The record-union., 1893-03-06
STREET SPRINKLING.
Cannot the City do Better Than Let
Contracts Therefor
1t is Believed that Money Could be
Saved by the City Owning Its
Own Sprin&ling Wagons,

1t would be good thing for the city if
some of the men who received street
sprinkling contracts last year would re-
fuse to do business with the municipality
this year. 1t would be better thing if
all the others would follow suit. Then
the Trustees might see their way clear TO
have the city do its own sprinkling.
The advantage of this would lie in the
fact that the work would be done to the
satisfaction of the Trustees in the one
case, and would also be a relief and COM
fort to the people, as the streets could be
sprinkled just when and where it might
be necessary, regardless of the seasons.
1t now costs the city some $4,000 for a
service that does not begin to meet the re-
quirements of the city. as it extends only
through one-half the year; and competent
business men who have figured on the
matter estimate that the city can buy the
necessary carts, do all its own sprinkling,
and save money even on the hrst year s
service under such system.
Last year some of the contractors did
not much more than half do their work,
even at the big prices received for very
poor service, and the Street Commis-
sioner-as he told them he would dO-de-
Quoted certain sums from their bills for
neglect of duty. These derelict con-
tractors are now trying to get that money
from the city, and Antoine King, who was
wOrsted in one suit to recover, has now
brought another in Justice Devine's
court. The case has been set for hearing
to-day.
The city has had enough of this kind of
experience and the authorities should
rise equal TO the emergency and in
augurate Il reform in the street-sprinkling
service without waiting for the new
charter to go into effect. 1t is the belief
of those who are competent 70 form a
pretty correct opinion in the matter 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.
Eirst-class modern sprinkling wagons,
constructed on the best-known prlncl-
pies, can be purchased for about 500 EACH
II 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 for refilling, but are so
constructed that whenever the tanks be-
come exhausted they can be retilled from
the most convenient hre-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 % per
day each. len men and teams at this
figure would amount to less than 81 900 a
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
sprinkled during the winter or early
spring months, the additional cost would
be but mere trifle.
Counting IN the first cost OF modern
sprinklers, with the hire of men and
teams, it would amount for the first sea-
son to only $4,000, or about two-titthS 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 So 900 a year than
the city is now receiving for three times
that sum, what is the use of throwing
away $4,000, or even one-half that sum,
each year? 1t is believed that ten
wagons, run eight hours a day, would
give lar better service than do the con-
tractors, some of whose wagons are run, it
Is said, less than half as many hours. If
necessary, however, more wagons could
be run by the city and the latter still save
money by the adoption OF the new sys-
tenn.
There will be the usual sum collected
from taxes this season to meet the cost OF
Sprinkling, and there appears to be no
reason why the city may not use it to the
best advantage. Last year when the
RECORD made similar sugges-
ton it happened that contracts had
either already been let or bids asked for,
and it was then too late for anything to
be done in the matter. This obstacle
does not now present itself, and it might
be well for the Trustees to give the sub
iect their consideration