The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-02-18
STREET CLEANING IN PARIS.
A System Which Might be Probably
Adopted in American Cities.

Adopted In American Cities.
The cleansing of Paris was formerly
function of the Project of Police Gas
was also the fact as to New York;, but
is now in the department of the Project
engineers, one for each group Of arron-
disements, one being subdivlded into
three sections, each under the charge
OF an executive engineer, and the other
into five sections, similarly supervised.
The sectional engineers hVe under
their charge 81 superintendent and
81 overseers, whose employment in
wolves a cost of 100000 francs. The
scavengering plant is stored at central
depot and four minor stations, in such
fulness and variety of equipment as to
meet extraordinary service, and the en-
gineering resources of the chiefs who
direct the work are of the highest
grade. The latest exact report of the
work of scavengering in Paris obtaina-
BILE by the writer is for the year 1878,
when fair estimate of the population
would give a little more than 1000. 900.
This exhibit, however, will sufficiently
illustrate the French methods, which
have changed but little, if any, since
that time.
The roads of Paris in 1877 included
length of 55S miles, covering S,61S,2S6
square yards, there being also 242,7 s2
square yards of unmetaled roads. and
1922, 654 yards of foot-paths and blind
alleys. At the various minor depots
scattered throughout the city were
stored supplies of chlorate of zinc, sui
phate of zinc, sulphate of iron, carbolic
acid, hydrochloric acid, and nitroben-
eide as cleansing agents. These were
thoroughly used for disinfection, cleans
ing cutters carrying sewage, and wash
ing and watering the markets. The
annual cost of plant and disinfecting
materials was little over 900. The
force employed in sweeping and wash
ing the Paris streets consisted of 1900
men, $50 women and so boys, the wages
paid ranging from ~ francs to ~
francs per day. The plant, in addition
to the hand implements, consisted of
100 mechanical sweepers of the most
improved models, each with the capacity
Of 10 man-power, and practically adding
1000 laborers to the force; and 1922 water
carts, in addition to the hose, which,
wherever applicable, was applied to
the city MIGRANTS for flushing pur-
poses. During the year cited 7,159, 1863
square yards were daily watered by
cart, and 2,7s3, O92 by hose. The an
nual cost of this important function
was about 900. The washing is all
done directly by the street cleaners,
and ordered SO as to facilitate, not to
increase, the labor of sweeping, as
mud is the most difficult of all dirt tc
remove. The hand-sweeping brigade
and the mechanical batteries, as they
might be called, perform their labors
between and 6 a. M, in summer, and
between and a. NJ. in the winter
} The carts for removing the public ani
private refuse operate from to 8 a. M.
, in summer, and from to 9 a. IN. il
winter. Each cart is attended by 9
driver and two shovelers, thu
latter having to provide during the res
of the day supplemental sweeping, a
ordered by the inspectors continual.
patroling the city on the outlook TO
: the great enemy, dirt The same mel
have also the duty of rinsing the gut
tiers twice day. and of cleaning an,
S disinfecting urinals, etc. All the worl
! of sweeping and washing the streets
S which is done at least once and some
: times tweed a day throughout tn
5 paved area of the city, and of removin,
! house and street refuse is completed.
/, finished by p. m, except in unfavora
: BILE weather. The same "street order
t ly" system used in the city of Londo
e is also feature of the Paris method
: and is found equally as advantageou
e and economical. -Harpers Weekly.