The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-05
DUST IS TOO MUCH
FOR CITY ENGINEER
Wind Sweeps City Streets and
Pedestrians and Merchants
Suffer.

A finely powdered dust-poisonous
dust that has covered the pavements
all wtnter-was yesterday whirled
through the streets of st. Paul by q
strong wind, demoralizing business and
setting those compelled to be out to
wheeling and sneezing. The day was
pronounced more disagreeable than the
coolest night in winter or the hottest
MONDAY in summer.
1t was remarked that it seemed that
the authorities responsible for the
cleaning of the streets had entered
into conspiracy with the weather
to demonstrate the possibilities of dis
comfort that could be produced under
certain conditions. Quite q gang of
men had carefully raked the fine dust
remaining on the streets into piles,
with the result that the first strong
gust of wind that came along would
pick up a proportion of each pile and
send 1t whirling into the faces Of the
people on the streets, through the small
crevices around the windows and doors
of business houses. offices and resi-
dences, and covering furniture and
goods with coat of an infectious mix
ture.
Business was practically suspended
Tor several hours, the business streets
to great extent taking on the appear
ance or a desert sandstone, it being
at times almost impossible to distin
guish building across q fifty-foot
street
The result was that the business
men were loud in their complaints,
claiming that great damage was being
done their stocks. Customers were not
desired, as the opening Of a door meant
the incoming of a huge cloud Of the
grlmy dust, which would remain in the
air for some time and then settle on
the fine fabrics or else spoil the clean
ly appearance of the showcases.
City Engineer Rund1ett has charge Of
the streets, and the business men were
OF the opinion that he should have pre-
pared for such an occasion, explain
ing that such experiences are to be
expected in the early spring unless the
street department takes due precau-
lions. The city engineer thinks that he
did everything within his power, say
Ing when seen by T h e Globe:
1t is easy to complain but do the crit
les know the conditions under which we
were compelled to work? If they did
they would have less to say. AS soon as
possible today started out five sprinIzlers
and gave instructions that particular at
tentiOn should be given to the business
section of the city.
My instructions were carried out, but
with what result? Almost as soon as the
water reached the pavement it froze, and
the drivers of horses began to complain.
1t was hard to tell whether the drivers
or the business men were the most an
cry. During the day I did all in my
power to control the dust nuisance, but
found 1t impossible. The water would
freeze without absorbing much of the
dust and in a short time would be as bad
as at any other period. In attempting to
clean the streets the workmen found it
impossible to accomplish good results.
The piles Of dirt will be hauled away
tonight.
By tomorrow the situation will be
solved. Tonight I will send out the ma
chine sWeeperS and will haul away the
dirt before daylight.
Early last evening a most welcome
rain started to fall, and before midnight
the dust of the streets was we'll soak
ed.
The merchants hailed the showers
with delight, as they see in the rain
an opportunity for the city engineer
to remove the dirt without unpleasant
and diSa greeable results