The Detroit times., 1912-03-11
D. P ", SECRETARY ADMITS
ALLEYS REEk WITH FILTH
Lack of Money mad Bad Weather
Given as Chief Causes of
Conditions

Mr.. Hovey Is eternally right atou.
the filthy condition OF many OF our al
leys," said Secretary Murphy OF the
ID. P. W., Monday There are many
OF them in very much worse condi-
ton than the one described by him IN
The Times, Saturday, west of Wood.
ward-ave., between Elizabeth and
Henry. There are places where Tic
garbage cans were frozen up early
In the winter, now under two or three
feet OF Ice and snow, and the garbage
has since been thrown into the alley
along with the ashes and other retuso
and covered with snow drifts and ice
These places are just commencing
to thaw out. Such were the condi-
tons In the private alley near the in
tersection Of Cass and Howard, sou b
OF Michigan discovered by Mr.. Hoyey
last week. The mess has since been
dug out and SO will all the others, As
fast as possible.
Mr.. Hoyey Is doing a good work
by getting the facts published. II In
true, as Mr.. Hovey says, that in some
locations. collections have been Ge-
ferred for two or three weeks during
the past winter. These instances aiC
due to difficulties attending the col.
lection, such as frozen cans, snow
drifts making streets and alleys off
fcult OF access with garbage wagons,
hence slow collections icknesszo.
drivers and horses, and very largely
on account Of the inability Of Ina
railway to run its trains to get the
stun out of the city and return tho
empty boxes TO US.
AT one time this winter we had
400 tons Of garbage lying In a heap on
the ground at the receiving station
awaiting cars to move il. During the
worst weather IL vas necessary to
send out two. and three teams at
times to do the work originally az.
signed to one. These conditions ac-
count for some of the districts being
somewba. Reglee.S5Ns.We ARE nor
making excuses for the poor service,
but merely giving explanations so
that the facts may be known, u1d
means provided to overcome such diff
feulties in the future. ~
Our estimates are based on the
idea OF making a weekly collection in
the North Woodward district, which
Mr.. Hovey mentions. We are ex.
tending the zone of bi-weekly collec.
lions by doubling up men and teams
In the heavier districts as far as the
Increased appropriations will allow.
This year We planned to add 10 dis
tricts to the bi.weekly list, but the
committee on health and city hos
pitfalls thought otherwise and cut our
estimates to five additional teams.
While i've Is Tar better than moth
Ing. " the department is to give the
service demanded, there should oe IL
weekly or tri-weekly collections in
every outlying district in the city.
The hauls are constantly becoming
longer and harder as new subdivisions
with mud streets and alleys open m.
During the rainy season last f,ll
an empty rig was a load for a morse.
and II was impossible 10 do effective
work all over the city with the force
In hand. Hence we went into the
winter in bad shape. Many factories
were compelled to shut down or cur.
tail their work because thew could moi
get material In and out OF their plants
through the mud streets and alleys.
Mr.. Hovey mentions one discov
cry that somewhat interests us, >
wit: Garbage on the roofs We
have found garbage in almost ever
other imaginable place II this sian-
should become popular. and the 10, ey
ordinance rs not adopted. our garbas,
wagons Will have to be equipped after
the style OF the FIRE departments hocI:
and ladder wagons"