The record-union., 1899-07-01
A Suggested Improvement.

Eds. Record Union: Sacramento
- coming near to the beginning OF q
new municipal year. 1t is very nearly
Iree from debt. It is thinking OF Gre
s atlng new Indebtedness to secure need
cd improvements. think then that the
ume is opportune to throw out what |
am vain enough to think is valuable
suggestion.
take great pride in this city OF my
nome live upon K street, which 10
macadamized, at least it is alleged ma
cadam, though the Record Union has
several times hinted, notice, that It
IS not worthy of that name. But 1T is
SO much better street than we nad
mat | am not complaining about the
construction
That street is probably more travel
ed now than any other in the city above
tenth street. That is because it is the
main avenue of exit to the suburbs over
a good, smooth roadway. The autforl-
ties are keeping it very we'll sprinkied.
We of K street have no kick coming on
that score
But there is no provision in our city
economy for cleaning it. All the drop
pings on the street for months ana
months are ground up by wheels of We
hicles and blown by winds and f1oated
by the water of the asprinkling wagons
into the cutters There lit lies inches
deep. such as is not blown up wherever
the wind stirs upon the sidewalks. In
+ winter it lies upon the road and is
ground into a most offensive paste.
In front of my property l this week
cleaned out this mass of Objectionable
matter-at considerable cost to- my back
and temper-and found it to be some
four inches deep. On my forty foot
frontage took from the gutter six full
barrow loads of this fine and caked ma
nure, dirt, sweepings, paper, straw,
sticks, tobacco stumps, etc. On other
blocks I notice that grass cuttings,
strippings from vegetable wagons, ETC.,
are added to the gutter deposits. On
the street itself there is a heavy coat
ing in most blocks that does not be-
long there.
Now, what I wish to bring up for dis
cussionis the wisdom and clearly policy
as we enter on a new city year, of pro-
viding for the weekly cleaning, at least
weekly will consent to make it read
semi monthly-of the improved streets.
We all pay taxes to sweep constantly
by day the bituminized streets. Those
of us who do not live along such streets
think it a little hard to have to put up
that money when never a broom and
shovel are touched to the improved
streets in residence sections. Twice a
year Superinte ndent Touhey does get
out his shovel brigade and dig out the
filth accumulated in these drains. But
what I wish to call attention to is this,
that it is a poor excuse for street clean
ing.
The macadamized streets, if swept by
hand, as is done in Alameda daily,
once a week would render unnecessary
thistle seni-annual dig out by the
Street Superintendent.
Why should We not make provision
for this necessity? Why should we not
provide a small sum at least for the
keeping the residence streets that are
improved and accepted. partly free
from filth and nasty Accommodations. A
member of the City Beard of Health
told me only to-day that there is. no
question whatever but that this pow
dered matter blown into the cutters
and from them to the sidewalks is very
injurious to our lungs and is liable to
breed disease, especially among chill
dren, as much of the matter is breath
ed however careful we may be.
While we are taking on airs and talk
ing loudly of what improvements we
need. Will not the authorities give heed
to the absolute necessity, in the light
of cleanliness, health and good looks,
for sweeping our improved street? We
do not ask it daily. We will be con-
tent with once week fifty-two times
a year. Will not the benefits be worth
the costo ] think So Will not i'm
proved appearances be worth the cost
i think so. What do the city officials
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