The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-17 00:00:00

THE STATE OF THE STREETS.

Yesterday the forem of Mr. Gore, the contractor
for cleansing the streets of the city
.of London, appeared
on a summons before the Commissioners of Sewers, at
Guildhall, to answer the complaint of police constable
Davies, No. 431, for not cleansing Mansion-house-street.
The patentee of the new sweeping machines was in at-
tendance, and, upon being called in, he was at great
length questioned by the Court as to the efficiency of the
machines, which he declared to be most admirably
adapted to the cleansing of the streets, provided the men
who had them under their control worked them properly.
It was, however, to be regretted that the men considered
them an innovation, and did all to impede their utility.
In proof of their excellency, the patentee referred the
Court to the satisfaction which the machines gave to the
inhabitants of Regent-street. There no dirt was to be
found, and the same result would be produced in the
City, if the men in the employ of the contractor did
their duty.
The foreman of Mr. Gore was then called in, and in
answer to some of the MembeiS of the Court, he said
that Mr. Gore was confined to his bed, and unable to
attend.
Mr. Deputy Westwood,.. the- Chairman, wished to
know whether the new machines were suitable to the
streets of the city ?
The foreman replied that they were not : they were
a complete failure. In fact, no contractor, however
anxious he might be to- keep the streets free from mud,
could do it while using the machines. The construction
of the machines was such, that they spill as much mud as
they take up ; for instance, if one of them is employed
in Cornhill, and is there loaded, by the time it arrives at
Puddle-dock it is found not to be more than one-fourth
full. The vibration is so great that the mud is shaken
out ; besides, the brushes are not adapted for the streets.
A Commissioner—You do not put good horses into
them. The foreman—The horses are excellent when
first put in, but from their construction and weight they
are sufficient to kill any horse. The machines them-
selves weigh nearly two tons, and that is too much for
the horses.
ow man horses have been killed
A Commissioner_H y
since you have used the machines ? The foreman—
Only two.
A Commissioner—The horses which you use are re-
duced to skin and bone, and how is it to be expected that
they can draw the machines ? The foreman—The
horses, when first used, are as good cattle as can be seen.
The Chairman—The contractor, it is stated, has left
off the use of the machines ; is that the case ? The
foreman—Yes ; they are found to be totally unfit for the
work ; and on Monclay.4o men were put on ; and if the
state of the streets required, his employer was made to
put on 50 more. Mr. Gore pays the patentee 1,6001: a
year for their use, besides keeping them in repair.
A Commissioner—ls it your opinioa that the men will
keep the streets cleaner than the machines ? The fore-
man—Yes ; there is nothing better than manual labour.
The Court at seine length discussed the merits ef the
two systems, when it was agreed to adjourn giving an
opinion for a week, for the purpose of enabling the Com-
missioners to have practical proof of the effect of manual
labour in opposition to machinery.

ELLox.—The Committee of Ladies for selecting
subscriptions for beboof of our poor householders, in the
village and parish of Ellon, have lately distributed 80
barrels of coals, a quantity of shoes, blankets, and arti-
cles
of
clothing, which must place in comparative com-
fort, at this season, the humble recipients of their bounty,
and relieve the Kirk-session of many an extra call which
would Jam Inc made en their funap,—,d&erckel, fora