Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-22
ADVANTAGE TO CITY AND WORKERS
Recommendations in the Annual
Report Made Today.
MORE MONEY NEEDED

POF udlly mana cleaning OF pdNeQ streets
and avenues. $4,000.
For machine cleaning streets, one, two
and three times per week, $4,000.
For cleaning improved alleys, SIS,
For cleaning unimproved streets and al
leys, including the cobble paved streets,
$4,000.
For twelve laborers on public dumps,
$5,634
For inspectors horses, 81, ,565.
For Every of superintendent horse, $40.
For contingent expenses $500.
For snow and ice work, under act of
March 2, 1S95-'9T, $50, 600.
For sprinkling urban and suburban
streets and roads, $1,000.
For one superintendent 81 900.
For one chief clerk, $1,000.
For one clerk, 81 200.
For one chief inspector, 81 400.
For three inspectors, $1,000 each, $1,000.
For ten inspectors, 81, 100 esch. S11.OOO
For three inspectors. 81, 900 each, 5000
For one foreman public dumps $500.
For one messenger and driver, $500.
Total of estimates, $2G5, ,339.
Iotal amount asked for for 1890 includ-
lrg salaries, $265,939. The amount appro-
priated for 1888, including salaries. was
$l64,NO; amount Of ircrease asked for,
$101. .933.
Two Methods.
The report says, among other things: The
amount apparently available for cleaning
paved streets and avenues during present
fiscal year is about $4,000. ! estimate for
1879, $4,000, an increase of $4,000. l
deem this reasonable increase in view of
several facts.
First-That the streets and avenues of the
city should be cleaned more frequently
than we are now able to do, with the
limited means at our disposal. Fully one
third of the paved area can only be cleaned
once per week, which is too great pro-
portion to be left in that condition. Not a
street in the city should be cleaned less
than twice per week. The two systems of
cleaning the public streets by hand and
machine are now on trial in this city for
the first time. That the hand cleaning is
much superior to that done by sweeping
machines, In many respects, Is most appar-
ent, and has been quickly appreciated by
that urgent demands have al
ready been made to have the for
mer system extended, but this cannot now
be done ir, view of the limited means at
the disposal of this department. Among
the many advantages of hand cleaning may
be mentioned: First-That the work being
done during daylight can be better done.
Second-ls almost noiseless and creates
but little or no dust. Third-That under
present system, the dirt being gathered in
bags and carried to the dumps before
emptying, dust Or noise is made in
the removal from the street. Fourth
The stores, dwellings and passers on the
streets are not Inconvenience in any way
5th, the doors and windows may be left
open and the fresh air enjoyed during the
heated term without danger from the
clouds of dust experienced when the
sweeping machine passes; 9Th, neither are
the streets flooded with water, making
them slippery and unsafe for travel, either
on foot or by vehicle; further, and, to my
mind, one OF the most important things.
that should commend this system to both
the legislative branches, and to the public,
is that it necessarily gives larger number
OF individuals is a chance to secure
means of livelihood. That it costs more
to clean streets in this way is admitted
Suppose it does, is it not better to afford
the deserving poor an opportunity to earn
n living for themselves and those depend
ent upon them in this way than to be called
upon to care for them through both public
and private charity? Work makes a better
class of citizens. 1t is work that is needed
and not charity. 1 have said that it costs
more to hand-clean than to machine-sweep,
and apparently it does, when the figures
are compared but In the end am inclined
to think it does not. For the reason that
public and private means would be called
upon to aid fewer cases of restitution
with work afforded, petty crime dimn-
fshes, hence less cost to the public in the
detection. arrest and punishment Of Offend
ers SO that in my opinion, the extra cost
Is eventually saved, and you have better
happier and more contented class of citf-
ZenS.
Additions Needed
Under the appropriation for 1898 about
$32,OOO was set aside for hand cleaning a
portion of the improved streets and ave-
nues. With that amount 1t was estimated
That about 100000 square yards per day
could be swept for 2GO days, which is now
being done. For 1899 I ask for this class
of work $4,000, proposing to sweep 800, GOO
r a for
an aggregate of 232,OOO,OOO square yards
for the year. which at contract prices, viz.
80 cents per 1000 square yards, would cost
very near the amount asked for. The
streets now being daily hand cleaned are
those upon which the greatest amount of
traffic converges, and are known as busi-
nees streets, with the single exception Of
the ones bounding the public library. on
Capitol Hill. There are, however other
streets that should be cleaned in :his
manner even now, and which believe will
have to be added to this class very shortly
such as X street, from 9th to Washington
circle; Connecticut avenue, from K 10
Florida avenue; Pennsylvania avenue, from
18th to Rock Creek bridge; Dupont and
Scott Circles; 16th, K to Florida avenue.
18th, New York avenue to 1; e street, 9TH
to 18th; Sth street, G to Mt Vernon square:
Ith, Pennsylvania avenue to Mt Vernon
square; Pennsylvania avenue. from I'd to
11th street east; East Capitol street, I'd to
east to 18th east, and North Capitol, from
D to M. There are others that should be
added this year, but to sweep even those
cited would require the greatest portion
Of the $4,000, additional asked for this
year, and submitted with estimate for
1889.
II propose to increase from loco, 600
square yards per day. now DONE to
/ 10000, costing at contract price 2iA
cents per 1900 square yards. about $4,000,
sweeping only 26O days. the average. Add
ing the proposed area, of hand and machine
cleaning together, gives an aggregate OF
I,E.D,00O square yards for daily cleaning.
or, in round numbers. about ahree-fifths of
the entire paved area texcept coDble) OF the
city, estimating the total paved area to be
=, ,250.00 square yards Total cost estimated
at $51 100. and swept as follows: Su9,UH0
square yards daily. 1.4U) $50 square Yards
three times per week, 10o.0I0 two times. and
$4,000 once per week. during 2G0 Gays. or
49, weeks. Total area swep. under bt.h
sy stems, II work could be Gone during fbe
estimated number Of DAYS viz 900 and I'm