The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-10-07
FRANK D. HOVEY
ON THE JOB AGAIN
Has Some Brand New Schemes for
Keeping Alleys Clean-Gets Mer-
chants Cooperation

Frank ID. Hoyey, who several
months ago undertook the job OF
cleaning up Detroit. is back on the
job after having been confined to his
home for several weeks. while he was
recovering from an operation.
One of the first things Mr.. Hovey
did was to visit the city hall in an ef-
fort to see Public Works Commission
er Haarer and fnd out Just what the
latter proposes to do In the way OF
taking care Of the alleys. The com
missioner was busy at tho time, SO
Mr.. Hovey waited. He was still wait
ing when Mr.. Haarer walked out Of
the ONCE some time later, passing 80
close to Hovey as to almost touch
him, but the latter doesn't know the
Official from Adam. so Jake" got
away.
I'VE are going to make Detroit the
cleanest city In the United States
whether we have the cooperation Of
Mr.. Haarer or not" said Mr.. Hovey
number of business men who are in
sympathy with his Efforts and are do.
ing what they can TO clean up the all
leys and keep them clean. "Of course.
II the commissioner wants to cooper
ate. SO much the better, but we'll
make Detroit clean in spite OF him, II
necessary.
mo less than so merchants have
promised me that they would have
their rubbish hauled away at regular
intervals at their own expense, and
would not depend on the department
OF public works at all. That is a big
lift toward cleaner alleys, and will
relieve the public works department
OF lot of work which II is supposed
to do and ought to do for the tax
payers.
Then there are about 20 merchants
who have already installed paper
presses at my request and are baling
their own waste paper, which former
ly used to be dumped in the alley In
many instances The bales will be
stored In their Easements and ped
dlers will call regularly to collect 1t,
paying for 1t, of course. expect to
see several more of these presses In
stalled
tT think we should have a waste
paper box at every four corners,
where all litter that Is ordinarily
thrown In the street could be de-
posted, instead of one every few
blocks, as IL Is now. These boxes
could be equipped with bags and the
paper could be put right into the
bags. Then the city could sell some
one the privilege of collecting this lit
ter at regular intervals, and there
should be an ordinance imposing a
severe penalty for throwing litter in
the streets.
II am at work on several schemes
of this kind, and | am glad to see
that the Board of Commerce Is taking
an interest In the alley question.
am willing to let the board have all
the credit, II II wants II. All | want
Is to see Detroit clean"
/ Mr.. Hovey says that because Of the
filthy alleys certain sections are liter
ally overrun with rats. He mentions
particularly the district between Will
lis and Alexandrine-aves., from Sec
ond-ave. to John R.-st.
THE rats up there are as big as
small kittens" he said, "and they are
so bold that they won't even run
when anybody comes near them. The
women OF the neighborhood are al.
most afraid to venture into their back
yards because OF the rats. That Is q
condition that ought to be remedied
without delay, for a dozen rats can
do more damage over night than can
be repaired In a week"