The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-30
COVERED Ash CARTS
URGED 7 YEARS AGO
City Ignores Recommendation
Made by McClellan's
Commission.
NEW YORK FAR BEHIND
Sanitary Experts Point to I'm
proved Methods Used in
Many Countries.
NEW YORK FAR BEHIND

city agree that the cans and carts for
the handling Of ashes should be covered
so as to protect pedestrians from the an
noyance OF flying ash dust More than
seven years ago a committee OF experts
appointed by Mayor Mcclellan and CON-
prising n. de r. Parsons. Rudolph Herring
and Samuel WINERY. made a report In
which they recommended ernphatically
that the ash carts should be covered.
The ash and garbage carts" the report
said. SHOULD be covered. There Is no
style OF cover in use that is entirely salts
factory. but inventive genius no doubt
will improve the present method Of cart
covering. At present the trouble OF cover
ing and uncovering for collections, often
not over twenty-five feet apart. results
in leaving tho carts uncovered until
filled.'
Despite the length OF time that has
elapsed since that report was made and
the fact that In the meantime almost
every country In Europe has adopted
covered carts which absolutely prevent
ashes from being blown In the faces Of
women and children nothing OF the sort
has been adopted In this city.
City Omcials Uassirpea.
turtne'rlDfe. uiInOSt every SANITARY eN-
pert In this city ras been abroad In the
past four or Ave years. has studied the
methods OF ashes collection In England
and other countries and has iectured con-
corning them. No impression has been
made on the city officials to stimulate
them TO do something to eradicate
nuisance OF which hundreds OF persons
constantly complain.
John H. Gregory. a consulting engineer
and associate OF Rudolph Herring OF 40
Broadway. discussed yesterday the ad-
vantages OF having covered ash cans and
ash carts. lie agreed with Col William
+. Morse that II would be an excellent
thing II n board Of impartial experts were
appointed TO study the needs In New
/ York
There is no doubt" said Mr. Gregory.
that the ash cans and the ash carts, as
well as the garbage carts. should be
covered. Excellent progress IN that line
has been made In many countries. have
inspected the systems by which the scat
toring Of dust IL prevented and several NJ
them work surprisingly. Covered wagons
are being used In this country In
canvas covers have been found 10 have
advantages over covers OF wood and
metal.
There IL no doubt in my mind that ash
dust Ia not only an extreme discomfort
to many persons. but really Is injurious.
Favors Motor Truck.
Every city has different problems in
regard to the question OF the disposal of
/ refuse, and while do not care to- 40 into
the needs In New York. there is no doubt
that the cans and the carts should be
covered. Whether or not a motor truck
Is more economical than "A horse cart de-
ponds OF course on the amount OF material
collected NJ each house. II the amount
Is large Their. seems little doubt that IL
would be profitable TO have motor trucks.
"tt Zurich the collection vehicle con-
sists Of three large, covered boxes set on
common running gear. After nlling, the
wagon is hauled TO the moderator where
the boxes are lifted by crane to the
automatic charging apparat y. the refuse
dropping through the bottoms of the
boxes into the furnace. BY this arrange
ment the refuse IL not exposed after Il
had been dumped out OF the house recep-
tacle and into the boxes Of the collection
vehicle. In Hamburg electrically oper-
ated automobile trucks have been in use
for number OF years.
Each truck averages four trips In
eight hours and covers a total distance Of
about th!rty-fve miles. The operation IL
very simple. one man only being necessary
20 run the wagon aud make the collec-
tions The body is separate from the
truck and. when full. is lifted by
crane at the inc!nerator and emptied into
the storage bins"
Charles putzc n lawyer with offices IN
the Woolworth II, i!dirg. who was Tax
Commissioner under Mayor Mcclellan. has
made special study OF the ash nuisance.
He said that when he lived In East
Eightleth rect he and other resident.
found II TO their advantage and their con-
venence 70 hire private ashmen 10 cart
| their ashes away. by paying for private
carriers. he explained. the residents were
| saved much annoyance and discomfort