The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-04

get the papers relating to the work OF his
department. IN order Cor their presentation
TO Congress this session.
There are a number Of things that the
Superintendent Of Street Cleaning is going
to ask from the lawmakers but none OF
these is so important as the section ne
proposes to have inserted in fthe District
Appropriation bill relative to the manner
in which the cleaning is TO be done ia the
future
Ever since he has been at the head OF
the department, Mr.. Stutpr has tried TO
impress on the Commissionerst and Con-
gress the necessity Of taking the street
cleaning out Of the hands OF the contrac-
tors and having the work done under the
direct supervision Of the District He Sc
cured a small appropriation for this pur-
pose last year. but IL was not sufficient to
Z sweep the area which is now cleaned by
/ hand He was restricted in his territory
and was required TO pay higher salaries to
his employees than were the contractors.
The law Of last year fixed the salaries for
the contractors employees also, but not IN
| I'll after the handcleaning by the District
! aad been proved a success both from a
hygienic and an economical point OF view
Mr. Stutler recently brought the matter
again to the attention of the Commission
! ers in report on hand cleaning. He says
! In addition TO the statements and COM
| parsons Of costs Of the two systems here
> tofore rendered ] submit the following:
y The appropriation act FOR the fiscal year
: 1889 provided that $4,000 Of the amount
! appropriated for street cleaning should be
I used for experimental hand cleaning under
( tho direct supervision OF the Commission
J n. nit hon -
/ made after a three months trial under this
system was the incentive for the provision
I In the appropriation act for the current
year. which limited the rate TO be paid un-
[ der contract TO not over p cents per 1000
square yards.
/ These two provisions. 70 which atter-
ton has been invited. were two long steps
in the right direction. and if We can con-
tiuue in the same direction we Will accom-
pliSh the desired results The limit Of %
cents in the act amounted TO a reduction Of
10 cents per 1000 square yards in the rate
paid the contractors for hand cleaning un-
der their contract which expired June 30.
1899. This reduction IN the rate VIII
amount 20 a saving in the cost Of this work
. for the current year. allowing go working
DAYS. Of $50 100.
This amount was certainly a handsome
profit for the contractors TO lose, yet they
were willing 10 lose even more for they
bid p Ia cents per 900 square yards 20
DO The work. Notwithstanding the fact that
We had carefully prepared our specifca-
. tioIs so that they required q much better
service than was afforded under the previ-
Gus contract. These specifications the con
tractors, through their attorneys. tried TO
have modified. and failing in their Efforts.
they bid upon the work with no other ob-
ject apparently in view than an intention
10 do the work as they pleased. regardless
Of the specifications.
This intention on their part was very
plainly shown in the two days hearing
given them before the Board Of COMMITS
sOners in answer 70 charges preferred BY
me against them for willful violations Of
their contract and specifications The facts
brought out during this hearing should be
indelibly recorded as sufficient reasons in
themselves for the abolition Of the con-
tract system.
IF the work were done directly by the
Commissioners. the force employed would .
be available on short nO,ice for other work. .
and In such emergencies as that Os remov-
ing snow and ice. As it is we have 10 call
upon the contractor. and he In turn must
advertise for a force necessary to do the
work. Not only Is much delay caused by
this manner of doing the work, but 10 do
it by contract costs the District more. as
may be observed by reference 10 the table 4
for snow and ice work where ir Will be (
contractor provided Tor in the contract. I
which was saved TO the District upon a
portion Of the work done. amounted TO 81.
O59.45."
According to its Superintendent. the I
Street Cleaning Department meets With a I
number OF obstacles in keeping the streets !
OF the city in good condition. With regard T
10 this Mr. Stuuer states.
The most annoying obstacle arises from /
the almost constant violations Of the po- Z
lice regulations. in the persistency with Z
which many Of our hOuseholders, store [
keepers. market men, and others sweep !
Or throw refuse OF all kinds, such as bana- I
IA and orange peelings. scraps OF paper /.
BAGS, boxes, tin cans broken Crockerv. /!
old shoes. rags. broken bottles. etc. INTO 4
the streets and alleys. AS many of our
streets, avenues, and alleys are swept but /
once a week. Il Is evident that many Of I
hem are made filthy largely by this per- |
niciOus practice
Many citizens have the mistaken idea 4
that when cleaning their front or back /
yards they have a right to cast into the
street or alley whatever refuse may have |
collected therein. They sometimes allow 4
such refuse and Objectionable matter to ac-
cumulate on their premises until they are /
forced by the health authorities to remove /
the same; but this does not always end 4
the trouble; as complaints are continually /
UeluB udue II luls once OF the humping OF I
this filthy material upon our dumps and 1
upon vacant lots IN the city
'On account Of the number OF complaints I
Of fires and Of bad odors on and arising
from our dumps caused by the deposits % |
combustble waste, etc, We were compelled /
% stop the dumping Of the same; and our |
dump men are instructed 10 carefully in /
spect ali refuse before allowing il 10 be 4
dumped
IN the year 1896 the Commissioners rec
commended to Congress that a sufficient Gp-
sropuation be made to destroy the com
bustible waste OF the city; and I would re-
specially suggest that II such an appro-
priatiOn could be made and the ashes and |
refuse could be collected by the District
and properly burned, il would ne a Won
derful improvement. Our streets would
then no longer be Uttered up by suck ma
terial. complaints Of fires and offensive
OdOrs at the dumps would cease. and the
"a HEn 90 49,