The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-27

had not been swept, aud yet a report had
been sent in that th5 work had been don e.
As the money had been paid out of the
city treasury nothing was done in the
matter.
These facts have induced some of the
Supervisors to think that there should be
some change in the system of street sweep
ing. and that the expense to the city
should be reduced.
The regulation bid on the old system
will be made at the next meeting. but the
Supervisors who do not believe In the con-
ttnustion OF the old system have prepared
new specifications, which will also come
up for consideration.
Their idea is to divide the city into dis
tricts and have competitive bids for sweep
ing and keeping clean each district by
hand sweeping. If the California Con-
struction Company can charge SIG 40 a
mile Tor street weeping and sublet it for
50 a mile to have il done by hand these
Supervisors argue that the city might as
well enter into the business Of taking care
OF its own streets.
Supervisor Dundon has taken the lead
In the new movement and has made an
exhaustive examination of the subject.
He will head the fight which will be made
next Monday against the regulation bid
ding. which has cost the city so much.
| Speaking yesterday Supervisor Dundon
said in relation 20 the new district system
AAnAN pthb do NOiHphE6u WIN Ilh-
chine sweeping In this city would be very
far superior. Hand sweeping is done in
all the cities OF Europe and is found most
effective and less expensive. All streets
when swept by the baud system could be
swept in the daytime, and then the gen.
eral public could observe how the work
was done. or course this would not be
right for few of the principal streets
downtown where there is considerable
traffic, but the peopIe could see
whether great majority of the 500
accepted streets in the contract are
swept or not. The dust and dirt would
not be stirred up and sent flying through
the air as is done by the machines. and il
the specifications provide that the streets
shall be spripk led when the sweeping is
done in daylight this condition Will be
more likely TO DE complied with.
1T is said by some persons that the cost
of doing the work by hand will be very
much greater. but this is not so. Even if
it should be a little more expensive, which
is doubtful. is it not The more eouit-
able way to give assistance to dis
| tressed. industrious people, who
would be given useful employment
at moderate compensation provided from
the general revenue? Ii legitimate en-
ploymeDt were obtanable for all pergo ms
even at the most moderate com pen sati ON
there would be no excuse for begging, and
the charitably disposed members of the
community would be relieved from coll
stant drain upon their pockets. This sx-
perience of last winter would show this.
The plan Of districting the city must
be productive Of good results. for If the
contractor for any one section should be
careless or dishonest, and investigated.
this will have good effect Oh all the other
district contractors.
"a again, it is very reasonable to suppose
that a comb ine 20 commit wrong between
number Of contractors would be mora
difficult and unsafe than when the whole
contract is handled by one. company.
There is considerable doubt at the present
time as to the amount of work of this kind
that is charged and paid for.
"All things considered, we may ysry
reasonably Delieve that if the street
sweeping is done by hand we will get
better and more satisfactory work, and
our chances for paying for only what is
done will be better. BY this means we
will give employment to many people and
unemployed laborers, and give an oppor-
tunity to many men OF nj oderate means to
bid for section of the WORK"
These are the arguments used by the
Supervisors who Will fight IN favor of
sweeping the streets BY hand