declared that the law does not
permit dealings with civil service EN-
ployes who are on strike, and the
street cleaning department Saturday
refused to formally entertain the de
mands Of the men. 1t was intimatet
Sunday night that a settlement nigh
be arranged legally.
Sunday the situation grew hourly
worse. what work was done was Il
the vicinity Of Chinatown, on the cas-
aide. Meantime the waste accumu
lated IN other streets. In places rel
rse was piled high and elsewhere wa
etrewn from curb to curb. Unable Z
"a better the health squads scattered
disinfectants through miles Of high
ways, hoping to hold IN check tn
dsRth.bearing germs,
Lower temperature Sunday had
beneficial effect though a most dii
agreeable stencil found it's way int
many homes and into East side nos
pitfalls.
Acting Sanitary INSPECTOR Bepse
contracted with Philadelphia EN-
pioyment agency for 1900 men. o
these 800 were to have arrived a
noon Sunday, but did not. Late Sun
day night word was received from
Philadelphia that 100 laborers woul'
Sc on hand for work at daybreak OF
Monday. These with the 200 mel
Commissioner Craven expects to hav
on hand including the $50 who re
NAMED at work when thhe others Qui
viii make up a working force OF 80
II the plans do not miscarry.
Mayor Mcclellan remained at hi
office all day in frequent consultation
with Chief Health Officer Darlington
and Dr.. Bensel. the sanitary chief
Sunday night, DIT. Darlington said
Il do not believe there is any In
mediate danger Of an epidemic. bu
TIE situation Is very grave and pre-
Bents the possibilities Of an imminen