Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-07-24
CITY ADVISED
TO TAKE OVER
DISPOSAL PLANT
Engineers Advise Purchase of
Pennsylvania Reduction
Company
WILL COST $4,000
Ash and Garbage Survey Re-
port Presented to Council
Today

City collection and disposal of
ashes and garbage; the purchase OF
the Pennsylvania Reduction Com
pany plant, extensive changes there,
and better system of collecting re-
fuse were the important recommen-
oations IN the report on the ash and
garbage survey made by Tribus and
Massa, and presented to Council to-
day.
The Commissioners took the re-
port under advisement and will de-
clde on the disposal question within
tne next few weeks, so that prepara
uons can be made to start collecting
ashes and garbage when the present
contract with the Reduction Com
pany expires.
The engineers in their report esti-
mate 1T will cost the city $4,000 to
take over the reduction company
plant and put it in shape and that
II VIII cost $S4,000 a year to make
collectlons of ashes and garbage
$4,000 more than under the pres
ent system,-but that the reduction
plant properly managed will net the
city at least S45,500. This deducted
from the total cost of collections will
make the net cost $40, 900 a year,
NS YoIVVV lndn present.
Assure Good Service
II the changes are made as rec
commended in the report, the engi-
neers assure the city officials there
VIII not be repetition of the trou-
Die or last winter when ashes ac-
cumulated for months.
rms was due partly, the report
continues, to the way collections
were made by the reduction com
pany and the way the plant is man
aged, but Louis L. Tribus, repre-
senting the engineers, declared there
We're faults on both sides, and that
1arrlspurgers in general contributed
to the inefficiency of the service.
The engineer, in recommending
the purchase of the reduction com
pany plant, advised against attempt
ing 70 make 1t modern plant. BY
making only the immediate repairs
and changes necessary to permit of
operating the plant for year or two
he suggested that Harrisburg should
later on get an entirely modern sys-
tenn, which could be installed in the
present buildings of the reduction
company. beyond Cameron street, at
a cost not exceeding $4,000. This
new plant would have a capacity for
taking care of double the amount of
duces. ~"
He advised against the city buy
ing the horses and wagons now own
ed by the reduction company, saw
ing that for the majority of the work
one-horse wagons should be used
for the ashes and garbage; larger
wagons for the rubbish and autos
$4,000; new collecting equipment,
for the long hauls, which, according
to his calculation, will be few. Free
quent stops and short hauls make
the exclusive use of auto trucks in
advisable, he said.
Urges Civil Service
He urged that the employees be
put under civil service; that the resi-
dents of the city be compelled 20
use smaller containers and keep the
ashes, rubbish and garbage separate;
make frequent collections to get the
garbage when it is fresh and more
productive, and employ men to
pick" the dumps.
Mention is made in the report that
Steelton may later become a part of
the city. That need not be consid-
cred now, the engineer said. because
the dumping grounds north of the
city will be available and the reduc-
ton plant best located at its pres
ent site for years to come, so that
the haul from Steelton to the plant
would be too long to be economical
The engineer said, also, it would not
be inadvisable to put up a small
plant in Steelton.
Mr.. Tribus continued, that no mat
ter what kind of a reduction plant
is installed he could offer no guar
anty that the unpleasant odors from
the plant would be entirely eliminat-
ed. Yet he said this would be less
noticeable. Commenting on the fact
that the reduction company officials
say they do not want the ash and
garbage contract again, the engi-
neers added that the company
bought some needed modern ma
chinery but never installed it. This.
he said, could be used. If the city
takes over the reduction plant there
will be found immediate need for
putting the plant into sanitary con-
dition, Mr.. Tribus said.
The revenues to be derived by the
city if it takes over the plant would
include money from the sale of
grease, dry tankage and assorted
pickings. The actual cost of the
plant and overhauling it is fixed at
5000; new collecting equipment.
$4,000; picking plant, $4,000; Incl
dentals. $1,000.
n I'll 7 n