GARBAGE COLLECTION

GARBAGE COLLECTION. Fear of CHOLERA and the uncertainty of what caused it led efforts to clean up the City of Dubuque in 1866. Barrels were first placed in ALLEYS for kitchen waste collection. Sanitary Commission officials visited homes to inspect all buildings to see how much cleaning was needed. (1)

On June 12, 1866 city officials decided to supply all residences in Dubuque with barrels. These were to be used for the collection of all kinds of garbage. A time for the barrels to be picked up would be established when they were delivered. (2)

In August of 1866, the responsibility of cleanup fell directly on the property owners. (3)

           Notice--All persons living on Main Street, from 11th Street to the
           lower market, and from Main to Locust on 1st, are requested to clean
           the gutters in front of their residence, shops or stores on Friday of
           each and every week, and remove the same at their own expense.

           On and after the first of September, the city scavenger will be dispensed
           with and all persons will be required to remove offal at their own
           expense.
                                    William Herman
                                    Sanitary Marshal, Dubuque

All property owners did not attack the garbage cleanup with the same vigor. (4)

            We noticed that there is a good cholera belt on Main street
            between 6th and 7th. The gutter in front of some of the
            business houses is filled with a pool of water three or four
            rods in length, which is fast being converted by a flock of
            geese into one of the most filthy holes imaginable. However
            pleasant it may be to the proprietors to see the fowls splash 
            and dive into the water, it can hardly tend to improve the 
            sanitary condition of our city, and we hope the nuisance is 
            removed immediately.

The note of sarcasm/humor in the previous editorial took on a tone of pleading within days. (5)

            A Nuisance--All the filth and garbage of creation appears to
            have accumulated on Main Street, and the condition of the
            gutters in many places is actually disgraceful to our city
            authorities. Can't something be done to get rid of the nuisance? 

Notes of public "nuisances" continued to be announced in the newspaper, perhaps to encourage those responsible to clean them up. The following editorial appeared in 1872:

            A Dirty Alley--The attention of the street commissioner, sanitary
            officer, or deputy marshal is directed to the horrible condition
            of the alley in the rear of the NEW JEFFERSON HOUSE on Clay
            Street. If ever it wanted cleaning that time is now.  The stench
            arising is enough to knock down a Digger Indian, or a respectable
            hog. Have the corps de shovel give that neglected alley some 
            attention. (6)

As the iced-over river was used by meat packers for the disposal of offal, it was used by some in 1872 for the disposal of decomposed prairie chickens. Members of the DUBUQUE ROWING CLUB protested that carcasses and other offal were being thrown near their boats around 4:00 a. m. (7) While not generally considered garbage, boards with nails in them were occasionally thrown into the street laming animals. (8)

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Source:

1. "Be Prepared," Dubuque Herald, June 12, 1866, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18660612&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2. Ibid.

3. "Notice," Dubuque Herald, August 12, 1866, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18660812&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

4. "Clean the Streets," Dubuque Herald, September 7, 1866, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18660907&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

5. "A Nuisance," Dubuque Herald, September 13, 1866, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18660913&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

6. "A Dirty Alley," Dubuque Herald, August 21, 1872, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18720821&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

7. "A Nuisance," Dubuque Herald, September 12, 1872, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18720912&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

8. "Bad Practice," Dubuque Herald, September 123 1872, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18720912&printsec=frontpage&hl=en