Evening star., 1898-12-26
Hand Method Declared to Be Emf
nently Satisfactory.
EXTENSION OF SYSTEM ASKED FOR
Removal and Disposal Of Ashes
Under District Control.
COST OF THE VICE

| made and proved erninently satisfactory,
the system being considered much more de-
sirable in every way than that followed in
the past. In submitting the estimates for
the coming fiscal year the Commissioners
pointed out the desira bility of vast ex-
tension of the system of cleaning by hand,
to include practically the entire city. They
asked for an appropriation to cover the
cost of such work, and also for authority
to have the work done under their i'm
| mediate supervision. and not by contract
as had been the custom. The House of
Representatives struck the item from the
bill. The Commissioners, however are
making an earnest effort to have the
amount included in the bill as 1t will be
reported to the Senate. 1t is further de-
sired that the estimate be not reduced in
any manner. for the Commissioners be-
heve they have suggested the very lowest
figures for which the work can be done in
a satisfactory manner.
MIR. Stutfer's Views
In speaking of the matter today with q
Star reporter. Mr. Warner Stutler super
intendent of street and alley cleaning of
the District, said:
"The exact amount we estimated as need
ed to do the work is s2e7. 900. OF this s156-
coo is required to clean the improved
streets by hand, the estimate being based
Oh the ual cost of doing the work, as
was shown in connection with the appro-
priation that was made for making test
OF cleaning by hand The balance of the
S20I $50 is for cleaning improved and unim-
proved alleys, unidnproved streets, sprink-
ling suburban roads. etc. BY the test it
was shown that the cost was 1913 cents Tor
Cleaning 1000 yards, including the purchase
OF the necessary plant. At the same time
We paid labor at the rate of S1.25 a
day; the contractor paid the labor employ
ed by him at the rate of 81 a day.
IF we should make a contract to pay
for cleaning at the rate of 1919 cents for
LOCO square yards, to include the entire
city Of 3,0oa,eoe square yards, the con-
tractor would then make a very good
profit. 1t would require about four or five
hundred men to do the work and the con-
tractor would save 25 cents on each man, or
Slto or more a day on labor alone.
AS conducted by the District the serv-
ice is much better than that rendered by
a contractor If we have direct control of
the work and have it done by day labor
We could have trained men in all sections
of the city, and in case Of Snow storms
men would be at hand to open up street
crossings and cutters, and this could be
accomplished within an hour. If the work
were i'll the hands of a contractor we would
have to call on him for the necessary force
to 90 the extra work, and he, not having
a trained force, would have to advertise for
men, horses and carts. Therefore. consid-
cradle time would be required to get the
cilN IN d SOOi condition.
IN the winter when the streets are wet
and slippery il is impossible to use the
machines. BY hand work the cleaning can
DE done all right.
AS regards the removal of ashes, the es-
innate Of $4,000 would be the very lowest
amount for which anything like satisfac-
tory service could be maintained
The Advantages Pointed Out.
In connection with the hearings on the
District of Columbia appropriation bill for
1879, Superintendent S,utier in speaking of
the advantages of cleaning the streets di-
rectly by the District instead of by contract
WORK, among other things pointed out that
Investigation proves the contractors prof
Its may De employed to increase the force
at higher wages and still keep well within
the estimated appropriation tor 1859.
mus, a larger proportion of the worthy Ia
boring men of the District can be employed
at ilvins compensation; and, by increas-
greater sa a,.sfactiOn to the people
"A principal advantage of the proposed
pan over contract work is that the en-
pioyes Will be under direct control of the
District government, so that when any sec
tlon shall require special attention any de-
sired portion or all of the force NAV be AT
once transferred to the work with no con-
tractor to consult, no liability to infringe
upon another's rights. and avoiding CON
tehtloh as To compensa ton for extra work
another point in favor of municipaI con-
tioi is lHdl Dut one set of emDlOVeS will
De under supervision, with no clauses of
contract to interpret in cases where the WORK
may be sighted; the work of sIIperyision
can be brought WITHIN smaller compass and
inferior work reduced to the minimum he.
cause largely of the absence of motive or
interest to do inferior work or to wholly
neglect any part of the area. Under NUM-
clpal control there will be no conflicting in
tefests, and Ve principal effort NAV then
be to insure the best work possible at the
least expense consistent with justice to the
labor employed. If an employe then
neglects the duties assigned to him the
remedy may be applied direct
Il would respectfully suggest. therefore
that, though the cost of the two methods
be the same, municipal control is far to be
preferred, and when it is demonstrated as
| maintain is done in the figures represent
ing the relative expense that the Commits
sioners can have the street cleaning we'll
dohe at less cost than is incurred under
the present system, at the same time EN-
pioying labor at a better rate of compensa-
uon than is now given, there would seem
TO De no reason why Congress should not
authorize the change asked for At the
same time 1t may be said that hand clean
ing, which is much more satisfactory in its
results than machine work. may, under
municipal direction, be extended to cover
the entire city, without conflict with con-
tract provisions and at the same time with
out involving the District in extra ex-
pense.
Under the present contract for hand
Moih we are citdllUS on an average 41I,-
800 square yards daily at a rate of 30 cents
per 1909 square yards, which costs the
District $1S3.6o per day, or S3S IA per an
mum of 300 working days
In report to the Commissioners last
month, Superintendent Stutler stated that
the actual cost including necessary out
fit, t. clean daily 3Gs.5 512 square yards, from
July l 10 October 81, 1898. or a total area
Of 29,3iS6:'9 square yards-the entire swept
area during the four months-was s.. .6aS. ca:
to clean the same area under contrac. =
present contract price, b cents. ta> ,ost
the District 81, 1896. or ss.747.I7 more for
the four months, and in ons ve.r III 5if-
ference would amount r., sI1 go 81 In
other words, for the aJrount of hand clean
ing ps oay Iapo. TIthout a contract that
the District vi, pay $4,000 for during the
nscal yeai $50. they will pay the centrac-
teI, tor the same area of streets cleaned
s26c4 ST.
Removal of Ashes.
Another matter which the Commissioners
and the superintendent of street sweeping
consider of Importance Is the collection and
removal of ashes under District supervision.
The matter has been brought specially to the
attention of Congress in report made by
Mr.. Stutler by direction of the Commission
nd 1xhi, i,,