The Washington times., 1901-07-04
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT.
The Work of Street Cleaning Hin
dered by the Heat.

I = -
good deal during the past few days on
account of the heat. The work, always
heavy for the horses, has been more than
they could perform, and some Of it has
been necessarily left undone Several of
the teams of the street cleaning force
were taken off yesterday at noon. As a
result there were last night along the
curbstones of several streets. bags Oh
dirt left by the hand sweepers. Warner
Stutler the Superintendent of Street
Cleaning. in speaking of the matter yes
terday, stated that he thought it was
better to leave few bags of dirt on the
streets overnight than to kill the horses
hauling it away.
The men Of the street cleaning squads
/ have also suffered much from the heat.
Several Of them are in the hospital or
sick in their homes on actiount Of work
ing too long in the hot sun Their places
have been filed by inexperienced men,
and these have been unable TO do as
much work as those of the regular force.
The teams Of the contractor collecting
garbage dead animals. etc. have also
been affected by the heat. On Tuesday,
and again Yesterday, it was found i'm
possible to drive the horses SO as to col
lect all the carcasses of dead animals.
Yesterday at one time bodies of ten
horses, overcome with the heat were
lying in various parts Of the District. The
contractor attempted to hire additional
horses. but they could not he had.
The horses OF the ash collecting service
were worked through the day yesterday,
with a few exceptions but the drivers
were unable to get over the accustomed
ground because of the heat.
Considerable trouble was experienced
again yesterday in the ambulance service,
but the addition of an automobile helped
to relieve the horses,
In the Engineer Department also the
outdoor work was hampered on account
of the failure of the horses to stand
driving. number of teams and single
horses were taken off soon after noon
and allowed to rest for the day.
Chief Engineer DuttOn, of the Fire
Department, yesterday issued orders that
where three or more companies are ac-
customed to respond to alarms of fire
one should remain in reserve while the
intense heat lasts. The work of dragging
the heavy apparatus to fires has been
found very exhausting TO the horses dur
ing the past few days and the order from
headquarters was issued so that one
company with fresh horses will be in
each district all the time in case of an
which the other companies have re-
sponded. None of the fire horses has
been actually put out of service on ac-
count Of the heat, but the drivers have
been Obliged in several instances TO
handle them with great care in running
long distance to alarms.
William S. Knox, President of the Knox
Express Company, recently. requested the
Commissioners to issue an order to all
ia,
be attached to fire plugs in front Of the
several engine houses for the use of all
teams during the heated term.
The request was referred tc Chief En-
gineer Dutton, who has now reported
back to the Commissioners that he does
not think the hose should be attached to
the plug nearest to the engine houses.
because the coming Of teams and their
standing before the door would hinder
the engines from running out promptly
to fires. Mr.. Dutton suggested that the
hose might be attached to a plug at a
little distance to one side of the engine
houses. He states. however. that the de-
partInent cannot detail a man to look af-
ter the hose, though it Will gladly con-
tribute the hose
Chief Datton suggests that .the matter
should be referred to the Water Depart
nent to ascertain whether the conSump-
could be allowed. The latteD. suggestion
will be carried out. .-- -.,-
A few days ago a. r, Lamb, Inspector
Of Hacks. requested that the Commits
sioners direct the Superintendent of 'he
Street Cleaning Department to supply
brooms TO be used by the drivers of cabs
and hacks TO keep the stands clean.
Warner Stutler Superintendent of Street
Cleaning. has reported 10 the Commission
ers that his department will furnish the
brooms as requested, upon an order from
the Hack Inspector
w. A Mcfarland, Superintendent of the
Water Department, has forwarded TO the
Commissioners a schedule Of the pro-
posals received for excavating the fOun-
dations of the new pumping station on
TrumbulI Street, between First and
Fourth Streets northwest, and has recon-
mcnded that the contract be awarded TO
Andrew Gleeson, for the sum Of $500
Barton & Walker. trustees, recently re
quested that the Commissioners direct
that the trees be trimmed in University
Heights. The request was referred 10
Trueman Lanham, Superintendent Of
Parking, who has now reported that there
are about 10 trees on University Heights,
but that they were not planted by the
District. lie states that some Of the trees
are above. and some below grade, and he
thinks that when the streets are improved
that several Of them will have to be re-
moved. For the reasons, stated, Mr.. Lam
ham recommends that no money be spent
by the District for the purpose named.
The Commissioners have disposed Of the
petition sent to them some time ago by
residents of Southwest Washington rel
ative TO the switching and uncOGpling of
cars on B Street. An investigation was
made by the Police Department. and it
was learned that the trouble complained
OF was of temporary character, being
caused by the king of the heavy cars.
which the railroad company were dispus-
ing of. for shipment. The Commissioners
have directed the compiainants to bc in
formed in accordance with the facts above
stated.
r. w. Dutton, Chief Engineer of the
Fire Department. yesterday forwarded TO
the Commissioners a recommendation that
Assistant Tillerman George II. Reynolds
be promoted TO tillerman. vice James e.
Hooper, promoted To be foreman, to take
effect July !. 1901. subject to twelve
months probation.
The Board OF Equalization and Review,
consisting OF the Assessor and the Board
Of Assistant Assessors. has been in ses-
sion daily since Monday. From a pro
yisional estimate made by the board. II
appears that the assessable property on
new improvements in the District for the
GcrgI .aar yyU arpauDt a nm