Evening star., 1898-11-21
Itemized Statement Showing Cost
Under District Control.
COMPARISON WITH CONTRACT SYSTEM
Argument Made for Extension Of
the Hand Process.
MR. STU TIERS COMMENTS

Mr.. Warner Stutler, superintendent of the
District street and alley cleaning depart
ment, today submitted to the District Com
missioners an itemized statement showing
the cost of hand cleaning by day labor,
without contract, for the first four months
of the present fiscal year. The current
District appropriation bill provides that a
sum not exceeding $1,000 may be expended
out of the amount appropriated for the de-
partment. under the immediate direction of
the Commissioners, without contract, and
said $1,000 shall be SO expended and the
accounts thereof so kept as to show the
comparative cost of hand sweeping by day
labor and under contract.
IN this connection Mr.. Stutler furnishes
the following figures:
Expenses fer the month of July-30 bag
carriers, at So each, $3.50; II dozen brooms,
at 81 per dozen. s4S: dozen shovels, at
ST,20 per dozen SIS. so; dozen hand sprink-
lers, at s. per dozen, $50; dozen clamps
and ScraperS. at $6 per dozen, S2i: 3S men,
a s1.2J per day each, 233. days, 81 lbs. II;
4 horses and carts, al 81 per day each 23a4
days. $95; total expenses for July, T,193.92.
Total area of streets cleaned in month of
July, ,313,U square yards.
Expenses for month of August--3S men,,
at sf.25 per day each. 26la days, s1.2JS. I5;
horses and carts. at 81 per day each 2612
days, S1O6: dozen Scrapers, at S1.30 per
dozen, So 10 pounds marlin, at II cents
per pound, s1,5Q; total expenses for August,
I,3I2.2J The total area of streets cleaned
in month of August. 7.Si4,911 square yards.
Expenses for month of eptember-Thirty-
eight men, at 81 % per ay cacA, 20 IL days
Sl,211 -; horses and carts, at 81 per day
each. - 1-2 days s102; dozen brooms, at
81 per dozen, s24; 2oo bags, at I IL cents
each, s15; total expenses for September,
81 .::'.52225.
Total area of streets cleaned in month of
Septe ember, 7,66o,5si square yards.
Expenses for month of October-Thirty-
eight men, at s1,25 per day each, u 81
days, 81 O33.12; horses and carts, at 81 per
day each, II 81 days, $50; horses and
carts. at 81 per day each, ] day extra, 81;
10 pounds marlin. at - cents, S1.20 repair
ing two bag carriers s4.95; II dozen brooms,
"a 81 per dozen, s4S; total expenses for Oc-
tober, 81 1927.
Total area of streets cleaned in month of
October, 6.690.oS6 square yards.
Continuing his report Mr.. Stutler says:
"The total area of streets cleaned during
the months was 20 SIS $50 square yards, at
total cost of 81, ,ts9S. SO, which is at the rate
of 10 1-3 cents per thousand square yards.
A comparison of the cost and hand cleaning
by day labor with that of the cost of hand
cleaning under contract gives the following
results:
The contractors price for hand cleaning
is - cents per 900 square yards; the cost
by day labor without contract, as shown
by the above statement, is 10 1-3 cents per
600 square yards, or II 2-3 cents per thou
sand square yards less than the cost of
the same work under contract. This show
ing as you will remember is in the race OF
the fact that the laborers are paid but 81
per day by the contractor. while they are
paid by the District 81. % per day.
The actual cost, including necessary OUTFIT
TO clean daily 3o8,512 square yards from
July to October 81, 1893 or total area
of 29.ois,633 square yards dhe entire area
+hea u
S.. .69S. 60; to clean the same area under con-
tract at the present contract price, 81
cents. has cost the District S},44J-96 or
81 T47.27 more for the four months, and in
one wear the difference would amount TO
S11 242 ST. In other words. for the amount
of hand cleaning by dag labor without con
tract that the District will pay $4,000 for
during the fiscal year 1890 they viii pay the
cleaned S262f2.S1.
ITO clean daily the entire paved area of
the city, about 3,0oOOOO square yards, at
the contract rate of 81 cents per thousand,
would cost per year of 210 working days
$50 200. Without contract the same work
can be done. as shown above, at IN 1-' cents
Fer thousand square yards, for S1o660D.
difference of s1O26 in favor of the aboli
ton of the contract system.
My original estimate, as you will re-
member, for doing the work of cleaning the
streets of Washington under direct munich
pal control without contract was at the
rate of 20 cents per thousand square yards,
and ii affords me great pleasure to be able
to demonstrate the accuracy of my calcula
tiOns. AS you will observe by the above
figures, the cost of doing the work for the
first four months that the system has been
trial was 80 1-2 cents per thousand square
yards. twO-thirds of cent per thou
sand square yards less than my original
estimate.
1T may be proper for me to add, however,
that the work has been done under favora-
BILE circumstances. The men employed on
the hand-cleaning work have been expert
enced, faithful and Industrious men, who
have worked up to their full capacity. 1
could not. therefore, taking into considera-
ton the cost of apparatus, wear and tear
on same, supervision and training of large
force. many of whom must at times be in
experienced men and certainly not up to
the standard of efficiency that characteriZes
my present force, recommend that the work
could he done at less rate than my orig
inal eStimate-2o cents per thousand square
yards. but in the statement that it can De
done at all times for not more than 20 cents
per thousand square yards | have not the
slightest hesitation in expressing my entire
confidence