FLASHBACK TO 1920: Many Seek Garbage Job For Borough

May 22, 2022

A regular feature looking back at what was being printed more than 100 years ago in the Bristol Daily Courier. This week’s entry comes from the May 22, 1920 edition of the newspaper.

Many Seek Garbage Job For Borough; Rush Of Applicants Surprises Council Committee

Disposition of the borough garbage again promises to become one of the sources of much annoyance to Bristol Borough Council. In fact, it is already proving to be a bone of contention among members of the Health, Sanitation, and Poor Committee of the municipal legislative body.

During the early part of the present month, the committee having the awarding of the contract for the collection of all dry garbage in its power advertised for bids for doing the work.

For years, it has been job for which there was apparently no competition. Last year when the usual announcement was made that the committee would receive bids, there were but one or two bidders. The price for doing the work was increased to $100 per month, because of the scarcity of competent bidders after the work.

But this year, things are entirely different. The committee has been almost swamped with bids from the responsible parties willing to take the job at a low figure.

Dr. Joseph deB. Abbott, the chairman of the committee, at the last meeting of the Council asked for an extension of time in order to afford his committee sufficient time in which to investigate the responsibility of the bidders and thus afford the borough an opportunity to take advantage of the lowest price possible.

The question being asked is why all the competition for the job? Is the price of $100 such a profitable price for the collection of garbage of a town the size of Bristol?

“There isn’t any money in it as that price,” remarked one of the bidders yesterday in discussing the question. “But with me, it is a case of having the family to feed.”

In further explanation, he stated that he had a large number of hogs at his place and that is was necessary that he procure the garbage or else go out of the hog-raising business. Hence the increase in the pig raising game in this vicinity is likely to benefit the taxpayers of Bristol.

It appears the bids submitted to the committee this year are rather low, and the Councilmen are wondering if the contract can be satisfactory done at the price. All of the bidders, however, state that they are willing to put up the bonds and will start the job just as soon as they are authorized to do so.

Meanwhile, as the Health, Sanitation, and Poor Committee debates the question, the contractor of last year continues work at the old price.

An advertisement from the May 22, 1920 edition of the Bristol Daily Courier: