Evening star., 1898-08-01


which are detrimental not only to the best
interests of this department, but to the
public in general.
Removal of ashes-To my mind, this is
the worst nuisance that the citizens of the
District and this department have to con-
tend with, on account, principally, of the
reckless way in which ashes and rubbish
OF IKE character are collected and disposed
of. This work Is now being done by any
one who can procure orie-dollar horse and
a broken-down wagon or cart, going as
tney do from house. to house. This being
the only way to have refuse removed from
houses and yards, the man is paid by the
citizen to do the work and in removing the
refuse. quite frequently he scatters 1t from
the premises to the street, where what has
not been blown into the faces Of persons
passing by or scattered along the sidewalks
and streets is placed in the wreck of
wagon, with holes in the bottom and sides,
and no cover. He then proceeds on his way
to the dump, scattering ashes, paper, etc,
along the streets as he goes, until finally
he reaches the dump and deposits what he
has left-provided he does not find favor
able opportunity to sneak into an alley, as
Is very frequently the case, and dump his
load for this department to remove.
Rule i'm Other Cities.
''In most all cities that in any wise COM
pare with Washington in size and impor-
tance in the United States ashes and refuse
pense. Why not in Washington? The citi-
zens pay taxes here the same as in other
cities, and it would seem that what has
been done to the satisfaction of the people
OF other cities would apply equally as well
to Washington. Too much stress cannot
be put on the necessity of having this class
of work done under the immediate control
OF the Commissioners and at the public ex-
pense, and 1t would in the end cost the citi-
zens no more than at present
sary appropriation cannot be got through
Congress to do the work in this way, 1
would recommend that each person, before
being allowed to remove ashes and such
refuse, be required to present his wagon or
cart for inspection, after which, provided
his wagon conforms to certain regulations,
permit be issued him and the number of
same painted on his wagon. In this way
persons violating the police regulations
could be easily detected and their permits
revoked, which would insure a better SER
vice for this class of work.
Sanitation Considered.
Keeping the main thoroughfares of the
city In condition to invite the favorable
comments of visitors is only a small part of
the duty of the street cleaning department.
The uncomplaining poor should be as care
fully considered as those whose stately resi-
dences line our broad streets ard avenues.
A proper sanitary condition demands that
back yard, should be kept free from filth
and noxlous odors. The battle of this de-
partment is not against besiegers from
without, but to conquer dirt within, to sIay
i'll the inception the germ-breeding refuse
with which the city is Uttered daily in or
der that, through cleanliness, health shall
be preserved, happiness intensified and
pride of streets and byways made to rank
with pride of home and freside.
Some streets and alleys require more az
tention than others, and it does not follow
that, because certain streets are swept
more frequently than others property own
ers on these streets ought to pay a special
tax for such additional attention. For in
stance, the business portions are travelled
by the whole community and everybody
assists in making these portions of the city
dirty. and they should, therefore, help to
keep them clean they are no doubt graf
ifed to find while trayersing them that
they are In a cleanly condition.
In my opinion, the problem Of street
cleaning Is one more of, organizat ton than
of anything else 1t requires the same sort
of ability as is required and found in large
transportation companies and other corpor-
ations employing great bodies of men. Its
technical details arc comparatively simple,
and require no extended knowledge of en-
gineering or other science, though there is,
doubtless. room for Improvement in the
mechanical appliances now employed. 1t
is my purpose to watch the progress of in
vention in such appliances, experiment with
them, and recommend such as are useful.
In closing this my first annual report, /
take much pleasure ein acknowledging the
valuable assistance which have received
during the year from all the employees of
the department.. They have attended to
their many and onerous duties with as
have given to private pursuits from which
they expected liberal compensation and
high honors, and whatever the success of
the department, much of it is due to them"