Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-09
ternate night since July when the weather

permitted.
There are two great difficulties that
have to be contended with in street clean
ing. % During dry weather fine dust ac-
cumulates on the pavement, and is blown.
about by every breeze, much to the phys
ical discomfort of pedestrians. 1t settles
on the merchandise of the merchant and
shopkeeper, damaging such delicate and
perishable fabrics and articles as are ex-
posed for sale, and rendering the stock
generally less inviting to prospective pur-
chasers. 1t finds it's way into the home OF
the housekeeper who has been unwary
enough to open the windows facing on the
street, causing needless annoyance to the
inmates, and making extra work where 1t
would otherwise be unnecessary. 1t is
well established fact also that this fine
dust Is laden with disease germs, which
are certainly not conducive to public
health. (2) In damp and foggy weather
sticky substance ooZes from and adheres
to the asphalt, making the surface slippery
and unsafe for horses, as owners Of these
animals know to their cost
These conditions cannot be overcome by
the use of machine sweepers or hand
brooms. no matter how carefully or how
often the surface is gone over. On the
other hand flushing washes the pavement
clean of all dust. the force of the water
cuts away the sticky substance, and both
materials find their way into the sewers.
1T Is proposed to extend the flushing
system to all the business streets and main
thoroughfares in such a manner that each
1t is for this purpose that the $1,000 is
included In the estimated increase"
A Stable Wanted.
Supt. Stutler next asks that Congress be
requested to appropriate $500 for the
erection of combined stable, repair shop
and storage house
This estimate" Col. StutIer explains, us
based on figures furnished by the District
building inspector, and the object is to erect
on District property, situated at 18th and
streets northwest, a building sufficiently
large to afford stabing, repair shop and
storage room accommoda ton.
The department owns thirty-three horses,
and these are bearded at livery stable at
an annual cost of about Sc, 600; $500 rent is
also paid yearly for repair shop and stor-
age room, which is located at some dis
lance from the stables. The actual cost Of
maintaining the above number of horses is
| not to exceed $40 per month each, or about
two-thirds of the amount now paid for that
purpose The saving in this respect alone
would, therefore, be about 81, OO0 enough
to equal the original outlay in less than
four years. In addition, Of course, the re-
pair shop and storage room rent would
also be saved and further benefit would
result from having all the accommodations
for the field forces concentrated at one
point
Snow and Ice.
The estimate for cleaning snow and Ice
from streets, crosswalks. and cutters is
| 5000, as against $1,000 appropriated this
year. At the end of the fiscal year 1902
| there remained an unexpended snow and
| Ice balance of 81, 1873 and that, together
with the appropriation Of 81 600 for 1903,
was spent during the past winter. Expe-
rience has shown that 1t requires about
$4,000 to properly care for the snow and ice
work in any one winter.
Garbage Collection.
The sum of $1O2,3 is asked for the col
| lection and disposal of garbage and dead
animals. miscellaneous refuse and ashes
from private residences in the city OF
washington and more densely populated
| suburbs; for collection and disposal Of night
| soil In the District Of Columbia, and for
the payment Of necessary inspection. liv-
| cry of horses and Incidental expenses
The appropriation for the current year
| Is $4,000. The apparent decrease of So,
| $50 in the estimate for next year is ex-
planned by Mr.. Stutler as follows:
| III all the per diem employees now paid
out of the appropriation for the collection
and disposal of city refuse are not trans
| ferred to the per annum list, as recon-
mended. 1t Will be necessary to increase the
present appropriation. OF course II some
Of the city refuse men are put on the per
annum roll, the increase should correspond
| to the extent Of the sum estimated for
those who are not transferred"
| New Item.
| A new item of $4,000 is requested for the
collection and disposal Of ashes and mis-
cellaneous refuse from hotels. apartment
houses markets, restaurants and other
business establishments, not otherwise pro-
vided for.
On this subject Mr.. Stutler says:
Since the Inauguration of the service for