The record-union., 1892-04-27
POOR, BUT EXPENSIVE.
How the City Loses Money on Her
Street Sprinkling.
A Claim that Better Service Can be
Had and Ten Thousand Dollars
a Year Saved.

There is considerable talk going on
among citizens concerning the street
sprinkling system of this city and the
necessity for reform therein. The pres
ent plan of having the sprinkling done
by contract was probably the more FEAST
bic one when it was inaugurated, and
Tor many years thereafter; but Sacra-
mento has outgrown many customs that
should be abandoned, and some of which
will be relegated to the past by the adop-
ton Of the new charter.
Among these is the street sprinkling
custom. 1t now costs the city some
| Sl6,GOO year to have the streets sprinkled
in a manner that would not be tolerated
in any other city of its size on the CONT
nent. 1t is not necessary to specify the
shortcomings of those who receive the
/ contracts to do the work, as the public,
as well as the city officials, are only too
well informed on the subject. 1t is
enough to say that the city gets miserable
! service for the money expended.
1t IS argued that the city could have
| first-class work done, and for one
third the present outlay, by owning her
own sprinkling wagons and employing
! men and horses by the day.
4 4 IA class III SDIlIlh ing NGSOtS,
constructed on the best-known principles,
can be purchased for about $50 each. 1t is
| estimated that ten of these wagons would
be capable of doing all the city sprinkling,
and doing it well. by being run say eight
or ten hours each day. These wagons do
not have to be returned to certain points
Tor refllllng, but are so constructed that
whenever the tanks become exhausted,
! they can be refilled from the most con-
venient tire-hydrant.
/ There are plenty of men in the city, it
| IS said, who would be glad TO give their
/ own services, with teams, at say So 80 per
/ day each. Ten men and teams at this
! figure would amount to less than 81 900
month, or about 5000 for the six sum-
/ mer months for which contracts are
/ usually let. Then, when it should be-
! come necessary to have the streets
1 sprlnllled during the winter or early
spring months. the additional cost would
! be but q mere tritle.
/ Counting in the first cost of modern
/ sprinklers with the hire of men and
| teams, and it would amount for the first
! season to only $4,000. or about two
/ tltths of what the city has paid out the
past year for sprinkling alone.
! This is a matter which should interest
every taxpayer in the city. If better
| service can be had for 5000 a year than
! the city is now receiving for three times
that sum, what is the use of throwing
away $l0,0 900, or even one-half that sum,
each year?
The evils of the present system have
grown upon the community so gradually
as to have almost escaped notice, beyond
the t0o-apparent fact that the people were
being swindled by contractors who
shirked their work or employed the most
miserable style of sprinklers that could
! be devised, but the authorities can no
longer close their eyes to the facts.
To-day the City Trustees are to award
contracts for street sprinkling for the en-
suing six months. 1t is to be hoped these
will be the last contracts of the kind to
| be let.