Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-25
BLESSING IN DISGUISE
RAINY WEATHER CRIPPLES ONE
FORCE, BENEFITS ANOTHER.

Although the recent rainy spell practically
crippled half of the working force Of the
street cleaning department, making 1t inn
possible for the machine squad to work
during this period, 1t has benefited the
hand sweepers whose chief duties at pres
ent are to remove the leaves from the
streets.
For more than week the falling leaves
have been piling up on the streets through
out the city, especially in the residence Sec
lions, and the "sweepers'' have had about
all they could attend to in keeping the thor
oughfares clean. According to Supt. Two
hey Of the street cleaning department. the
work Of removing the leaves would have
been much more difficult had 1t not been
for the almost daily rains.
That it Is easier to remove the leaves in
wet weather is explained by Mr.. Twohey.
because when the leaves are dry they are
blown in every direction, and under these
circumstances 1t Is almost impossible for
small pile of leaves he has collected with
out having half the contents blown back
upon the street again. but II the leaves are
well soaked they stick to the pavements
and the sweeper has little dificulty in
collecting them and carting them away.
Active Work Tonight Probable.
Mr. Twohey says that within the last ten
days his machine force" which consists
of sprinklers and sweeping machines. have
only been able to make their appearance on
two or three occasions. Commissioner
West, who supervises the street cleaning
department stated today that force of
go Iaborers and Is wagons is at work upon
the streets in the sections cleaned by hand.
while tonight. II it remains clear. force OF
Z sprinklers "a sweeping machines. So la
borers, 81 carts and Is wagons will go to
work. During the last two days that the
machine force" was able to work 632
loads Of sweepings were taken from the
streets, which, according to the Commits
sioner, was q total almost double the nor
NAL figure.
It is pointed out by Supt Twohey shat the
'leaf season" Is little earlier his year by
reason of the damp atmosphere and heavy
rains.
"To illustrate the rapidity with which the
leaves are falling" said Supt. Twohey to-
day, 81 may say that this morning per-
sonally drove over most of the territory
swept by machines last night and on many
of the streets found that they had become
literally covered with leaves. although the
machines had thoroughly cleaned the pave
ment only few hours before.
Mr.. Twohey is employing all the men and
carts available in order that the leaves can
be removed from the streets as promptly
as. possible and hopes that by next Satur-
day or Sunday practically all of the re-
manning leaves will have fallen and normal
conditions will again prevail.
Reduction in Quantity.
. AS result of the statement made by Mr..
Twohey several days ago that there was no
reduction in the amount OF waste paper
thrown on the streets and alleys since the
Commissioners requested the public to re-
duce this practice to minimum and d.
rected the police to aid the street cleaning
department In enforcing the laws regarding
this violation. Maj. Sylvester, chief of po-