The times., 1898-12-27
TO CLEAN THE STREETS
Hand Labor Preferred by the Dis
t-ict Com missioners.

The District Commissioners last year in
duced Congress to make a small appro-
priation to cover the expense OF testing
the cleaning of streets and alleys by hand
instead of by machines. The system has
proved eIninently satisfactory in every re-
spect, being considered much more de-
s.rable than the cd method.
In the estimate for this year ihs Com
missioners pointed out the advantages OF
street cleaning by hand and asked for its
adoption over practically the entire city.
An appropriation was asked for to cover
the expense of the work and also for au-
thority to have the labor performed by
men employed by the city and not by
contract as was formerly the case. The
item was struck from the bill by the
House, but the Commissioners are using
every effort to have it reinserted when
the bill comes before the Senate. The
Commissioners further desire that the es-
innate be not reduced, as the amount
recommended is the lowest for which the
work can be satisfactorily performed.
Warner Stutler. superintendent of
street and alley cleaning of the District,
would require S207, ,0dO to do the work;
sl56,oe0 of this was required to clean the
improved streets by hand. This esti-
mate was formed from the tests made
last year. The balance of the appro-
priation is intended for the cleaning of
unimproved streets and the sprinkling of
suburban roads. The cost of cleaning
1860 yards, including the purchase of
the plant, we found to be 10 l-3 cents.
We paid our laborers SIS per day. while
the contractors only allowed 81 for their
men, As the city includes 3,00o,00o
square yards, If the cleaning were let
out 10 contractors they would save more
than 800 a day on labor alone.
"The service conducted by the District
is much better than that rendered by
contractor. One advantage is that we
have direct control of the work and em-
ploy trained men. In the Winter the ma
chimes are entirely useless BY hand
work the cleaning can be done satisfac-
torily. Forty thousand dollars is the low
est possible amount for which ashes can
be removed" The superintendent then
proceeded TO show the advantages of
municipal control over contract street
cleaning. He stated that facts and fig
ures showed that the work was better
done. that the cost was less and that the
amount paid laborers was more.
In a report to the Commissioners last
month, Superintendent Stutler stated
that 1.-The actual cost, including the nee
essary outfit, to clean daily sos, ,5l2 square
yards, from July l to October 81, 1898.
or a total area of &c. SIS eSs square yards
the entire swept area during the four
months-was s5.e?S.G9: to clean the same
area under contract at present contract
price, 81 cents, had cost the District
s94i5.96, or sS.74..27 more for the four
months, and in one year the difference
would amount to s11,2i2.S1. In other
words, for the amount of hand cleaning
by day labor without a contract that the
District will pay $4,000 for during the
fiscal year 1859, they will pay the con-
tractor, for the same area of streets
cleaned, s26 6242.Si.''
Mr.. Stutler further recommended %
Congress the removal of ashes by the
city instead of by contract. The Senate
has agreed to include an appropriation
of $4,000 for this work, but this is Sl5.0J
less than the superintendent estimated
for it. There is also to be included an
item of $4,000 for the collection and dis
posal of night soil
The Commissioners propose to start the
work under District control as soon as
Congress shall make the necessary ap-
propriations. Mr.. Stutler says of the pro-
posed new method:
Il have given this subject careful con-