The Washington times., 1905-03-20
DUSTY STREETS
ARE THE ISSUE
Controversy Between Police
and. Cleaners.
EACH SHIFT THE BLAME
Stidham Says Coal Cart Drivers
Ought to Be Kept From Scat
tering Dust.

A controversy seems imminent be- |
tween the Street Cleaning Department !
and the Police Department, ali because |
the streets in the vicinity of North Capt.
toll and NJ streets are covered with coal |
dust.
Superintendent Stidham, of the Street
Cleaning Department, in written state |
nnent, declared that the scattering of
coal grit is preventabie, and that the
policemen on the beat in question were
daily permitting violations of an i'm
poTtant police regulation.
To this Major Sylvester replied, after
making a personal investigation of the
conditions, that he regretted that the
Superintendent of the Street Cleaning
Department should see fit to charge
members OF the force with neglect o.
duty, and stated that the street was
caked and clogged with the accumu-
lated dirt of winter, which only scrap
ing and washing will remove. He sug-
gested, too that the street might be
sprinkled twice daily.
Minister Made Complaint.
The beginning of the trouble dates
back just one month. At that time the
Rev c. w. Gallagher, president of the
National Training School for Mission
aries and Deaconesses and OF the Sibiey
Hospital. wrote to the Commissioners
complaining of the dropping of great
quantities of coal dust by wagons haul
ing coal to and from the dump at First
and M streets northeast, which dust
was blown In every direction. He de-
clared his conviction that part of the
city. still maintaining d high class on
account of its very excellent buildings
and residences, should be preserved from,
such destruction, and inevitably disas-
trouS treatment
The complaint was referred to Major
Sylvester, and by him to Lieutenant
Byrne, Of the Second precinct. Acting
Lieutenant Sprinkle replied after an in
yeS-igation that he found existing con
ditions in the vicinity such as stated In
Dr. Gallagher's report, but that the
case was such that no prosecutions
could be had, and closed with the sug-
session that the complaint be referred
to the Street Cleaning Department.
Misses Real Root" Says Stidham.
1.-The report of theracting lieutenant Of
the Second precinct misses the real root
of the trouble wrote Superintendent
Stidham, when the paper came to him.
1.-The streets are undoubtedly I'M
clean" continued Mr.. Stidham. land as
previously reported will be cared for
promptly as soon as the snow and ice
are gone
Then comes his statement that the
scattering of litter is preventable. and
that the police daily permit violations
of the law and the concluding sugges-
ton that thersLie,ttenant of Police have
man stationed at the entrance to the
coal yards ands1trn back every driver
who has not, before coming out on the
street, carefully brushed off the loose
coal grit from the outside of his We
hicie and seen to 1t that the body OF
said vehicle was tight.
Again the papers made the round to
the Second precinct and back again &c
the Commissioners Office, this time
bearing the Endorsement of Lieutenant
Byrne. that as many as 700 vehicles
pass the corner of North Capitol and u
streets every day and that the condi-
tons cannot be improved as long as
traffic is so heavy.
Sylvester Makes Personal Tour.
Not satisfied with this report. Major
Sylvester abandoned all other worl
early in the week, made a personal toul
OF the district named, and came to th'
conclusion that members of his force
were to blame only because they did no
suggest sooner that the street be clean
ed and sprinkled.
Now Commissioner West has sent tn
papers back to the Police Department
for report On the feasibility Of the sug
gestfon of Superintendent Stidham tina
the coal carts and wagons be brushed
free of dust and examined as to tn
tight construction Of their bodies.