The times., 1899-04-11
Big SLUMP IN PRICES
ON Street SWEEPING
Bids for the Next Three Years
Work Opened.
Present Contractors Want the Job
Again at One-Third Less.
A Big Saving to the District He
cause of the Limit Fixed
by Congress.

Bids on street sweeping for period Of
three years, beginning July !, next, were
opened at noon yesterday in the District
Building. Many contractors were present
in the interest of the proposals submitted,
and unusual interest attached to the open
ing this year by reason of the efforts of
the Commissioners to have the work done
at lower prices. AS told in The Times sew
eral weeks ago, the result of the opening
meant either the abandonment of the con-
tract system or a material reduction in the
prices paid the contractors.
Warner Stutler, District Superintendent
of Street Cleaning, has been endeavoring
for long time to introduce certain street
sweeping reforms, and he has come nearer
realizing his hopes this year than at any
previous time. His idea is to have the
streets swept by hand labor and to do
away with the machines. Two years ago
Congress permitted him to. make expert
ments in this line. The departure was an
unqualified success and last year Congress
provided that the contractofszwould have
to bid not higher than 22 cents per thou
sand square yards or be refused the work
In the event the District could not get any
contractors to take the work at that price
II was to do the work by the hand system
at 20 cents per thousand square yards the
Stutler. The present prices paid for sweep
ing are "a cents for hand cleaning and %
cents for machine sweeping, 1000 Square
yards of street surface being taken as the
basis of calculation.
In view of the clause in the apprepria-
tion bill making 1t obligatory upon the
contractors TO bid within a certain limit
there. was a gratifying decrease in the
prices named in the proposals opened yes
nf
handcleaning was q Ia cents per thou
sand square yards, or l2 "a cents less than
is being paid the same contractors now
The lowest offer for sweeping streets by
machine, that of Lilly Robinson, of
Indianapolis was about cents lower than
the price now being paid. The District
Will save large amount OF money on the
work by reason of the reductions and the
taxpayers of the city have Superintendent
Stutler to thank for his firm stand In try
ing TO lessen the expense. The amount
of the street sweeping appropriation for
the next fiscal year is s145.000 and the
decreased cost will net considerable saw
ing TO the District. The bids opened yes
terday were as follows:
Sweeping improved streets and aycm,es by hand
Albert Daggett and NJ. A. Dugan, first year, 2IL
cents per thousand square yards; second year.
2lA cents; third year, 2l1 cents. b. J. Coyle
first year, 81 slG cents per thousand square YARDS
third year. 81 40 cents.
Sweeping improved streets by machine-Albert
Daggett and NJ. A. Dugan, according to the three
plans in the specifications which provide for the
use of side sweepers and pickup machines along
the CUTTERS, the Of pck-ups only. OF the use
Of side sweepers and hand labor only: for all
three ways. q .-lUO cents per thousand square
yards for the first, second, and third years b. j.
Coyle, for all three ways for the three years
20 4-10 cents per thousand square yards. Lilly 4
Robinson, OF Indianapolis, according 10 the first
specifications for hand labor. side sweepers and
pickup machines on the side; first year, 10 cents
per thousand square yarjs; second year, 10 cents;
third year. 1si2 csnfs; according TO the second
specification for side sweepers The side. first
year, 1sS cents per thousand square yards; second
year, lsA cents; third year, ISL cents: accord
ing 10 the third specification for pickrhps on the
side only, for three years, % cents per thousand
square yards X. Y. Rusk, first year. PIX cents;
second year, 21js cents third year, PA cents.
Sweeping improved aleysAlbeIt Daggett and
N. a. Dugan. first, second. and third year., ~
cents per thousand square yards. r. V. Rusk. first
year, 30 40 cents per thousand squire yards;
second year, s51z cents; third year, IS cents.
Sweeping unimproved streets and ilieys-Albert
Daggett and VI. A. Dugan, So per day for three
years: extra laborers for carts, sl25 per day for
three years; carts, Sl.T0 per day for three years
William Ryan, $40 per day for three yehrs; extra
laborers for carts. sl.25 per day for three years.
carts. sl.75 per day for three years R. V. Rusk
first year, $3.50 per day; second year, $685.;
third year, sd5.5o extra laborers for carts sl.35
per day for three years; carts, slT5 per day TOR
three years.
The bids for sweeping the unimproved
streets and alleys were slightly higher
this year because the contractors are re-
quired by the specifications to pay their
laborers sl.25 per day. In the past they
have been paying their men only 81 per
day.