The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-04
GAFFORD, WARD AND LADIES IN 4 HEATED SESSION OVER DUMP West End Residents Resent Inability of Officials to
 Note Smell OPEN BUNDLES AND THE CROWD SCATTERS Produce Evidence to Back Up Claims. Age-Herald Reporter Visits the
 Place and Finds Dump, as
 Dump, All Right

Thursday morning in The Age Herald
 Mrs. John A. Kiernan wrote a strong let
 ter in condemnation of the dump. Friday
 morning Street Commissioner Gafford
 stated that there was nothing wrong
 with the dump as a dump Mrs. Keirnan
 had stated that there were dead animals
 and decaying vegetable matter at the
 place; Mr. Gafford stated there was none. Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Kiernan and
 several of her neighbors appeared at the city hall with what they said was the
 proof
 They carried several muchlY wrapped
 bundles. After they had corralled Presi- dent George Ward and Street Commis- sioner Gafford they opened the bundles. Inside were the remains of a dead chicken, some decaying vegetables of all kinds and other garbage. None of 1t smelled very good The offices of the commissioners suddenly became an undesirable lounging room. Bystanders scattered and disap- pearcd. Secretary Ryall rang frantically for porter The porter removed the causes of the odor. Then the ladies and Mir Gafford staged little debate Nothing Objectionable as a Dump It was established later. however, that the ladies are without doubt prejudiced by close association with the dump. A visit was paid to the place by MT. Gafford and The Age-Herald reporter immediately after the ladies unpacked their bag
 gage" There was nothing objectionable about the place when it was kept In mind that 1t was dump.
 City Health Officer pr. R. M. Gun
 ningham some few days ago paid A personal vis't to this dump. He stated yesterday that it probably was the
 best dump in the city. All dumps" he
 said. "are bad. and they all should be 1 eliminated. But keeping in mind the | fact that the West End place Is a dump lit is in ideal condition. Of course 1t smells and of course 1t breeds flies and of course 1t is dangerous to health. But there's only one way to help 1t. That 1 Is build crematory. As long as the people of West End make garbage | there's got to be some place to put | it. That place must either be a dump | or a crematory
 Some day, without doubt, the city | will have a crematory. Now we haven't. | Nor does it seem there Is any money to build one. Therefore there must be the dump. And as long as there is dump there is no way to make 1t any better. | and cleaner, any better smelling. and healthier than at present Is the West End dump"
 City Commissioner Weatherly, 1t de- veloped yesterday. has instructed Dr. Cunningham to recommend the con struction of some more crematories as soon as he prepares his report on the city dumps which pr. Cunningham says Il he will complete within the next few days
 In the mean time, Mrs. Kiernan stated last night that an attorney had | been consulted and unless some re- 1 lief was forthcoming soon steps would be taken to secure an injunction pro- lhibiting the city from placing any moro garbage on the West End dump. Mrs. | Keirnan stated, however, that 1t was probable nothing more would be done until pr. Cunningham's report on these dumps was made and 1t was seen what would result.
 Ladies Call on Ward The ladies who called upon Presi- dent Ward and Street Commissi on CT Gafford yesterday were Mrs. Kiernan. Mrs Robert b. Farris, Mrs. L. A. Daniel, Jr., Mrs. J. s. Donaldson and Mrs. s. V. Howell. They first went to the health department in search of pr. Cunning ham. Each carried a bundle. Dr. Gun ningham was out They changed the scene of action to President ward office.
 | Mrs Kiernan briefly stated her case to President Ward. She said she wanted Mir Gafford to take back the statement he had made in The Age-Herald to the l effect that she was in error in her state ments about the dump. MT. Ward sent l for MT. Gafford. MT. Gafford declined
 to take back his statement that Mrs. 1 Kiernan was wrong. He insisted that | there were no dead animals or vegetable matter on the dump. The ladies arose with triumph.
 MT. Gafford,' they said, "we'll show l you''
 The packages were opened, the crowd scattered. the windows were raised high 1 CT, MT. Ryall called the porter and then
 MT. .Gafford said:
 l "T don't believe this stuff came from off the dump"
 l The women demanded that MT. Gafford
 retract his allegations that they were not in sympathy with the truth. They | suggested that MT. Gafford's optic nerves
 were deficient and that his olefactory nerves were disconnected. They counter l charged by stating that he was & stranger 1 to the truth. The ladies talked loud and 1 MT. Gafford talked louder. One averred that he was no gentleman. The crowd | had reassembled and for about 10 min | utes the most spirited debate ever held | Ward Gets in Fight Then MT. Ward broke in to the melee l "I'll recommend at the commission meet I Ing next Tuesday that crematory be
 built out there. he said, If conditions 1 are as you say they are."
 Are you a church member?" asked Mrs Howell of President Ward.
 No. I'm not" said the president.
 Are you a church goerT'
 No man."
 Well, do you believe in the church? "Yes, man."
 Well, then in Gods name, remember what you have said. You would not tell lie would you?
 Well. better not tempt me too far!' Then MT. Gaffofd reappeared on the scene and he and The Age-Herald re- porter left for the seat of war.
 The dump Is bad looking, bac smelling place like any dump would be. There were no dead animals thers
 yesterday. The bad odor yesterday aft ernoon was not apparent half blocl from the place. Mrs. Kiernan and hei Ineighbors live about two blocks away
 Mrs. Kiernan states however. that tn,
 bad odor is apparent only at night.
 Within a few feet of the dump ar, negro houses and they continue on Ill Ito Mrs Kiernan's home. Mrs. Kiernal
 Hives in the last white house on tn edge of West End. In the next block tn
 negro settlement begins and continue up to the very edge of the dump.
 Although there are moxa develop