Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-29
Litter Many Of the Streets
Of New York City,
Mayor Mcclellan Calls on
Board Of Health TO Act.
Street Department Strikers Now
Offer to krbitrate.

New YORK. June 2S.-I:clievng that
the hcaltl! If th- city was mcnace;l BY
the Continuation If thc strik" II 1000
drivers, Mayor Mcclellan late today
went ever the head Of Commissioner Of
street Cleaning Marlborough Craven
ana placed the responsibility for the
collection of garbage with the health
department. The health people tonight
are making efforts to re-establsh san
itary conditions, against possible ep-
idcmic. \ strike Of drivers FIR the
American lee Go. went into effect to
day and with garbage on the side
walks and no ice in many r"trigrrat"rs
New YCrks Stay-at-homcs has seen IN
unpleasant day.
For three days the streets Of The
cast side have been streWn With rapid
~ dccaEing kitchen waste. while n DIS
ease breeding stencil has filled the nos
trils Of those who live in the nci2hbor-
hoods where the strike was effective.
To these the closing Of their windows
against the vile odors meant SuLfora-
ton in their limited quarters. BontircS
were made in the streets, but thrS"
generally served rather To scatter than
destroy the more objectionable mat
ter. Nor were the poorer classes alone
the sufferers.
Though many drivers We're secured
today, these made slow progress W'r"
frequently attached and driven from
the wagons by strike sympathlZerS ana
when night fell the Accommodations ap-
pearcd as great as ever. Whllr N"
East siGe ana lower West side suffered
most. cans of garbage, exposed tor
hours to the hot sun still stood on Park
ROW at 6 O'Clock. while the side streets
we're chokcd with yesterdays waste. IL
vas threatened that tomorrow the
strike would spread to Brooklyn
CITY han was stormed by indignant
prutestantS today. The danger OF a not
weather epidemic We're emphasized by
All who could he heard by the mayor
who. when convinced that the Situa-
ton was beyond the street cleaning dc!
p1rtmpnt, directed the health depart
meat ID take hold. He appointed Or.
Walter Bcnscl. assistant sanitary sup
.rintrndcnt, acting sanitary superinten-
dent. DR. Benstl had some difficulty in
getting drivers. but the force was
gradually increased during the night
tn" work was begun on the East side
ana 4 police guard accompanied each
wagon. 1t is the expectation Of Health
Commissioner Darling and Dr. Bensel
that the strike as far us the removal of
garbage is concerned. will be q matter
Of the past within the next "a hours.
Dr. Bcn+cl said that he expected 70 Sc
cnre 200 men tomorrow from various
G, Mira tors.
Street Cleaning Commissioner Cray
an continued tonight his efforts to re-
organize his striking force. but with
little success. Late tonight the strikers
offered t. arbitrate. In formal state
mrnt they said:
we are willing to return 10 work at
once, if Commissioner Craven will Sc
le,t one man ami we select another
ana these tW-o men select q third man
who shall inquire into the justice Of
nu- cause and We pledge ourselves 10
abide IN whatever decision they may
arrive at."
The men claim that unjust fines Of
from five to ~ days pay are imposed
for minor nfractions Of the depart
mcnt ruIcs and that they arr given no
to rcfute the charges
against them. Many of them. it is stat
Cd. hay" to work from 10 to II hours Il
day continuously instead Of eight hours
ana no extra compensation is allowed.