Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-05
THE LOWEST BIDDER
r. v. RUSK AWARDED CONTRACT
FOR STREET CLEANING.
Total of zoo, ooo, 600 Square Yards Of
Machine Sweeping and 25,OOO,-
600 Yards Of Flushing.

After a thorough test this morning OF the
flushing apparatus proposed to be used by
him the District Commissioners today de-
cided to award to r. v. Rusk of this city
the contract for cleaning a large area or
the street surface of the city. Mr.. Rusk
was the lowest bidder under the proposals
recently received. He agrees to do the
work required under the specifications at
rate of 16 1916 cents per 1000 square yards
The Commissioners estimated there would
be yearly 100000 900 square yards of ma
chine sweeping and 2o,0OO.O00 yards of
flushing. the latter class of work to be done
at the same price as the sweeping.
The test this morning was conducted at
the corner of 18th and I streets and was
witnessed by Commissioner Henry L. West.
who has supervision of the street cleaning
work. and Supt. Stutler Of the street clean
ing department. Mr.. Rusks flushing device
is an arrangement to play the water from
fiat stream nozzle through an arrangement
of hose which will permit of q large area
of work from each fire hydrant.
1t Is believed that the best results are OBJ
tanned by using the water supply direct.
rather than transferring 1t into portable
tanks and forcing 1t by air pressure on to
the streets A machine for flushing was
recently tested here. but did not prove en-
tirely satisfactory. The idea of the flushing
Is to make the streets absolutely clean.
The only. way to do this Is to play the water
upon the pavement until the desired result
is obtained.
Frequent F1ushings Desired.
The Commissioners are anxious to secure
the flushing Of the streets as often as pos
sible and with this end in view will have a
consultation with Contractor Rusk looking
to a large increase in the area of flushing
above the 250OO,O0O stated in the specifica-
tons. 1t is believed the contractor can do
the flushing as cheaply as he can the ma
chine sweeping, and that he will agree to
the extension of the flushing area. The idea
at first was to have the down town streets,
such as Pennsylvania avenue, F street, 14th
street. 10Th street and 9th street, flushed
twice each week. With an increase in the
number of square yards to be flushed this
work can be done four times a week or
nightly during the very hot weather Of the
summer.
Commissioner West believes that the
flushing of the streets will solve the prob
lem of clean thOroughfares. 1t is only
through flushing that the fine particles of
dirt and filth can be removed. The flushing
tests this morning show how much the ma
chimes miss in going over the surface. The
dust stirred up by the machines and LETT
behind forms no inconsiderable part Of the
dirt that 1t is desirable to remove. The
daily sprinkling of the streets down town,
put into effect some time since, has already
worked wonderful improvement. Fo--
merly on windy days the dust and dirt was
blown about in most annoying manner.
Pedestrians had their eyes filled with 1t.
During the recent blustery days, however,
conditions have been markedly improved, as
every one has noted
The Area Cleaned by Hand.
The streets downtown and over large
portion of the residence section are cleaned
by hand during the day. This work is done
directly under the Commissioners. These
streets are gone over with machines each
night however. as the hand men stop work
at o'clock. The machine work is let out
by contract. Heretofore the contract has
called for nothing but the sweeping This
year Commissioner West added the flushing
clause to the specifications and believes
that the results to be obtained will be more
than gratifying to the people Every one
has noticed the wonderful change wrought
In the asphalt paving after a very hard
ram The surface seems almost white 1t
Is intended that this condition of affairs
shall obtain through artificial process dur
ing the hot summer months.
The contract with Mr.. Rusk will be for
three years. He will also be awarded the
contracts for cleaning alleys and unim-
proved streets. He was the only bidder on
the two last named classes of work.