Hoffmeister garbage truck

Employees of M.H. Hoffmeister collected garbage in the city of Cape Girardeau in circa 1953. (G.D. Fronabarger photo)

Sept. 10, 1948 Southeast Missourian

City Sweeper Worn Out; Also Consider New Closed Garbage Truck

Mayor Walter H. Ford said today that the city is giving consideration to the purchase of a second closed garbage truck similar to the one now in use, and to buying a new street sweeper to replace the one the city operates.

He said the need for a second garbage collection truck is great to eliminate the open bed truck now used by the city, and to provide more sanitary method of collecting food waste. Some garbage is hauled in open trucks by private contractors.

The street sweeper now in use is worn out, the mayor reported, and is in constant need of repair. The city has in mind a model with a larger refuse compartment which has a sprinkler attachment on the front.

If it is decided to make the purchases, Mayor Ford reported, it will probably not be done until next spring.

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Out of the Past:

March 11, 1949

Further improvement in city's garbage collection this spring and summer is evident with arrival of new, enclosed type truck to match one now in service and to replace open Army truck heretofore used for supplementary coverage; new truck, exactly like one purchased two years ago, has been serviced and is ready to be placed in operation, probably next week.

June 7, 1949

City places order with machinery manufacturing company for purchase of new street sweeper to replace 10-year-old model that has chugged to stop; cost of new machine will be approximately $7,000 and delivery will likely be made within two weeks; old sweeper has been inoperable for about two months.

Sept. 26, 1952

Peak load of garbage collection, during which men assigned to trucks led harried existence, is over and situation has settled down to more normal status, says Health Commissioner Roy Smith; Smith says there are five independent trucks operating in addition to two city-maintained, enclosed trucks; these are used by their operators to collect garbage on set schedule, in return for which they are given the refuse as feed for their hogs.