The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-09
COOPERATIVE BROOMS.

An Italian Laborers' Association Oncrs
to Clean the Streets OF New York for
$1,000 u Week-How 1t Can BE Done.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
l. For the sum OF 5000 per week the Associated
Laborers undertake to sweep the city clean and
keep it clean the money to be paid weekly after
the first month.
2. They propose to divide the city into 100 dis
tricts, detachment OF men to be assigned to each
district.
3. Each laborer shall wear uniform blouse. cap
and badge, as to be distinguishable when his
services are required.
4. AS they are not paid for their days labor. but
to keep their districts Clean 1t follows that any
policeman or citizen Shall have the right to see
that his district be kept clean.
s. In cases of necessity the association Will pro-
vide any number of extra hands required and pay
them out of their own funds.
g. For the extra sum of sl350o for the first year
and 500 for each following year they will clear
away within twenty-four hours all the snow from
Broadway Fifth avenue and the lower part Of the
city.
Our association would do the proposed work
honestly and completely at the rates which we
have carefully calculated, quite independently OF
the estimates which have been made for the street
cleaning hitherto; and have MADE this same 0fler
to MI. Eastman, chairman OF the Assembly Com
mistee on Cities, before the investigation began.
In the deposition made before the Assembly
Committee on Cities by Mr.. Pickard Browns agent,
and Mr. Ambrose, they attacked and repeatedly
denounced the present street Cleaning Department.
as a swindle; but on Analysing their deposition
we concluded that either they would pocket the
they Would require from to $1,000 ooo to
ciean according to their sworn deposition; but as
they propose to do 1t for 81 o0o0 600 or ST.
therefore they are ignorant themselves OF what
the work practically amounts to, and have no
knowledge OF figures and facts required Tor such
work. Mr.. Pickard, Browns agent IN his sworn
deposition says that it VIII cost $50 to clean and
cart of every day the rubbish from Broadway and
Fifth avenue tive miles Of street,: This would
make $40 per mile. The streets OF New York be-
ing 900 miles long, 1t would cost $50 600 to clean
the rest OF the CITY, or $72S0, 900 per year. Sup.
posing he does it only once week, he would spend
ST. Ol0 not including Sls, $50 Tor cleaning Broad
way and Filth avenue, and the pay Of the ohcers
a ANA the SsT
and the lower part of the city, which would raise
the cost to about 100000. This much tor Mr.
Now for Mr.. Ambrose, the practical foreman and
experienced contractor, who thinks he can prove
his plan by figures ana facts to be the pest ana
ture. Mr.. Ambrose says that with $1,O0O,0OO or
ST. 100000 employing $50 men, all citizens, he Will
four hours as clean as table Tor stable TO the
question OF the Attorney General he says by
e every root Of pavement. As practical foreman
Mr.. Ambrose ought TO know that stroke e.
the broom viii only sweep space of TWO feet
day, will make IS strokes per minute, 21OC
per hour @, 600 per day. Seven hundred and fifty
men would sweep 81, 000, 900 feet per day. AS the
streets of tho cltr haya surface Vi AGA, 900 900
square feet it follows that 81, 100000 square feet
YCuid be kept as clean as a table and the rest as
dirty as a stable; Or 1t would take II, ESQ men to
sweep the streets, at cost Of coo. This sum
would include only sweeping, and not carting, &c.
IT, Although there are so many difficulties, still the
work can be done, not however, with hired
1abOrers, as mas been done, The Associated
LabOrers undertake the work, after calculating
every chance OF success, and they have come TO
not interlered with IN the management of the
affair. Every citizen win judge alter months
trial, If they faithful to their promise not.
The association Is composed OF 300 frst class men.
tall basket. as used in Italy, strapped on the
back, and holding about two or three cubic feet |;
also, IN his belt, he carries long pointed iron,
with hook. TO clear the cutters. Each man goes
lects in his basket all the dlth dung or
refuse. When the basket is full he empties
1t into a cart During the night sweeping
is done for five or seven hours. as necessary We
shall use twenty patent sweeping machines. Each
travelling thirty miles per night will sweep the
city twice week; Broadway and Fifth avenue
every morning
1t il Impossible to carry Off all the snow from
Broadway, Filth avenue and the lower part Of the
city as Mr.. Brown, Captain Thorne and Mr. AM
brose propose The above streets have about
$500 900 square feet OF surfaces six inches of snow
when swept aside 10y q snow machine and snow
press will give about $4,000 cubic yards OF snow.
Carts enough cannot be had to carry OF this amount
OF snow. Therefore we would melt all the snow
with engines producing steam and hot air, which
win melt cubic yard OF snow per minute
Twenty such engines would suffice to melt Is, 1000
cubic yards in twelve hours. All the above ma
chimes we would provide ourselves, at no expense
to the city beyond the 5000 per week. Respect
fully, FRED. GUSCETfI
l. NJ NARDI