Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-20
MR.. DRANEY,S VOUCHERS.
Health Officer Townshend's Reply to
Mr.. j. III. Cranes Charges.

AASSaSh OhACCE AOwuSucn00 AAORAy W
MIR. j. III. Cranes Charges.
The Commissioners this morning received the
report Of Health Officer Townshend relative TO
the charges OF Mr.. J. h. Crane, which were
printed some days ago in TIE STAB. The re-
port is as follows:
THE HEALTH oFYIcKn's REPORT.
Referring to copy Of communication Of J. b.
Crane, referred to this Office on the 7th instant,
have the honor to present the following re-
port:
The complaint first calls attention to the
voucher upon which contractor r. NJ Draney
was paid for street cleaning during the month
OF May, 1889, and charges that while Mr..
Draney claims to have worked twenty days
IN cleaning, there occurred, according to the
weather report, sixteen rainy days aud rain
fall Of 1888 inches. Sweeping is done by con-
tract between the hours Of 10 o'clock pm.
and o'clock am, and during the month
OF May there appear only three dates,
VIZ, the 18th, 18th and 18th, upon which rain
fell during the sweeping hours. On the night
rainfall is reported, and 1856 yards Of
sweeping was done, showing that only about
one-third of the route was gone over.
On the night of the l1th-12th two one
hundredths OF an inch of rainfall is reported
and ass, 0s4 yards Of sweeping DONE On the
night Of the 14th-15th seven-hundredths of an
inch OF rainfall is reported and 7S9, 165 yards
of cleaning when work had been about finished
Rain aids undoubtedly In the cleaning of
certain portions of certain streets, but it just
as undoubtedly assists in piling up the dirt
taken from one portion on some other
portion. Amy one at all familiar with the work
of street sweeping by machinery will
recognize the fact that certain amount of rain
fall before sweeping is beneficial in softening
the dirt to be broomed up, especially that on
streets where it has become packed
between the joints.
AS TO ABsURDrTIEs.
The complainant says that 1.-the sprinkling Of
streets during such rainfallwould be an absurd
ity." What appears to me to be far more
absurd is the fact that any one has con-
ceived the idea that sprinkling is ex-
pected to be done when not necessary and
that it must in all cases be done by the con-
tractor before sweeping. Sprinkling is done to
prevent dust from arising, and IL nature will
provide in all cases the contractor will be ex-
cused and the public congratulated.
AS TO THE MEASUREMENTS.
The supervision of the service of street and
alley cleaning was turned over from the engi-
neer department to this Office on February Of
last year and the schedules giving measure
ments were furnished at the same time. If
inaccuracies exist in these measurements then
q C.
First street northwest was swept eleven
times during the months of May and June,
which was as often as possible to
reach it following the schedules in
force. The schedules are printed and
filled each day and can be furnished at any
time ii desired for the information of the con-
troller. Affdavits are filed herewith In con-
nection with this portion of the subject.
ERRORS IN PRINTING THE SCHEDULES.
The six sweeping schedules contain 276 items
Of measurement and in the printing some half
dozen errors occurred for and against the
In one case an error in the print
ing of figures gives the contractor 8, 900 yards
less than he is entitled to for the sweeping of
Pennsylvania avenue east and another gives
him 5000 less than he is entitled to in the
sweeping of 9th street northwest Then,
Of the schedules gives him 1887
more than he is entitled to, and the
repetition of 35th street in West Washington
would make an over payment Of $50 square
Yards. As the schedules were printed to save
clerical labor, and, for the first time. it is
but natural to expect that some errors
should creep in, to be discovered and reme-
died later on. The fact that errors found dis
about equally between the contrac-
tor and the government, and the further fact
hat during the month Of May 240, 295 square
Yards were deducted by this Office from
stolen" TO the overpayment Of S66. Al in the
Ease of the C-street duplication. 1t is hardly
to say that the errors both WAYS have
been corrected, and as the schedules on which
hey occur have been printed less than four
months the settling OF the differences Is an easy
natter.
AS REGARDS THE PAY ROLL FOR JUNE.
Now, then, as regards the pay roll for June
or cleaning by days work, which the COM
llainauf rafara 10 r1ah1 r..
honor to say that it is remarkable in one re-
pect and that is in giving evidence Of the pay
nent for the largest amount of labor Of that
ilnd ever performed In one month in the city
If Washington.
The work done on Water street alone
rom the K street bridge west comprised
he removal Of 2,040 cart loads of mud
The carts we were working there
received pay at the rate of 90 per
lien, while nearly all the merchants were
paying for identical service in the yards ad-
oining 1925 and S2.50. For this reason we
Gould not get as many carts as were desired, or
been increased in our endeavor to clean up.
l do not need to invite the attention OF the
residents and property owners along the line of
The flooded district to the work then accom-
pllshed. The chrrge in relation to carts is a re-
The complainant in iumning at his conclu-
lions compares the nun Ter Of carts with the
Number OF laborers employed without taking
INTO consideration the thirty laborers OF the
,hain gang
The superintendent and inspectors employed
On street work are credited with work on Sum
lays for the very important reason that they per-
orm labor the cleaning done by the machine not
being finished until 8 o'clock on Sunday morn
ngs. The men on alley work are not employed
It nigat and not on Sundays, SO this explains
he difference in allowance.
In conclusion let me say that the people of
he District may rest assured that they
secured full service and extraordinary
good work for the money expended
Turing the month of June in this
direction, and trust it may be long time be-
lore they are called upon to clean up after
another such flood"
THE ZOOLOGICAE PARK