Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-17
GETTING SHORT OF FUNDS
STREET SWEEPING SERVICE SHOWS
SMALL DEFICIENCY.
Superintendent's Statement to the
Commissioners - Suspension OF
Three Days in Hand Cleaning.


| despite the steady drenching downpours OF
| the past two weeks, is still wishing for
| more rain He will be neither happy nor
! satisfied unless Jupiter Pluvius shall open
| his flood gates during the whole of three
| secular days between now and the FIRST OF
| July. The man in question who would nave
| a repetition of the biblical flood for at least
| three days longer is Mr.. Warner Stutler,
the superintendent of street cleaning. His
| appropriation for sweeping the streets of
the capital city is three days short of be-
| ing sufficient to reach the end of the pres
| ent fiscal Year. June 80 So, unless the rain
! is kind enough to take up the work of the
white Wings with their little carts for
! three days the streets will have to remain
unSwept for that period of time.
The streets are swept now by day labor
During the last session of Congress it was
seen that the appropriation would not carry
to the end of the year and deficiency APP
preparation asked. Only portion of
the amount applied for was secured The
condition of unsWept streets confronting the
residents OF the capital of the nation, II
three rainy days do not come to the rescue,
will be unavoidable. Mr.. Stutler says. The
street-sweeping brigade is not called out
on rainy days and therefore money is
spent. 1t will be seen that the excessive
rains of late have served an excellent pur-
pose, for had it not been for them the pc
Rod of unclean streets toward the end of
| much greater duration than the three days
of uncleanlincss now feared
Superintendent Communication.
The matter has been brought officially to
the attention of the District Commissioners
| in the following communication from SUI
perintendent Stutler:
Il have the honor to submit the following
report relative TO the state of the appro-
priation for sprinkling, sweeping and clean
| ing streets, avenues alleys and suburban
streets.
AT the beginning of the current month
our balance of appropriation for sprnkling
sweeping and cleaning only S11 800, or
$3.50 short of a sufficient amount to con-
tinue the regular work to the end of the
current fiscal year.
During the first half of this month we
took advantage of very light rains and
suspended the work on those days in order
to save sufficient amount and to prevent
If possible a suspension of the work at the
end of the month when we might not have
rain for excuse
Our saving, however, is not sufficient
and we will be compelled to suspend work
at least three days, rain shine, or create
a deficiency which the law will not permit
us to do The street cleaning department
is not responsible for this state Of affairs
neither are the honorable Commissioners,
for the reason that on February - 1901,
L submitted statement and deficiency
innate, which was approved by the hon
orable Commissioners and forwarded with
| their estimate to Senator Jas. Mcmillan,
chairman of committee on District of Co.
lumbia, United States Senate.
Amount Reduced by Congress.
THE estimate of s13,4SO submitted was
favorably reported by the District commit
tee and placed in the Senate deficiency
BILL but was reduced in conference to
1910 which reduction is responsible for
the present state of affairs.
sire on the part of the street cleaning de-
partment to clean the streets, even when
rain was falling in an amount not suffi-
Gent to be effective in cleaning the streets.
Not having been granted the amount of
the estimate. We have not only been forced
to take advantage of very light rains and
omit street cleaning for the past four
months on such days but we have been
compelled to reduce force in order to
complete the fiscal year without def
cheney.
Due to Fair Weather.
One of the main causes for the deficiency
in the street cleaning appropriation this
year was the exceptionally fair weather
prevailing during the first six months. The
cleaning force worked eighteen days more
during that period of the present fiscal
year than during the fiscal year of 1890
The street cleaning appropriation was
based upon 265 working days. This ex-
cluded fifty-two Sundays and calculated
upon there being at least forty eight rainy
or snowy days. AS every one knows, the
past winter was remarkably free from
snow, and excessive rains and the good
weather played havoc with the S155, coo ap-
propriated for sweeping the streets
Mr.. Suffers friends declare the scant
street cleaning appropriations have a bad
effect upon his disposition, having changed
him from an optimist who formerly enjoyed
the beautiful sunshine to a man of extreme
pessfmism, who delights in rain or snow
Mr.. Stutler watches the barometer and the
clouds with the vigilance of weather Of
! flee scientist. Nowadays he discusses moth
ing but the weather and the possibility
of rain.
The new appropriation for Street sweep
ing becomes available July l, and then
| the streets will begin to shine again