National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-04-14
SWEEPING THE STREETS.

The Contract Awarded to Andrew Gleason.
Yesterday morning Messrs. J. F. Cake, F. Ten
ney. A. Saks, r. II. Taylor, Augustus Perry,
Thomas L. Hume and W. H. Morrison, as a com
mittee of citizens, called upon the Commissioners
of the District and presented the following petit
ton, signed by ffty-fve of our leading merchants,
hotel-koepers and other business men:
I'VE. tn" Undersigned persons, owning property
and doing business on Pennsylvania avenue and
other avenues and streets Inns city, respectfully
represent that we most cordially af1rsys che Gsp;
ner in which L. p. Wright, esq, has e6sducted
the business Of sweeping and cleaning the stSsets
in this city. We regard his continuance In this
work most vital to the business interests Of the
city. He is prepared with ample stock and an.
proved machinery for the purpose, and sc earn
estly protest against the business beng taken out
OF his hands and given t9 any one who has yet to
experiment WITH other machines and sweepers
which may not work satisfactorily, and the inter
est Of the business community and the visiting
public suffer in consequence thereof"
Mr.. Hume. in presenting the petition, addressed
the Commissioners briefly in support of the views
expressed in the petition and was followed by
others.
The Commissioners in reply, stated that in ac-
cordance with a rule adopted by the Commission
ers At the beginning Of their administration of the
District government in relation to current work,
proposals had been invited by public advertise.
ment for this sweeping. Bids had been received
aid had been referred to committee composed Of
re engineer, eomptroIIei, Au!w, MY! 81 III
Of Mr.. Andrew Gleason, he being the lowest re-
spOnsble bidder in their Judgment; therefore the
nG1y gsu tSe nSt ne we're well sstsed
with the manner in which he had executed his
work.
THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE
has been approved on condition that Mr.. Gleason
shall execute contract, to be prepared under the
such provisions and Limitations as the Commission
shall deem reasonable for protection Of the in
tercsts Of the District and on the condition that
Nv C1aaan hal hard n farm
with sureties satisfactory to the Commissioners for
the faithful performance of the contract.
The Commissioners had satisfied themselves as
to the ability Of Mr. Gleason to perform the work;
also, as to machinery which he proposes to use.
Here they read a communication from VIM. A.
Goodwin, city surveyor Of Portland, Maine, to En-
gineer Hoxie, wherein it is stated that Edson's
sweepers in use in that city with entire salts
faction as 1t does its work quite as efeetualy on
stone pavement as on wood or concrete; one from
Charles +. Paine, city engineer Of Providence r.
l., to the same effect one from George W. Forris-
tall superintendent Of health, Boston, Mass,
stating that they have in that city ten of Edsons
one from John Gunner, Of New York; saying that
faction, and one from Samuel L. Smedley, chief
engineer and surveyor Of Philadelphia, to the
same effect. The delegation then took leave ap-
parently satisfied with the conclusions Of the Com.
nissieners as above expressed.
= THE COST OF SWEEPING
the Streets and ascDues OF Washington And
Georgetown for theyear ending February, fS7<,
was sT6ll545 and for the same service under con-
tracts between the District Commissioners and
Mr.. Carmody and Mr. Wright during eleven
months ending March 81, 1876, the cost was
1 SIo,434.24 The last-named expense was consider
ably enhanced by reason Of the necessity arising
for the Commissioners to annul the contract made
| With Mr.. Carmody, and giving the work to Mr..
Wright, in consequence Of the Inability of the for
mer TO perform the service satisfactorily. In the
/ matter OF alley cleaning and sweeping for the
same period. the reduction of the cost is still more
striking. The cost for this service for the year
4 ending March 10, 1875, was Sl,90i.l5. For the
same service under contract made by the District
Commissioners for the year ending March al 1870
| the cost was 81, 500, and the work was we'll per
/ formed. The cost for the current year under the
1 contract with Mr.. Drainey is Sssg5.4K