Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-28
NEW FEATURES ADDED.
Street Sweeping Service Provides for
Daily Sprinkling-Other Additions.

Street Sweeping Service Provides Tor
Daily Sprinkling-Other Additions.
Two new features have been added to the
street cleaning service along number of
the principal thoroughfares of the city.
One of these is the constant sprinkling of
the streets traversed by car lines and the
other Is the employment of men whose sole
duty is to patrol certain streets in search
of waste paper on the sidewalks and road
ways. These additions to the regular hand
sweeping service are expected to bring
about a much more desirable condition Of
affairs than has heretofore been possible.
The street cleaning department has been
endeavoring for some time to reduce to
minimum the dust raised by street cars
passing along the streets down town. Inc
grooves of the tracks have been receptacles
for dirt which is naturally stirred into ac-
ton by the passing trains Of cars. The re-
suit has not only been disagreeable to pas
sengers on the rear cars, but to pedestrians
pervisiOn of the cleaning department, and
Mr.. Stutler, the superintendent of that
branch Of the District service had a con-
sultation about the matter few weeks ago.
Mr.. Stutler declared that the only way to
reduce the dust was to constantly sprinkle
the streets, especially in the neighborhood
of the car tracks, during the hot and dry
weather. Mr.. West suggested that the
forthwith Three machines were purchased
from the appropriation for sweeping and
sprinkling the streets and have been placed
in service. They operate during the day,
and an improved condition of affairs has
already been noticed along their routes.
AS yet the range of the sprinkling
chimes is a limited one, but it is hoped with
in the next few years to gradually increase
the service until the entire hand-cleaned
area will be covered. At present the
sprinklers are confined to Pennsylvania
avenue from the Peace monument to Wash
ington Circle, 18th street from the avenue
to the northern terminum of the car lines,
F street from 9th to 18th, G street from
9Th to 18th, Connecticut avenue from H
street to Dupont Circle, H street from 18th
to 18th, New York avenue from 18th to
10TH, 9th street from Pennsylvania avenue
to New York avenue. Seventh street is
sprinkled at present by private parties.
This is the first time there has been pub
lie sprinkling of the streets down town
during the daytime. Under the old system
of machine cleaning the machines were
preceded by a sprinkling cart. This same
system is still in vogue ON the residence
streets that are swept from two to three
times week. 1t is intended to keep the
three sprinklers down town in commission
dry spells. The sprinkling not only lays
the dust along the car tracks, but assists
the hand sweepers in keeping the remain-
ing portions of the thoroughfares as clean
possible.
The employment of men to pick up waste
paper is regarded as an important improve
ment In the cleaning service. The waste
paper problem has been one the Commits
sioners have had to deal with on occasions
for number of years past. There IS a
stringent regulation against depositing
waste paper. or any waste material for that
matter. on the streets or sidewalks The
regulation seems well nigh impossible of
absolute enforcement. and so the paper
picking brigade of the street department
is proving effective down town where other
proposed remedies have practically failed.