Evening journal., 1918-07-20
DOCTORS 5 GARBAGE
TAKEN IN HURRY

Or. William r. Harris. No. 2if West
Tenth street, told an EVENING JOUR
NAL reporter this morning that the
garbage had not been collected from his
apartments at that address for three
weeks and that the odor was getting
to be so strong that his tenants were
threatening TO leave the building. He
said that when repeated calls to the
Health Department had not brought re-
lief. he had called up Mayor Lawson
and that the Mayor had told him ne
was unpairlOtic 10 make a complaint
about such a matter at this time. An
attempt had been made TO burn the
garbage In the furnace. but the smell
Of Il was enough TO drive everybody
out OF the building. A faceti0us friend
had suggested that the doctor keep hogs
10 eat the garbage and thus add to the
meat supply. but apartments have no
accommodations for hogs. Neither were
there any backyard spots in which the
doctor could give the garbage decent
lnterment.
Dr. Harris told the police department
that II that garbage was not removed
by 4 o'clock this afternoon. he intended
10 place Il out upon the. sidewalk OF
Delaware avenue and leave II there.
Following this announcement, the
health department called up DR.. Harris
and told him that the men would re-
move his garbage early this afternoon
without fail. The doctors drastic
threat was successful in securing action
and by 1 o'clock the garbage had been
removed from his premises ~ the col
lectors
Garbage non-removal complaints are
so numerous that II was the one topic
Of conversation In the stores and mar
kets, OF wherever two or three people
were gathered together today.
Former officials OF the Board OF
Health, whose term expired in May.
today resented the inference that has
been scattered broadcast by the pres
ent health board members that the
garbage here had not been collected
during the month OF June. According
TO these officials the complaints aver
aged. during June. eighteen complaints
a day, the total for the last three
weeks OF that month being i66.
The old board members refused 10
award the contract 10 a concern that
was fully equipped with eleven steel
automobile trucks at their price OF
S6i eco a year on the grounds that II
was too high; but according TO mem
bers OF City Council, the new board
awarded the contract on a basis OF
$4,000 for the same work.
While Sylvester Healy, the contract
or, has ordered new trucks. and drivers
have been sent TO Detroit, Mich, TO
bring them here, IL Is understood that
Il will be a. least two weeks before
the trucks arrive here In the mean
time, automobile trucks are being used
to collect the garbage, the waste mater
lal being placed in open cans in me
/ trucks.
The city law states that all garbage
carts shall have removable covers
When the late Dr. J. Harvey Spruanc'
was mayor the health board insisted
that this law be adhered TO and severa
arrests were made.
> Residents along West Eighth stree
this morning were in arms over IN
action OF the collectors. who allowe
an open cart. filled with garbage.
remain standing in the street ther
for some time, while the waite
drained from 1t into the street. tn
cart was stopped near a sewer inle
and the stencil arising from the car
was sitting.