Evening star., 1897-06-12
CLEANING STREETS BY HAND
Contract Awarded by the Commissioners to
Daggett and Dugan.
A Victory for the LabOrfng CIasscs-
The "Whtte Winged' Force VIII
Soon BE mt Work.

As predicted in The Star from time to
sweeping bids. contract was awarded late
yesterday afternoon by the Commissioners
Under the terms of which a system of hard
sweeping augmented by machine work. on
the less important streets, has been inau-
gurated.
1t has been only after a thorough inyes-
tlsation OF the subject in all its details
that the Commissioners finally arrived At
a conclusion, and their decision may be re-
garded as great victory for the laboring
classes and the good citizens who insist up
on better system of street cleaning
Every reader of The Star is familiar with
the details of the Investigation; of Engineer
commissioner Blacks visit to New York
ana his inspection of the sweeping meth
ods there; of the determination of the
commissioners not to consider pickup ma
chimes In connection with the contract and
nnaiiy. the probability of a compromise 10y
which system of hand labor could be in
augurated and tested.
II was the desire of the Commissioners
before deciding finally upon the award of
tne contract, to ascertain the legal status
OF the Dlds. There had been claims Of in
formality, and counter-claims fIed ami al
one llme the situation was so complica led
II was thought advisable to readyertise for
new nlos' the present contractor, in the
OF cleaning for a month under the rern,s of
the present contract.
attorney Thomas was asked II the Con-
hlssicners had the power to award a con-
tract based on two bids They had discov.
erea the lmpossibility of cleaning the city
entirely by hand, and as stated at The time
IN Inc star were desirous of testing a
nanu system, at the same time using
enough machines to keep the city clean
x,ttoLEey IhomaS rendered a Carefully nre :
Epaieu opinion sustaining the views of IN.
N9rilInlss,oners in this respect
pom Ihe receipt of this opinion Commits
sioher Ross, under whose direct sunervis-
. .on .he street sweeping department comes
TOOK all the papers and reports on the suh'
Ject ana carefully studied them After he
Hau satlsned himself, he called a meeting
VI the board, and announced his readiness
70 submit the street sweeping matter for
maj disposition. The other Commissioners
We're ready TO vote.
Attorney Thomas vas sent for. and the
consideration of the matter began One b,-
one the bids were taken up and discussed.
An onclal vote was taken first upon the
pickup machines, which resulted in their
rejection Then the attorneys opinion was
considered, his advice asked in deciding
several points, and Commissioner Ross
was ready to proceed to vote One ballot
did the business, resulting in a unanimous
expression Of the Commissioners to award
the contract to Daggett & Dugan to do the
work by machines and hand work
Contractor Daggett stated to a reporter
OF The Star that 1t was his purpose to in
auSurate on the principal business and res
idence streets the New York system In all
its details. The men would be uniformed
In white and regular patrol system in
augurated. He is confident the plan will
work, and predicts for Washington cleaner
streets than ever before.