The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-09-23
D. c. GARBAGE
DISPOSAL IS
PROBLEM OF
COMMISSION
Municipal Plant, Urged on Con-
greSS, Would Save Nearly
$4,000 Annually, Is Report
of Consulting Engineer.
By BILL PRICE.

With a fast growing population,
and large increases in cost, the prob
lem of the collection of disposal Of
city waste, is one to which the Dis
trict Commissioners will give serious
attention in the preparation Of their
annual estimates to Congress.
Estimating that by so doing the
District would save thousands OF dol
lars annually, the Commissioners for
two years have been endeavorinS TO
obtain an appropriation for the build
ing Of a municipal garage plant and
equipment with a view to ending the
contract system.
Questions To Be Faced.
Whether they will include a similar
whether they viii recommend that
contracts for the collection of garbage
and rubbish be made for ten years,
with the proviso that plants built by
the contractors revert to the District
at the end of that time, is the ques-
ton now before them. The present
five-year contracts end June 80, 1918.
The District appropriation bill for
the fiscal year ended June so, 1915,
contained an appropriation OF $500
for an investigation and report on
the collection and disposal OF city
waste, including the preparation of
plans and specifications for the con-
struction Of disposal plants. Under
this authority a contract was made
with Irwin S. Osborn, of Columbus,
Ohio.
Take Two Years to Build.
Mr.. Osborn states that it will take
two years for the construction of the
disposal plants. In the meantime the
Commissioners have awarded one
years contract for the collection and
disposal of ashes, beginning July /,
1913, to James ". Bean. at SIS, 300, an
increase of S1S,3OO over the present
contract price.
Bids for the collection and disposal
OF garbage and miscellaneous refuse
are nc v under consideration. The
bids -. the Washington. :. FertiHEer
Company Of 81 1900 for tire collection
for one year 81 garbage was the SnIy
one received.
The present annual cost under the
existing five-year contract Is $50 $40.
The lowest bid under an annual con-
tract for the collection of miscel-
-lRneous refuse was $4,000. the pres
ent annual cost being 81, 400.
Hope To Persuade Congress.
With these figures at their disposal
the Commissioners are hopeful they
will be able to persuade Congress
that the municipal handling of city
waste is an economical measure, and
49, - "a
on the $500 already expended on the
proposition.
Mr.. Osborn's report was made to
the Commissioners under date Of Octo-
Der l, 1918. Seventeen projects were
considered by him, which by process
OF elimination were reduced to three
and designated in his report as prof.
ects A, r, and c.
Project B, which contemplates that
all work be done by the municipality,
was the one recommended.
The plan is that all wastes be col
lected separately as at present, but
by improved apparatus. that garbage
and dead animals be reclaimed as
grease and fertilizer in reduction
works, that rubbish be sorted for
salable materials and the residue
burned in q utilization and incinera-
tiop plant, and that ashes be used
for filling low ground
SSS5,OOO Estimated Cost.
Mr.. Osborn estimated the capital
cost OF this project at Sss5, 300, which
officials Of the Engineer Department
say must now be increased because Of
the increased cost of labor and ma
terials.
The net annual cost for the project
in 1925, including interest and de-
probation, was estimated by him at
S137 ,625. The amount required TO col
lect and dispose OF municipal waste
by present contracts j. Sl9l 500
year.
Assuming that the cost by contract
under present conditions would not
increase, there would be a saving
OF S53.962 a year IL the work was
done by the District at the estimated |
cost for 1925.