Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-22
respectively. 5s1, 900. 600 square yards, at a
total cost of $1J1 23J.
Comma rfxOn of Cont

The report contains g. comparison of the
cost of sweeping under different methods,
and appeals for the he'll, of citizens to get
the sums necessary to properly clean the
city.
1t is also pointed out that the force re-
quired by the hand system, of all grades,
for cleaning entire area, would be about
J15, and 316 for the latter, q difference of
2'I9 persons, representing probably 1,294
others dependent upon their labor for sup
port To make it plain, says the report,
one system would furnish the means Of sup
port for 2S75 people, and the other but
1,aSO. Again the report says: Il have de-
voted considerable space to the subject of
street cleaning. as it is a most important
one, and for the further reason that the
two systems, hand and machine work, are
on trial in the city for the first time, both
using improved methods. 1t therefore
seemed incumbent on me to enter into de-
tails as to area swept and cost OF same, as
well as to give some expression as to the
merits of each system. l unhesit atingly
pronounce in favor of the hand cleaning,
Tor two reasons, 1t does better work and
dlsturbs no one. and that it affords more
work for willing hands"
A strong plea Is made for an increase for
cleaning alleys.
Snow and Ice.
On another subject the report says: For
snow and ice work. l desire to say that
heretofore what work of this character has
been done has usually been at the expense
of the street sweeping fcnd, and that
whenever any very heavy claim upon il
has been made we have always been COM
PEELED to reduce the city sweepings during
the following summer just the very period
when the cleanliness was. the most needed
to maintain the public health. Under the
act of March 2, 1S05-97, known as the snow
and ice act, the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia are required to keep all
the cutters of the city open, one foot wide;
also they must see that all the street cross
ings are kept free of snow and ice. at
least ten feet wide For this work there
is appropriated the sum of $1,000 Reflec-
ton will show how idle it is to suppose
that the work, or hardly any part of it,
can be done for the money.
The very first snow of the season would
exhaust the fund, and find the work in
of cutters, that would require opening and
kept open. The crossings, four at each
street intersection, would seem to be an
other pretty large contract to enter upon,
beside horses and carts must be employed
to cart away the snow ard slush. If the
law is to be made effective, 1 am certain
that the estimate l have made for this
work, viz: 100000, is a very moderate one.
ard even with that sum, the exact letter
of the law could not be compiled with. OF
course much would depend as to the
weather conditions of the winters of 1888
and 1899, but there should be that much
money to draw upon. If made a. special
appropriation, it could be only expended
for that. purpose alone.
About Salnries.s
The needs of an increase for street sprink-
ling is also pointed out. Speaking of sal
aries the report says:
4 respectfully submit that the salary
paid the superintendent of the service in
view of the responsibilities that rest upon
him, is not what it should be; and that 1t
should be at least 5000, and if capable
man, he will earn every cent of il. The
assistant clerk now receiving $500, should
in consideration of the class of work that
he has to do, receive $l,2to. The chief in
spector on street work should receive at
least 81, 400 per aEnum, particularly so as
his future duties will be largely increased,
and other branches be placed under his
supervision, for the proper conduct of
which he will be held responsible, and upon
which he will have to report
There are at present carried on the an
nual roll three C) assistant inspectors. I
respectfully recommend that hereafter they
be known as inspectors and rated at 81 900
each. in place of $500 as now paid"
The report recommends that laborers on
the dumps be put on the annual roll ut
$40 per month. That more waste paper
boxes be provided Attention is called to
the constant violations of the law in
throwing waste paper and litter in the
streets and by carts dropping parts of
their loads.