Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-09
CLEAN STREETS.

Mr.. caskle Is to be commended Tor
presenting the resolution, which was
adopted by the Common Council night
before last, asking the Committee OH
Health II a better system of street Clean
ing cannot be adopted by Richmond.
where the fault lies we do not KNOW
hut certain II is that our streets are not
Kent clean. Not even Main and Broad
streets are kept clean, and many other
thoroushfares have very little attention
maid them. Those who travel far ana
wide over this country usually come BACK
20 this city impressed with the lack OF
,idiness OF our streets. Our system must
No at fault somewhat. The money appro-
priated for this purpose ought to pro-
cure better results than II does.
The Dispatch is not in the habit OF
condemning public servants before IT mas
heard their defence, and. therefore, we
cannot now undertake to say who Is TO
blame IN this matter: but it Is obvious
that our streets--our principa! streets,
too-are not swept as often, or as care
fully. as they should be.
Whether the management OF the street.
cleaning force could be improved we
shall not discuss until the inquiry start
cd by Mr.. Caskie is farther advanced.
But we think It is clear that Richmond
needs more street-sweeping machines In
any event We haven't enough of them
to keep Broad and Main streets cleanly
swept without abandoning work upon
other streets.
Again, an Improvement is needed In
our method of removing the dust that is
swept up by the machines. Again, more
promptness is desirable in removing ash
and garbage barrels, etc. And, by the
way, we know not whose fault 1T is, but
our city allows carloads of trash to be
dumped on the edge OF Spring street near
the penitentlary. These dumps are then
fred. by accident or design, and for weeks
at a time a smouldering fire continues
there. and sends it's smoke into the
houses OF citizens living thereabout.
This nuisance has continued for long
time. though we think something has
been done Of late to abate it. That it
months, with scarcely any cutlery from
the residents or that section of the city.
is but another proof of the fact that Rich
monders are a patient ana long-suuering
people.
And there are other dumps nearly as
bad. IL they do not smoke, they are
nuisances in other ways.
do 4hQcn
posits have been made by city carts. In
most instances they have not been, but
that does not alter the fact that. in de-
fance of law. some person or persons
are engaged in making very obJectiona-
bic nuisances of dumps"
But TO return to the subject Of street
cleaning. We doubt If we shall ever have
tidily-kept streets until public opinion
compels it, Our city never will be able
to do this work unaided. 1t can DO better
than it is now doing; it ought to do its
best; but the authorities must have the
cooperation of the public. Every man
and every woman must begin by sweep
ing before his or her own door. This is
case where the old proverb applies ex-
actly.
If the efforts of the city were supple
mented by the efforts of the residents OIL
persons doing business on each square
| Richmond would soon become famous foi
| it's clean streets. Let us not cease from
urging the city to do better, but let US
| ourselves resolve 10 DO better also! When
once public sentiment is created on this
subject the improvement will immediate
| ly appear and long continue.