Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-13
street Cleaning.
OFPICE or THE BOARD OF HEALTH, !
RICHMOND, VA, May II, lSoS. }
To the Editor Of the Dispatch;

RICHMOND, VA, May u, 1883.
To the Editor Of The Dispatch;
lam pleased to see that you are interested
on the subject Of street cleaning, and thank
you for your articles on this subject. 1t Is
An evidence OF the right kind OF puohc
shirt. and one which we highly appreciate
when all important local sanitary questions
are amply and freely discussed, and we are
indeed very grateful to our press and citl-
zens for the far treatment this Office has
received and Tint public Judgment has
been kind and consderate toward MS. THIS
is all the more gratifying when IL
Is remembered that the health department
Of all large cities is the most generally, ana
sometimes the most savlgely criticised de-
partment OF the city government. Ana y Is
indeed q truIsm that the health department
OF auy city which encounters 10 obstacles,
the acts OF which are never discussed, all the
citizens wofuy at peace with II, resting
without care, finding no fault and expect
ing nothing from it, may safely be declared
unworthy Of public confidence. We re-
coenlze the fact that our office Is
one for public complaints. We seek
10 right the wrong. To receive ana
profit by It, es we have before stated, every
citizen should regard himself as conserVa-
tor Of health, to assist and advise this de-
partment, and we shall not be slow in inau-
Cllrating any reforms suggested to us. III
cleanliness next TO goodness Is great NiI'
tue the reverse Of the proposition must also
be true, and the present Is q most 0pportune
time to nut our theories into practice. !
trust, therefore, that your Efforts may
awaken renewed interest in street.clean'
inc and eliminate Ia increased facilities TOT
this department. In our annual report page
| 23) we wrote as follows:
The city is divided into three sanitary dis.
tricts. That portion OF the city east Of
Thirteenth street constitutes the First dis
/ trict; the second district extends from
| Thirteenth street TO First street; the Third
| district embraces that portion Of the city
! living west Of First street. The sanitary
| force consists Of forty to fifty men. We
also have six mules and carts TO the district.
| with this force we are expected to sweep
the streets, remove ashes, swcepings, and
garbage during SIX months III the year, and
ashes and sweeping during the remaining
| six: clean ont culyeTts, and keep the cliy IN
good sanitary condition.
A minnie subdivision OF this force will
Give nine men and carts 10 remove the ashes,
| &c. an average OF one and one ball men 10
a ward, and the same number TO remove the
sweep,ngs from behind the force. Deduct
| ing these eighteen drivers lioh ah uNeIaEe
OF forty. five Qhe whole gang, including the
foreman will leave twenly-seyen men-Dot
quite five men 10 a ward-to sweep the
| streets, lift barrels, clean out culyertS, &c.
The remedy Is suggested on page %
al wOuld respectfully and urgently renew
nv Recommendation OF last year that horse
sweeper be purchased, and that the paved
streets be spIinklcd and swept at night. The
force 10 each district OF fifteen 10 eighteen
men is inadequate to the work Of city the
size OF Richmond. Once in four or six
weeks Is as often as We can hope to go over
II. and It Is absolutely necessary In
The summer that this work be eff
GENTLY done. Quick work, thoroughly
done, and repeated as often as neces-
ssry, is absolutely essential 10 cleanliness
and health. Besides, on Main and Cary and
other principal thoroughfares, It is impossi-
Bile TO do this sweeping efec,ually during
the day, as the constant travel iRterferes
greatly with the work and the manner in
| which it is done. 1t is contended that to
use horse-sweeper will interfere with day
| labor. This is a mistake. The men en-
ploved can be well used on the unpayed
streets and alleys, and would have plenty to
DO" Very respectfully,
T. L. STEATTON.