Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-18
BAD, CRISIS FACES THE CITY
Health Commissioner Connell De-
clares Something Must Be Done.
NosPIACE TO DUMP GARBAGE
Government Does Not Permit Refuse
l. IosBe Dumped Along the River
~ Z Front and Place Must BE
Provided.

Facing n situation. which Or. r. W.
Connell declares threatens the life OF every
Omaha citizen. the health commissioner
has appealed to the city attorney for ad-
vice as to the most feasible methods OF
solving the garbage problem.
Unless Immediate steps are taken TO pro-
vide for the collection and disposal OF gar
bage. the city faces a crisis, which may
result in great loss Of life says DR. Con-
nell. I'VE must do something and do u
quick. with the hot summer months com
ing on there is not a minute we can az
ford TO waste"
Two weeks ago the city clerk was d.
rected 20 advertise for bids for the colec-
tlon and disposal Of garbage. Bids were
70 have been opened Tuesday night by the
city council. but not a contractor In the
city sent in an estimate. None wanted the
Job, though the specifications called for
eight districts which would have provided
contracts for as many men.
with the refusal Of the contractors to
bid. the health commissioner has taken
the question of garbage collection and dis
osal into his own hands. He proposes
TO solve il II there is any possible way to
Go 1t.
In the opinion of the health commissioner.
two ways exist in which the collection
and disposal can he handled. Either an
emergency ordnance declaring the neces-
S.ty Of raising funds for the purpose can
10 PASSED by the city council. or else he
can direct contractors to collect garbage
in the various districts. and they can look
TO the city for their money
Dr. COnnell prefers the emergency ordi-
nance and referred the proposition to the
city attorney Wednesday morning for an
opinion city Attorney Rine inclines to
the belief that an emergency ordinance
may be passed on the basis of unforeseen
accidents.
Are Dumping Everywhere.
Garbage and refUse collectors are dump
ing their loads all over the city. irrespec-
tive OF the ordinances, says the health
commissioner and some regulations must
be passed 10 stop the practice
To circumvent this DR.. Connell proposes
70 have an ordinance passed licensing ana
regulating garbage collectors, the same as
al other contractors who use wagons. I'm
tins way we can keep tab on collectors and
prosecute them when they dump garbage
and refuse in vacant lots" declares Con-
relL s~
Though the city has an ordinance govern
ing the dumping OF refuse absolutely no
III DIVISION is made for unloading garbage.
The ordinances distinguish between refuse
End gar bage and provide dumping ground
ia. refuse in the vicinity of Eleventh and
q. ant streets.
'l3ut no place exists in the city where
vo can dump garbage" said DR.. Cornell.
."tNo years ago we were served with no.
ces by the government 10 stop dumping
Elibage in the river or along the river
aIks. That leaves us without place TO
disI ose OF the garbage. The refuse propo-
siuon can be handled IL we can get regu-
latons passed by the city council.
But unless something 10 done instanter,
Cpidemics, one after another, are liable to
result from the decomposition Of garbage
and refuse throughout the city.
From fifty to 100 complaints are pour
ing into this office daily from property
owners. but can do nothing. have no
authority to direct garbage collectors in
any manner"