The Washington times., 1918-05-17
SEWAGE AND
GARBAGE TO Be
CARED FOR By.
MUNICIPALITY
BY BILL PRICE.

new and modern sewage reduc-
ton and disposal plant to stop further
pollution OF the waters OF the Po-
tomac river is virtually provided in
the District OF Columbia appropria-
tion bill as ii passed the House and
Is now before the Senate. Provision
Is made for the purchase by the Dis
trict Of suitable property for such an
establishment. to be followed in the
Preparation for construction and
equipment.
Another long needed public i'm
provement, an up-to-date and ade-
quate garbage reduction plant. is as
sured by the House subcommittee on
District appropriations at the next
session of Congress.
Possibly not of immediate interest
TO the general public, these two prof.
ects are nevertheless of vital import
ance to the city, and their promised
Iruition in the course OF the next
few years will be welcome news to
the many civic organizations that
have sought to aid the District Com
missioners in efforts to obtain au-
N--S- AeseNAOA AOA NANAAA-
To Take Garbage Plant.
So far as garbage disposal is con-
cerned, the District Commissioners
have given notice TO the Washington
Fertilizer Company, which has had
the contract for a number OF years to
collect and dispose Of District gar
bage, that they will take over the
plant and equipment OF that com
pany July ] and operate il. This is
under the provisions OF the pending
appropriation bill and a separate en-
actment by Congress
The fertilizer company has offered
u sell its plant and equipment in
entirety to the District for $S5. 900.
hut is given notice in the communi-
cation addressed to il by the Com
missioners that the price cannot
definitely be fixed until a final ap-
praisal is made by officials OF the
city government. The examination
end appraisal will begin in a few
day.. Supplies and materials the
company may have on hand when the
District takes charge will be paid for
a. cost.
The decision TO take over the plant
erd equipment that have served the
city in private hands for some years
eliminates the proposition pending
Tor some months TO begin the raising
OF hogs in case reduction OF garbage
could not be arranged for.
May Feed Hogs.
The prov visions OF the new law will.
however. give 10 farmers the right to
obtain garbage under certain condi-
tions for the feeding OF hogs in the
country surrounding Washington.
This has long been urged by farmers
How this will be arranged must be
determined later. Experienced Off
falls in the District building see much
sanitary danger in promiscuous gath
ering OF garbage by farmers owing to
the inability OF farmers to punctuaIIy
meet their engagements for taking
away garbage. but at the same time
want TO keep up the raising OF pork.
modern garbage reduction plant
Is vitality essential to Washington in !
the near future. as the population OF
the city increases. II is badly needed !
now. and this is recognized by the |
Congressman who framed the Dis /
trict appropriation bill for the next /
fiscal year as the Commissioners have
definite assurances that provision for /,
such a plant will be made next win |
ter. The plant that is TO be taken /
over by the District is inadequate to 4
meet the ECw conditions in the Dis I
trict and will serve the city's neces- ,
stiles no longer than until a more |
modern plant can be provided.
Pollution Of the Potomac.
For three years the Commissioners, /
aided by the Public Health Service I