Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-21
Superintendent McKenzie's Report
on Their Cleaning.
RECOMMENDATIONS
MADE
He Thinks the City Should Do
the Work.
ESTIMATES FOR NEXT YEAR

A. G. Mckenzie, superintendent of the
street and alley cleaning department, has
submitted his annual report to the District
Commissioners.
Some space is devoted to the method of
keeping Pennsylvania avenue clean, and
the report states that in addition to hand
cleaning that portion from the Peace mon
ument to 18th street west the sweeping
machine passes over the same area three
times week. The report adds that If 1t
could be done without curtailing the work
elsewhere the entire avenue, from the mon
ument to the Rock creek bridge, should be
machine-swept daily. The report notes
that the almost total absence Of COM
plant in regard to the condition Of the
improved alleys shows that cleanliness has
been the rule. Under the system in vogue
the entire city is divided into eighteen
routes, three Of which are cleaned each
day. The cost for 1895 was $1O,575. Dur
ing the year s9,OSS was expended for clear
ing ice and snow from the streets. In
addition to this the sum of 5000, appro-
was expended, under the direction of the
department. in snow and ice work.
Some Suggestions Made.
Attention Is called to the act of March
2, 1895. relative to the cleaning of side
WdihS, CFcSS Walks anu CUTTERS VI lHe City
from snow and ice, also sand, dirt, ETC.,
washed into sidewalks. An amendment is
suggested so as to include the roadway as
well as the sidewalk in the provision re-
quiring the removal of sand, gravel, etc.
The report suggests that an important
omission was made in not providing an
appropriation to enable the Commission
erS to keep all cross walks of the city free
from Ice and snow The cost, the report
states, might be materially reduced if the
owner, occupant or tenant Of any property
be required to open up the gutter in front
of their premises one foot wide after every
fall Of snow. and keep them open. During
the year the total expenditure amounted
to s136,77O.
The report states that if street from
It'll to 18th streets. Louisiana from 9th to
10th. little b street from 10th to 18th, and
both 9th and 10th streets from Louisiana
avenue to b street were paved with ma
terfal that presented a reasonably smooth
surface, the labor of cleaning would be
greatly lessened. In their present condi-
t!on. the report adds. 1t is impossible TO
clean them as they should be. Soma of
them are swept daily by machine. but
of these streets is recommended in the in
terests of health and comfort.
The City Should Do the Work.
1t Is stated that the present contract for
cleaning paved streets expires June 80,
report that when the contract is relet the
District will have to pay more for the
work. the reasons being the effect of the
eixht-hour law and the lessening of dump
ing facilities. The superintendent believes
that while the present system has worked
Well yet for several reasons he Is inclined
to think that the better plan would be to
have the work done directly by the CITY,
The estimate for the fiscal year 1897 ag-
gregates S174,495. A special estimate for
snow and ice work is submitted of S25, 600
An estimate is made of $4,000 for sprnk-
ling unimproved urban streets and Penn
syivania avenue from LIST to 18th streets
from May Is to September 10. Also $1,000
for sprinkling suburban streets and roads.
The estimate for sprinkling Pennsylvania
avenue provides for daily service, which,
IN the opinion of the superintendent, would
be found desirable during the season named.
The report states that the avenue is used
more than any other street in the entire
city, by both vehicles and pedestrians,
Two-thi1ds of the population, the super.n-
tendent estimates, are on this street, par
ticularly during the hot weather, either for
business or pleasure. The superintendent
thinks that $1,000 would sprinkle the avenue
daily, as proposed.