New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-03
SHOW VALUE OF CLEANING
wooDBURY TESTS STREET
After SprinkIing, Many More B0c'lh
Found than after HIS Method.

-. voted down so as TO prevent the blowing OF
a., b,,f so cleaned from proper washing that
there is no dust
This statement was made in reply to the pro
.ssts n the Merchants Association against the
.,rinkIing Of FYfth-ave. and other asphalted
streets in the central part OF Manhattan Inc
Merchants Association is one Of several or
gan.zations which have taken note Of the dan
Qerous conditions OF the slippery street since
T5e Tribune called public attention to the fact'
The solution Of the difficulty outlined IN The
Tribune yesterday by Mayor Mcclellan meets
general approval 1t declared yesterday
that when the proper time came bill would De
drawn giving the entire control of the sprinkling
and sanding of the streets to the Street Clean
ing Department.
This bill must receive the general support OF
public organizations interested in the welfare
of the city" said an officer of the Merchants
Association yesterday. 1T is not too early to
begin the agitation against proniscuous sprink-
ling by a private corporation, and there must
be no let-up until the bill becomes a law"
The protes: 10 Commissioner Woodbury. from
the Merchants Association made by John
& Eames. chairman of the committee on city
conditions. and read in part as follows:
Complaint has reached this Office in regard
TO the condition of the asphalt pavement upon
4
cleaning the same. When the street was thor
oughly flushed and washed. in accordance with
the former ordinance, the surface was left in
such condition as 10 afford a satisfactory foot-
hold 10 horses. We are informed that the
method OF cleaning the street has been changed
of late. In place Of being thoroughly flushed
and washed. it is merely sprinkled with the re-
suit that the dust adhering to the surface is
reduced 10 thin mud or slime which, when
superadded to the surface Of the asphalt, makes
that surface extremely slippery and dangerous.
Horses travelling thereon are una bic 10 gain a
proper foothold. Because of this condition there
Is constant danger 10 vehicles and TO persons US
ing the street. There are frequent accidents,
with the resulting danger TO life, limb and prop
erty
IN his reply to this communication Major
Woodbury. entered briefly into the whole prob
lem Of the care Of asphalt streets He declared
that sprinkling was of absolutely service in
keeping the streets clean, but rather acted as
an impediment. He virtually promised to keep
the streets in satisfactory condition with flush
1ng methods if he receives full control. His
reply reads:
There is but one way to sanitarily cleanse as
phalt pavement, and that is by thoroughly wash
Ing the surface with water. 1 mean by washing
the surface applying the water 10 the asphalt
with a sufficient degree of force TO thoroughly
scour al the Ioosened gum which so ughuy
clings to the asphalt in every month Of the year
in dry conditions. This can be done every day
eove s. degrees FalrefiI1eit and should be done
al night or al such times as there IS little or
no traffic upon the streets. II water is delivered
upon the asphalt at an angle Of 45 degrees with
9 muZzls velocity Of 40 pounds Of pressure to
Ehe square lnCh, Il Is found that all OF the gum,
which IS due 10 the compression by wheels OF
heavy or rapidly moving traffic of materials
dropped upon the surface is thoroughly washed
away and a clean asphalt surface exposed, which
3s not slippery and which permit good foot
ing for the horse or traction for motor vehicles
IT, Oh the other hand, the surface of the
phalt street is simply wetted and this gum
Ioosened without being washed off, is the
constant result Of the so-called sprinkling of
the streets, you have q surface upon which the
horse has little or no footing, and motor vehi-
cles losing their traction. skid so as to be COM
pletely beyond the control Of their drivers.
This sprinkling Of asphalt surfaces does not as
slst IN me cleaning Or the streets 1t IS a wise
thing 10 sprinkle specification granite block or
Belgian pavement before sweeping, but the as
phalt is so much better cleaned by a large
amount Of water applied and the detritus flushed
away that spTinkling IS Of no service. In such
times there is great humidity in the atmos-
phere and low temperature the sprinkled sur
face Of asphalt is a serious impediment in the
way Of It's being properly cleaned, as well as a
danger to traffic
The proper condition to keep a street in is not
Wetted down SO as TO prevent the blowing of
Gust but so cleaned from proper washing that
there Is no dust. With proper regulation of the
building in this city and the placing of sand
sno mortar IN the streets, and their thorough
washing with compressed air machines or with
hose from the hydrants, this can be done. Dur
ING the past year Fifth-ave. from Fifty nnth-s St
10 the Washington Arch. Broadway from Forty
mn A'-1NI1A A4OI-i
tn1y-nlnth-st TO CaInne-st, and Twenty
tnird-sL from Third-aNe. 10 Eighth-ave., have
Deen washed every night, beginning at about l
Sc4ocA ana ending az about 4. The results have
peeh very satisfactory. is shown by the
Photographic conditions existing in the air six
LiLcHe9 ABOVE the curb level at various stations
o. these streets. This work has been done by
me Street Cleaniug Department. and is quite
FINISHED before the early morning traffic begins
lne further wettlng OF this area by the sprink-
Hns carts has been but to render the traffic
upon these streets dangerous both to the horse
crs"n ano 70 the motor vehicles.
Upon the east side Of this city where the
E'Ie5l 9pfnkAnS association had no subscribers,
LHe department Of Street Cleaning has washed
SSEery street certainly once a week. and the more
oensely crowded thoroughfares like Rivington.
Eester Ridge and Delancey sts; the Bowery
ahd tirst-are, every day. This makes an
average daily washing Of sixty miles of street
area ln mis- district. ! would respectfully call
eltHhlloI! u he low death rate which we have at
dislrct sST.t !" 'n@s properly washed and cleaned
=, The shrinking Of the streets in the City of
,,,so,, or ITH Is cone BY private corporation, to
"hom fne householders vsriously contribute as
seems 70 them good. At a time when the pave
henS o. THIS city was in the main either cobbIe
or belgian block, loosely set on a sand mattress,
certain amount of sprInkiing was necessary
SIhef pefore the pavement could be swept or to
iay the dust that heavy traffic constantly iolted
L'0 F the ar from the interstices This method
o. private subscription for what should be
Puotc enaree has survived, and now has reached
sFr.ss4 ucGer cI the charge Of She Department of
Sset Cieanins, entirely given into their
'''"0'' 20 perform as public duty.
Inc Photograph evidence Of which Commits
sioner Woodbury. speaks Is on file in his once
Some tine ago Agar plates were exposed be-
s'i '-.1 -'oo o. n. in various parts Of the
w. eiUI HolsH were made of the nature of
s+ S'i's,l.' "nether asphalt, Belgian or gran
- - - .-iC -ilIc-ll OF traffic and the nature
,,-- -~t. -Notes were also made as to
Shelaer the paVemerts were flushed or NOT
flushed sprinkled hands vent ar sc-aned rbaee
plates were exposed IT the cl,rb jeyei and ar civ
feet above 'e'e4 anu az S'A
The number OF colonies of tso;r,, ,.,,ot. -,