The times., 1899-08-29
CLEANING THE STREETS
Estimate Of the Cost for the Next
Fiscal Year Submitted.
Superintendent stutIer Again Rec
ommends Tint the Work BE Done
Under the Immediate Direction of
the District Commissfoners - The
Systematic Collection of Ashes

Estimates for the expenses OF the District
Street Cleaning Department during the
fiscal year which will end June 80. 1901.
were submitted TO District Commissioner
Ross yesterday by Superintendent Stutler.
The superintendent again recommends that
all local street cleaning be done under the
District Commissioners directly, without
resorting 10 contract work, and states
that about sos. 600 viii be needed to pay
for sprinkling. sweeping. and cleaning su-
burban and urban streets, avenues, and
alleys. Mr.. stutler also asks for an appro-
priation of $4,000 for removing snow and
ice from streets and sidewalks. Another
important feature of the schedule is an
estimate OF SIC, 900 for municipal collection
Of ashes A similar recommendation was
made to the Commissioners last year but
Intellectually.
Mr.. Stutler informs the Commissioners
that the systematic collection OF ashes and
debris has long been a crying need in
Washington, and points out that very fire.
Quently ashes mixed with decaying matter.
tin cans. and other Objectionable refuse
are swept or thrown from houses and back
yards into alleys by the poorer classes of
people who cannot afford TO pay an ash
man. Thus he says, the street clean
ing department is compelled TO remove the
debris AZ the expense of its own appro-
priation. The citizens almost universally
favor the removal OF ashes by the muni-
eipality as is done in nearly every city Of
any size in the United States and Europe"
Ii is interesting TO note that in recon-
mending larger appropriation for the re-
moval Of snow and ice from the streets
and sidewalks, Mr.. Stutler states that past
experience has taught the city that
estimates IN previous years, as well as the
appropriations made by Congress, have
been inadequate for the purpose. I'VE
were compelled, he states, ito call for
three special appropriations last winter.
While Congress was as prompt as could
possibly be expected In responding TO the
calls. there were two occasions on which
delays Of one or two days occurred, caus-
ing great Inconvenience TO the public"
A total sum OF $500 400 is asked fsr sal
aries OF different officers and employees of
the department The estimate for street
cleaning is based On the actual cost of the
system OF hand cleaning by day labor,
without contract. as experimentally pro-
rided for IN the appropriation Of Sl5. .00o
which was made for the fiscal year ended
June 60 last. The actual cost per thousand
square yards under this system, including
outfit and incidental expenses, was Is
cents. Under contract the cost during the
same year was 80 cents per thousand
square yards. which rate was reduced &c
q Ia cents for the current year on &C
count Of a limit in the appropriation act
The schedule OF estimates for 1901 shows
IN increase OF sec. 600 over the figures oi
the current fiscal year, and Mr.. Stutler
tn explaining the increase, says his object
is 10 extend the daily hand cleaning sys-
TEN and provide for more frequent clean
ing OF streets swept by machine. Mr.
Stutler states that under the present APP
preparation II is impossible 10 give the
public good and efficient service on the
work OF improved alleys and unimproyed