The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-31
THREE HUNDRED MEN ARE WORK
ING ON THE CITY'S PAVED
STREETS.
WORK FOR MANY MORE MEN.
CITY ENGINEER RUNDLETT, HOW
EVER, SAYS 1T DOESN'T
PAY TO HAVE
TOO BIG A FORCE AT ONE TIME.
What His Plans for Futher Street
Cleaning Are-City Force Goes
on Tomorrow.

Although 1,400 men have been en-
ployed on the streets during the past
month at an expense Of $4,000, the con-
dition Of the streets is deplorable. 1t
is the universally expressed opinion
that the showing is not in proportion to
the money expended Fifth, Sixth, ST.
Peter and Wabasha streets especially
have been sights to behold, with their
cutters choked with ice and the streets
themselves plastered with a pasty
mixture of mud and slush.
But things took a turn for the bet
ter yesterday. An army of the "unem-
ployed" was scattered over the paved
streets down town hard at work re-
moving the ice and mud, so that by
nightfall the streets in the immediate
vicinity of the court house were much
improved in appearance.
City Engineer Rundlett said that 300
men were employed yesterday in this
work. They are the last batch of the
unemployed and their turn will expire
tonight as the amount set apart from
the contingent fund for the relief of the
unemployed will be exhausted.
The men and teams were employed
yesterday on st. Peter and Wabasha
streets and on Fifth and Sixth streets.
On the latter street they began opera
tions at Robert street and worked
both ways They made good progress.
Tomorrow the city engineer will pun
the regular street force-some 200 IN
number-at work cleaning the streets.
They will be paid, of course, out Of
the street, sewer and bridge mainte-
nance fund. 1t is the intention to clean
the asphalt pavements first Oakland
avenue is already free from snow and
ice, and MIR. Rundlett says that he will
put the brooms'' on that avenue in
a day or two
Asked whether larger force of men
than at present employed in cleaning
the streets would prove more efficient,
Mr.. Rundlett said:
1T doesn't pay to employ a larger
force than we have at present, in work
of this character. The men and teams
would simply interfere with each other
and the work would not progress sc
rapidly. OF course it is not to be eX-
pected that the city will employ thou
sand men at one time and put them
to work in all quarters of the town.
The plan that is now being pursued
will prove effective. The business
streets will be thoroughly cleaned w
in two or three days, and then the
residence districts will be looked after.
In the course of a week the streets gem
orally ought to be in good condition
considering the season of the year.
Fourth street and the cross streets
from Broadway to Cedar street will
receive attention today, as well as
Fifth and Sixth streets west of Wa,
basha street, which are still in an un-
slightly condition Some of the side
walks on the south side of these streets
which the abutting buildings prevent
the sun from reaching, and many OF
which have not seen broom, pick or
shovel all the winter long, still wear Z,
coat of ice from two to three inches
thick, and are almost impossible, for (,
slip and fall on one of them now nor
only means an injury to the bones, but
bill for cleaning your clothes before
they can be worn again. The same is
true of the street crossings, many of
which are very muddy for d short dis
lance from the sidewalks