Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-28
CLEANING OF STREETS
Superintendent J. 7. TWohey
Makes a Statement.
REPORT TO Mr.. MCFARLAND
Explanation in Response to Editorial
in The Star.
PAYMENTS IN NEED OF REPAIR
Instructions Issued to Chief Inspector
With View Of Bettering Con-
ditions Criticised.
REPORT TO Mr.. MCFARLAND


As result Of an editorial that appeared
in The Star last Monday, relative to the
inemcient cleaning Of streets in certain Sec
lions of the city, John T. Twohey, superin-
tendent OF street cleaning has made report
to Commissioner mcfarland at the latter's
request. and has issued instructions to ].
w. Ladd, chief inspector of the street.
cleaning department, with a view of better
ing the conditions criticised
Mr.. ~oheys report to Mr. Macfarland
follows:
nave the honor to make the following
report IN connection with the inclosed clip
ping from the editorial columns of The
Star.
The Jurisdiction of this department ex-
tends simply to the cleaning of the streets
from curb to curb. We do not clean the
sidewalks. nor have We any control what
ever over the repairing Of the pavements.
Sadly in Need Of Repair.
The pavements all over the city, not
only the carriageways proper but the sur
face between and adjoining the car tracks,
are sadly in need of repair. They are full
OF holes and depressions, which are prac-
tically catch basins for dirt and dust. In
many cases the department charged with
the repairing of pavements has filled these
holes and depressions with clay, cinders
and crushed stone, in order to bring them
to grade, and we are not, of course, per-
mitted to remove such material in the
cleaning process. The result Is that vehicles
track same over the surface that has been
cleaned, and the constant grinding of the
wheels of wagons, etc, reduces the filing
material to a powder which the wind blows
hither and thither.
'All Of the streets within the territory to
the north of that under the Jurisdiction of
this department are either macadamized
or unimproved, and In dry weather north
west. north or northeast wind will carry
the dust from these streets down into the
heart of the city. The same remarks
might also be applied to the section Of the
city now cut up in connection with the rail-
road terminal improvements. These are
conditions over which this department has
absolutely no control.
Does Not Clean Sidewalks.
''As before stated. this department does
not clean sidewalks, and the dust and dirt
which accumulate thereon remain until
blown on to the pavement by the wind or
swept into the gutter line by householders
In driving over the work 1 have. within a
short time after the machine forces had
passed, seen householders sweep paper and
other litter from the parking and side
walks In front Of their houses into the gut
ter line. with the result of course, that
casual observer might naturally conclude
that the machine work had not been prop
erly done. -
ut must be borne in mind that with the
exception Of the hand-cleaned streets and
a few of the main thoroughfares, the paved
carriageways are scheduled for cleaning
three times per week only, and this Is the
best that can be done with the appropria-
ton at our disposal. During the interval
between sweepings dirt and dust are bound
to accumulate, and a strong wind will
carry such material in every direction.
Doing the Best It Can.
Taking all of the foregoing facts into
consideration 1 think it may be justly said
that this department is securing the best
results that can reasonably be expected
under the circumstances. 1t sometimes
happens that some of the machine work Is
not up to the standard, but when this &C.
ours the inspectors invariably deduct a
corresponding area, as can be seen by their
daily reports. The area so deducted Is not
of course, allowed to the contractor when
his pay vouchers are made up. In other
words, the contractor Is paid only for such
work as he actually and properly performs.
I'm this connection 1 beg to invite your
attention to the inclOSed carbon copy of
my letter of instructions of this date to my
inspector in charge of machine sweeping,
copy of which l have also sent to the ma
chine-sweeping contractor with request that
he issue the necessary orders to his en-
ployes.'
List of Instructions.
Mr.. Twoheys list of instructions follows:
I'D The street must be sufficiently sprln-
killed. from curb to curb to thoroughly lay
the dust, not so heavily, however, as that
the brooms will smear ca The machine
brooms must be kept set at a notch which
will insure uniformity Of pressure and
clean sweep. 60 The gutter men must be
given to understand that they are to clean
the cutters thoroughly and neatly pile the
dirt for removal by the carts. a. The cart
men must be required to take sufficient
tir,,a or,I nk1
dirt so that no scatterings will be left (5)
Each inspector must see to it that the fiber
of the machine brooms is at least six inches
long from the spindle outwards, and that
the fiber is sufficiently close to give q
satisfactory sweep, and II these require
ments do not obtain, the machine or ma