The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-10
MORE N0I,k AHEAD.

NVtt NbNh AHEAD.
 If the present agitation of the Asso- riated Civic societies only brings that very worthy organization more into the limclight and makes It's activities bet ter known and it's sphere of influence | wider 1t will have been credItabe If tho wholesale civic falls far short of tho mark, 1t l will have accomplished commendable | task If 1t but shows the great need of n municipal department for the collec- ton of refuse. and at least some modl- fcations in the existing ordinances un- der which proceedings can be instltut cd against property owners with prem lses that are disreputably kept pr. Frank W. Wright, the health officer, Hith great many other citizens, takes just that hopeful view of the move ment It Is believed that the Associ- ated civic societies could take in hand no civic matter at the present time that would rebound more 10 the cred- 1t of the organization for having true municipal patriotism. It would be we for the workers to keep in mind larger agitation which might grow out of the cleaning program, an agitation for permanent collection depart ment such as every self-rcspecting city has. It must come some day. Cannot the Associated Civic societies hasten the glorioue morn when 1t shall?
 pr Wright has pointed out In an ln- terview that no city in the country pays less per capita for Jhe removal of it's garbage than does New Haven. That being the case, it fig not surpris- ing that the contractors do intellectual work But there Is another side to the garbage removal question, The PiNutt 'lltld'''lS MUD llhN I'iuVNt the garbage find that they would be losing money if they tried to cover their districts as often. or as thorough ly as they should. and so they locate the places where they can get the largest quantity and the bes, quality of garbage and make regular trips there. with only occasional visits to the other premises in their districts. The garbage that is least fit to. feed to the pigs is left behind the longest. only to become more mhealthful l When it Is finally collected it Is in such condition that no pigs should be i given it. There Is no provision made i by the city for the removal of ashes Being removed by private contract cnly they are allowed to accumulate rntil there are many loads In inc poorer districts vegetable and animal matter Is thrown among them to rot and spread contagion. All of this would be avoided by a municipal ash es-collecting department making its rounds once week.
 Dr. Wright makes a good point when he objects to the use of the word ''slums' as applied to New Haven'i l poorer sections. He says that New Haven has no slums that can rightly ba called such Therefore fl win q, the citys fair name no good if outsld CTS hear of q slum agitation here. IL would prefer to call them the poorer districts Dr Wright has pointed ou the great difficulties that he encounter,
 in getting landlords to clean up. Near ly everything has to he aceomplshe,
 by tho gentle art of moral suason. / ric of refuse cannot be peremptor. l, ordered removed until 1t can be prov
 cd in court that it Is cndanscring th
 health of the public. And that is
 very difficult thing to do. Cannot th
 members of the Associated Civic SO
 cioties then, well turn their cnergle
 toward an acceptable revision of tn
 ordinances under which the board Q
 health does it's work? Cannot the un
 slightly come under the ban as a pub
 lie nuisance as well as that whic
 tenda to spread contagious, and cannc
 the health officers decision that a pil of refuse is unhoalthful be final, rathc
 than the stubbornncss of the owner q
 tenant, who does not want to go to tn
 trouble or oxpcnse of cleaning 1t up
 To propound the question Is to an
 swer it.