Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-05
BREAKDOWN
COMES IN ASH
COLLECTION
Trains Fall Behind
Schedule in Saving
Effort.
SERVICE is UPSET
Accommodations Re-
ported in Different
Parts of City.

A breakdown in the city ash col
lection from which there may not
be a recovery until spring brings a
lessened production of ashes was
brought to light today at the meet
ing Of the board of sanitary COM
missioners.
The collection trains are behind
their schedules and there is an &C
cumulation Of ashes in the alleys Of
West indianapolis, HaughviIle, North
indianapolis. all over the south side
and in the Fifth ward, Truly Nolan,
superintendent Of garbage and ash
collection and disposal. reported to
the board after he was questioned by
John L. Elliott, city civil engineer
and vice president Of the board.
Mr.. Nolan said he believes the regular
schedule can be re-established by Satur-
day. Persons familiar with the operation
Of the ash department say that once the
schedule is interrupted It IS practically
impossible TO regain the lost ground The
board Of public works found this to be
true when 1t had the ash collection de-
rartment under its control
OLD BOARD IN EFFORT
TO CURTAIL EXPENSES.
Generalization of the collection depart
ment came within the last two weeks as
the result Of an effort to curtaii expenses
upon the part of the old board Of sanitary
commissioners. Mr.. Nolan said in order
to stay within his appropriation be laid
of every man in the collection department
one or two days a week the last two
weeks. He said he thought the depart
ment could have gotten hy" If the period
Of rain. thaw and freezing weather had
not struck IN the middle Of the two
weeks and slowed up the collection be
cause the nshes froze fast In containers
which had been left uncovered by
thoughtless householders
Mr.. Elliott reported to the board that
he had been informed, but was not o.
ing to believe the reports unless they
were substantiated, that In certain see
lions OF the city citizens could not got
their ashes removed unless they paid
drivers 10 or u cents a week.
Lucius 3. Swift and President jay A.
Craven, as well as Mr. Nolan, said they
had heard the same reports. but never
had been able to verify them.
ASHES ACCUMULATE
AT FIRE HOUSES.
Mr.. Elliott also said that Fire Chief
John J. O'Brien had told him there was
an accumulation OF ashes fl every fire
house IN the city. Mr.. Nolan said the
collection department would relieve the
situation at once.
Discussing the problem Of disposing
Of corn husks and other nongrease
garbage, which is not sent Through the
reduction plant because 1t IS unproduc-
tive, but rather is put out on dumps,
President Craven said that some time
indianapolis Is going to have to build
an incinerator at n central point to burn
such garbage as other big cities now do
A committee representing the station
airy engineers labor union, came before
the board to protest against employment
Of a nonunion engineer upon q donkey
engine operated by the city at the head
of train receiving dirt dug by a union
hosting engineer working for the Henry
w. Horst Company on excavation for the
second unit Of the new sewage disposal
plant at Sellers farm.
The board promised to investigate and
told the union men to come back next
Tuesday.