MUNICIPAL HOUSECLEANING THE METHODS AND EXPERIENCES OF AMERICAN CITIES IN COLLECTING AND DISPOSING OF THEIR MUNICIPAL WASTES—ASHES, RUBBISH, GARBAGE, MANURE, SEWAGE, AND STREET REFUSE BY WILLIAM PARR CAPES DIRECTOR NEW YORK STATE BUREAU OF MUNICIPAL INFORMATION SECRETARY NEW YORK STATE CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS AND JEANNE DANIELS CARPENTER, A.M., LL.B. BOSTON UNIVERSITY EXPERT IN ECONOMICS AND MUNICIPAL RESEARCH WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY CORNELIUS F. BURNS PRESIDENT OF NEW YORK STATE CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY NEW YORK 1918 COPYRIGHT, 1918 BY E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY _All rights reserved_ Printed in the United States of America DEDICATED TO THE HONORABLE CHARLES C. DURYEE, M.D. WHO, AS THE FOUNDER AND FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS, WHICH DEVELOPED THAT UNIQUE INSTITUTION, THE STATE BUREAU OF MUNICIPAL INFORMATION, RENDERED A SERVICE OF INESTIMABLE VALUE TO THE CITIES OF THE EMPIRE STATE AND BLAZED A TRAIL FOR BETTER COORDINATION OF MUNICIPAL UNDERTAKINGS, AND MORE EFFECTIVE COOPERATION AMONG AMERICAN CITIES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PREFACE In a home free from nuisances which offend the esthetic tastes, and either directly or indirectly cause disease, more contentment and thrift will be found than in the one permeated with odors and befouled with dirt and domestic wastes. So it is with a city, the great home, workshop, and playground of its people. Keeping it clean, therefore, is one of the most important duties of its officials. None other is more conducive to health, happiness and comfort, the three great objects for which every community through organized effort is striving.