The times., 1899-03-28
CHEAPER STREET CLEANING.
Hand Labor May Replace Contract
Machine Work.


More than ordinary interest attaches this
year TO the proposals for sweeping streets,
! avenues. and alleys which will be opened
on April 10 next, involving the expenditure
of about s145. 900. Warner Stutler, District
Superintendent of Street Cleaning has
been engaged for several weeks preparing
the specifications TO be followed by those
desirous of submitting bids and has just
completed his task These specifications
provide for four classes of work-sweep-
ing improved streets and avenues by ma
chine, sweeping unimproved streets and al
leys, sweeping improved alleys, and sweep
ing improved streets by hand
The amount appropriated by Congress
for sprinkling. cleaning, and sweeping
streets aggregates about S145, 900, of which
amount about S120, 600 will be expended for
sweeping alone. Superintendent Stutler
estimates that $780, 0G0 will be required for
sweeping improved streets and avenues by
hand and machine. In view of the amount
of money to be expended the call for bids
becomes matter of great Importance.
Letters have been sent to contractors in
this and other cities inviting contract
prices on the work for the coming fiscal
year.
The result of the bidding this year may
work a complete revolution in the methods
of street cleaning. The act of March last
appropriating money for the support of
the District of Columbia during the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1900. contains a par
agraph requiring the District Commission
ers to let the work TO the lowest RESPONSE
BILE bidder 1t is further provided that If
the work cannot be done by contract at
price not exceeding 90 cents per thousand
square yards for both hand and machine
work the Commissioners may do the work
under their immediate direction. In this
way the appropriation for 1900 differs very
materially from those Of former years.
Superintendent Stutler has for several
years been endeavoring TO secure the adop-,
tion of the hand cleaning system in the
District. He was given an opportunity to
try the system last year and provision
was added to the appropriation bill grant
ing authority to use $4,000 of the appro-
priation for hand cleaning. This work was
not done by contract, but under the super
vision of the Street Cleaning Department
The experiment was success even greater
than was anticipated by Superintendent
Stutler.
The fact was demonstrated that the
streets could be cleaned by hand at 20
cents per 1000 square yards, where 80
cents was being paid TO the contractors
The results obtained were better. more
men were given employment, and the men
employed by the District were, at the same
time. paid higher wages. In view of the
splendid results which attended the first
experiment in the District. Superintendent
Stutler strongly recommended that the
more expensive and unsatisfactory method
of cleaning streets by contract with ma
chimes be abolished by law. He declared
that ii would cost 60 per cent more money
TO clean the streets by contract than under
the system he advocated.
Congress did not altogether abolish the
machine cleaning system, but its action in
compelling the contractors to do the work
for at least % cents per 1000 square yards
was long step in that direction. The re-
suit of the coming bids will be the entire
abolition of the machine system, or else
the District will profit by having the con-
tractors do the work for at least 10 cents
lower than the price at present paid
Thirty-two cents is now paid the contract
ors- The law pro@ides for a rejection of
bids that are not as low as % cents. and
gives the District the power to do the
work itself at cost Of about 90 cents per
1000 square yards in the event of re-
lection.