The Washington times., 1903-05-16
FLUSHING PROCESS MAY
YET Be ADOPTED
Commissioner Biddle to Re-
consider His Objection.
BETTER THAN SWEEPING
Superintendent Stutler an Ardent
Advocate of the Flushing Process.
Makes Streets Cleaner, He Says.

Col. John Biddle's action in reversing
his Endorsement accepting the PROPOSE
tior to clean paved streets by flushing.
has created something OF a furry in the
Street Cleaning Department Matters
had some to a point, as already publish
ed in The Times, where the proposal OF
R. V. Rusk to do the work had been
approved, and the contract formally
awarded.
Colonel Biddle's action came at The
eleventh hour, and served to overturn
plans already far advanced toward com
pletion, fer the work of street clean
ing after July l. For example. the firm
TO which the contract was awarded was
ready to place an order to manufacture
the new flushing machines. 1t is esti-
mated that two months would be 'e-
quired to have the machines made and
shipped to Washington.
Original Plans Suspended
Another plan suspended for the pres
ent, is the working out of the sched-
ules in the Street Cleaning Department,
which has to be done in advance and
placed in writing as part of the contract.
Finally. the action of the Engineer Com
missioner, if il becomes the action of the
board, will do away with the flushing
system for a time at least, and neces-
state the purchase, by r. V. Rusk, OF
the street sweeping apparatus now in
volving much expense, and representing
a waste, If the flushing should be f.
naIly adopted. Conversation in the o.
fees of the Superintendent of Street
Cleaning and the contractor today had
q kind of sulphurous hue, as a result OF
holding up the plans.
Colonel Biddle's position is that the
action OF water is destructive 20 asphalt
pavements in the stage of decay. He
fears the flushing will hasten the
process and shorten the life of the pave
ments by one or two years. His action
is not regarded as final, but to give OPP
portunity TO correspond with engineer
officials in cities where flushing is prac-
ticed. and learn from them what the re-
suits are to sheet and block pavement.
The Advantage of Flushing.
Warner Stutler, Superintendent of
Street Cleaning, had a conference with
Colonel Biddle yesterday, and talked
the matter aver for some time. Mr..
Stutler informed Colonel Biddle that the
action of water in flushing could not be
worse than it is now in the sprinkling
of the pavements before the sweeping
machines pass over. 1t was the Gus
tom, he said, to wet the streets with
sprinklers about one-half hour before
the sweeping was done. This moistened
the surface, and in going over the
streets the machine brushes ground tie
dust into the pavements and formed a
sort of paste which kept the surface
from drying for some time. In flushing,
the dirt was all removed and carried
away. Only water was left and II was
exposed to the air so as to dry quickly.
Colonel Biddle recognized the force OF
the argument He asked that he might
be allowed to see the flushing machine
In operation and to test personally the
action OF the water on the pavements.
Mr.. Stutler arranged for such test,
which Will be made today or Monday.
1t is possible that after a careful test
of the apparatus the Engineer Commits
sioner will withdraw his objections.