Evening star., 1895-05-27
For better Street Cleaning.

10 the Editor Of The Evening Star:
am sure you will receive thanks from
many citizens for the editorial in Satur-
days Star touching the economical work
done by the street sweeping contractor of
this city. Somehow, by common consent.
whenever reform of any nature is called
for, residents of the capital city look to
your columns the medium through
which it is to be accomplished.
There is certainly need of reform in the
direction referred to, for little doubt can
exist in the minds of those who have taken
note of the manner in which not only the
sprinklng, but the sweeping and cleaning of
our streets is being done, that the contractor
has very nearly carte blanche authority in
the premises. But why blame him? He is
but displaying a large bit of human nature,
and you and 1 would very likely closely
initiate him were we In his predicament
He closed hard bargain when he agreed
to clean our streets at price some 33 per
cent less than it had eeer been done for
before, and it is only natural that he
should struggle and scheme to save him
self, since it became evident that he was
playing a losing game. Now it may be
impertinent for me to ask. but l am going
to all the same-what is our street sweep
ing department for and what is it doing
all this time with its superintendent and
These officials, more than the contractor,
it seems to me, are to be censured for this
state of affairs. They are supposed to be
looking after the interests OF the District.
At least, that is what they are paid for,
while he has no interest at heart but his
own. If they cannot prevent work that
you call cruel to the individuals and dis
creditable to the city government if they
are powerleSs to prevent the contractor
from sighting his work whenever and
wherever he chooses, then l submit 1t IS
high time for the District Commissioners
to be looking around for new set of Of
ficials-for men who will exercise some
authority.
The fact is, the contractor is not en-
ploying a sufficient number of men, horses,
brooIhs or sprinklers to properly do the
increased work that was given him last
summer for which he is receiving at the
rate of about $4,000 more per annum than
he did the previous year. If the authori-
ties have permitted him to use one
sprinkler where he should have had two,
or one sweeper where two were necessary,
or If he has failed to increase the eff
cheney of his entire outfit in proportion to
the increased work and compensation re-
ceived, don't for heavens sake, lay the
blame wholly on MIN. He has done only
just about what any man similarly cir
cumstanced would have done, and what
he will probably continue to do unless a
reform is wrought in the management OF
the street sweeping department.
The scraping and cleaning of Pennsyi-
vania avenue by hand has also been very
unsatisfactory the past year, chiefly be-
cause the contractor was allowed to desg-
nate his force, starting in and continuing
with a smaller outfit than the work was
ever done by before. His bid was too low.
1t is to be hoped that the Commissioners
will look cut for this in awarding the con-
tract fer this important work under the
proposals published in Saturdays Star. By
all means let this work on our most beau
tiful thoroughfare be done only by man
nI1tf rnly. n
perform it in the most satisfactory man.
ner. OLD RESlDENl.