Evening star., 1897-06-08

Is as follows: The cleaner is looked after
by the assistant foreman. and the latter is
unoer the constant supervision of tho fore
man, who reports twice day to the dis
trict Superintendent, who first inspects lis
district. The areas of districts vary. In
the one inspected the foreman stated there
were seven miles to look after. and this re-
qulred thirty-one men to do the cleaning
ard four to inspect.
Satisfied thus far with his fnvestiga-
tions Commissioner Black visited the city
presence of Mayer Strong He cordially
received the Commissioner. and after a
short chat about Washington referred him
to Colonel Waring. the commissioner Of
bers street in the building occupied by the
sheriff. Here the Commissioner was
treated with the utmost consideration. and
turned owed to the superintendent. n. L.
Stldham, who, by the way. Is an old WASH
ington boy, having lived in this city the
greater part of his life, and is now the
trusted friend of Colonel Waring.
Every available avenue of information
tended by every one. II was found diff
cult to get at exactly the information de-
sired, for the reason that the Work or
sweeping the streets was included in the
collection and removal of ashes, refuse
and garbage. Enough information. how
ever, was obtained to satisfy the Commits
sioner.
Call on Col. Waring.
Associated with Colonel Waring as dep
uty commissioner is Captain Gibson of the
United States army, retired. AS soon
as Commissioner Black had satisfied him
self as to figures he was called before. Col
onel Waring. There he explained the rea-
sor for his visit.
For many years." he said. "the Com
missiorers of the District have been dis
satisfied with the street sweeping. Ma
chimes were used, but the system was
faulty in many respects, and the result
was that Washington was fast losing her
reputation as a clean city. Realizing that
change must be made In methods the
Commissioners had advertised for propo-
sails for cleaning the streets under four
propositions. three of which. broadly
speaking, contemplated the machine meth
cd, while the fourth was for hand work
The Commissioners had received bid Tor
this latter class of work which seemed low
enough, but they were unwilling to award
contract before thorough investiga-
ton of the subject.
There is b-u pending IN Congress row., .
continued Commiss5l9ner,. Black, winch II
enacted, will give fhs e9mmssi4neTS ssh sii al aas
not yet become a 4awae and the present
contract for street Swedping expires on the
Both of June. and a. neW contract of some
capped by a small APPROPRIATION, which, in
round numbers, Is about Sn,WU. and must
make the best of 1t.
Some of our merchants are urging the
hand method, while the Hboring classes are
crying to us to adopt tne hand system be-
cause of the increased amount of employ
ment it will give to the unemployed. So
you can realize our position. We are anx-
ious to employ as many nhen as possible and
give the city the best method octainable for
cleaning the streets.
Compliments. The Star.
my advice, under the circumst ances -
replied Col. Waring. 'wouid be 10 push that
bill through Congress Immediately. With
the help of The Evening STAR, which 1 re-
member as highly influential paper and
always on the side OF good government,
believe that such a measuse could be put
through"
Colonel can hardly agree with you as
to the expedition you suggest" replied the
Engineer Commissioner. While it would
all be very fine to have bill giving us the
control of street sweeping, such bill must
necessarily carry with 1t a large apprnprla
ton, and my experience Is such a thing
should not be rushed through
Then l should unhesitat atingly recommend
that you continue the present system until
you are in position to adopt the hand plan
and put 1T in operation upon thorough
basis. If you try to sweep the streets CT
Washington by hand, under such a small
appropriation, the inevitable result Will be
failure, and hand sweeping will get black
eye, from which 1t viii not recover. l rec
situation, and while / am unalteraDly op-
posed to machine sweeping, l do not hssi-
tate to recommend II In lieu of poor hand
sweeping service
Col. Waring was asked whether he con-
sidered hand sweeping in gangs. without