Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-03
Another GrOwl,

TO the Editor OF Inc Evening Star:
The pros" and Ants" on most every
conceivable subject have recently had
hearings In the local press and still there
are other "growls,' and a hoped for space
for their exploitation. In rules and regu
lations approved by our honorable board
of Commissioners, article 6. section Z, I'm
necessary noises of all kinds are prohibited
during the weekly nocturnal street sweep
ing hours which are coming, at least, in our
section, to be as much dreaded as Is the
noisy patriots Fourth of July. The particu-
lar growl which 1 wish to register is born
of that unearthly and wholly unnecessary
sQueak-squeak-ugh! at every revolution of
its wheels. of one of those merrygo-rounds
which in the interest of cleanliness versus
sleep, does duty ever Tuesday night after
IL o'clock in the vicinity of 9Th street and
Rhode Island avenue northwest, and whose
sleep-destroyng approach is heralded two
blocks away. Whether lack of lubricant,
badly set tires. loose spokes, or the gen.
eral protest Of old age against further
condition, heaven only knows. but what
ever the cause, 1t should be removed at
once, thereby relieving poor, patient Wash
ington Of another nuisance which few cities
of any pretention would tolerate for day.
Sleep has been at a big premium and
hard to WOO through long and tOrrid
summer, and 1T Is exasperating to be awak-
ened by this senseless racket needless
as II Is duHOyluS, WIcIl d little SIcdSe
or a new cart Of the old be past redemp-
tion) might easily have saved these added
hours of wakefulness to those prone to in
somnia on the slightest provocation. Their
number is legion and they should not be
utterly ignored as "cranks or "old fogies,''
not worth considering in this great scheme
of salvatlon-from street dirt and refuse.
We do not expect our streets to be cleaned
with rubber-tred automobiles, but neither do
we believe the good of the service" calls
for this narrowing squeak to awaken
and warn us of the advance of brush and
shovel brigade. Indeed, we should be quite
reconciled were Morpheus allowed to rem
der US wholly oblivious Of the bouquet"
of sprinkled street and the unavoidable
sounds connected with the cleaning thereof
Despite the protest Of Mr.. Gill, and the
racy Amen of Insomnia" and Suffer
err" we still have the midnight whistler
who assures us he has come to stay" the
outer door at most unseemly hours, the al
legged singers" across the way and many
others from all Of whom we have learned
not to expect sweet suroease' this side Of
eternity. because they are permanent, like
the earth and sky and the Washington
application of wheel grease, the addition Of
new "spokes'' or the substitution Of a new
article, as in the case in question; but here
Is a chance to reduce one nuisance to It's
lowest terms.
If the good Of the service" would be
jeopardized by a compliance with this rea-
sonable request to lubricate or burn this
offending vehicle-as has been urged in
other cases-not being monopolists we will
cheerfully divide this music Of the night
with the powers" until such time as. I'M
able longer to endure It, they may see f1t
to suppress this creaking nuisance and re-
store confidence and tranquility to
OTHER SUFFERERS.