Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-22
TO DOUBLE THE FORCE
Plans for Cleaning the Down.
Town Streets.
SWEEPING NIGHT AND DAY
Superintendent Twohey Expects Con-
siderable Improvement.
EAIIIT lies WITH CONGRESS
SWEEPING NIGHT AND DAY
FAULT LIES WITH CONGRESS
Serious Handicap Imposed Upon the
Service-Why the Dust is
So Abundant.

With the passing of winter and the COM
Ing of the blustery winds of spring, the
dusty condition of the streets, especially
in the downtown business section of the
city, has become disagreeably evident.
There are. however, several reasons for
this condition which would not occur to the
average citizen whose eyes are blinded by
the dust on a brisk March day when the
wind is working overtime with the eddies
of dust particles that circle around his
feet and distribute themselves over his
clothes.
1t was pointed out to the recent Congress
that the question of the resurfacing and
repatching of the streets, by reason of the
deterioration and the age of the asphalt,
had become an acute one with the
District engineering department The
suit was the as with former Con-
grcsses-although an appropriation was
made it was not sufficient to meet the sit
uation here, the District officials under
stand it. Indeed. one senator so
mindful of the local situation that he had
tackled upon a bill an amendment limiting
the repair of the surfaces of the streets to
certain months of the year, an amendment
which, had it passed, would have worked
the greatest inconvenience in the admins
tration of the city's street affairs.
Had Congress therefore, gwen the District
officials adequate appropriations to resur-
tiresome process of patching and repatch-
in gthe worn-out surfaces. the dusty COndi-
ton of many Of the streets which now is
cause of complaint would soon be thing
of the past. Much of this dust comes
from the holes and the frayed edges of the
worn places in the asphalt. and as there
are thousands of these abrasions of varying
size. the aggregate accumulation of dirt
particles is very great.
Why the Streets Are So Dusty.
Again. during the process of repair these
abrasions are filled with ashes. crushed
stone or earth. which is taken up by the
wind and by vehicles, and scattered over
the street surfaces. In addition to this. on
the streets upon which there are car tracks,
that part of the asphalt surface which it is
the duty of the railroad companies to repair
Is In many places for considerable dis
lance crumbling and loose. Upon newly
resurfaCed asphalt street there Is compare
lively little dust dirt, but upon a defec-
tive one. and one which is in more less
constant state of repair, II is very consider
able. Much of this dust also arises from the
loose white sand which is scattered over the
newly laid asphalt after repair. AS the
foundation surface of many of the down.
town streets was laid many years ago, and
this original surface is out the
present conditions must obtain for some
time TO come despite the daily sweeping.
This is particularly true of Pennsylvania
avenue, the surface of which is practically
past repair. When Pennsylvania avenue is
newly resurfaced and regarded, which is a
welcome certainty within a short time, as
operations to this end are rapidly under way.
property owners and merchants upon the
capitals chief thoroughfare will be largely
freed from the dust which is now such
source of annoyance. 1t Is the resurfacing
of other of the downtown business streets
that is desired, to the end that this section
of the city may be maintained IN cleaner
and better condition generally than at pres
ent
A Double Force in April
n he nf ,Lo
downtown streets Superintendent Twohey
Of the street cleaning department said to a
Star reporter:
1--WE are now working 1876 men, sweeping
the streets by hand but should have
at least 80 to perform the work in the
manner we should like 10 see it done. On
the 18th of April. however we intend to
give certain Of the downtown streets a
double sweeping daily. We have mapped
out section in the northwest from 9th to I
10Th streets east and west, and from ID to G.
streets north and south, including PennsyI-
wanna avenue, which We will have swept
daily by the men with the hand sweepers,
and every night by the horse-drawn ma
chine swecrcrs. With this double force
practically at work night and day we are
satisfied that this section of town will be
Kept as clean as the street surfaces them
selves permit. Much of this section should
b. repayed and resurfaced, and until this
Is accomplished il cannot be expected that
perfect street surface conditions will OBJ
tain
Mr.. Twoheys attention was called 10 f
street northwest between 9TH street and
where II joins Pennsylvania avenue near
l4th street. as being one of the dustiest in
the downtown section of the city
Il Will give orders to have f street
cleaned especially he replied but this
street. within the limits named is one OF
the most difficult to keep clean that we
have. II rs paved with stone blocks from
llth To 18th streets. There is much heavy
traffic upon the street. and il is so situated
at the base Of the F street hill that it re-
ceives the wash from the intersecting
streets running north and south.
The Nineteen-Cent Limit.
1T is what we term the 'nineteen-cent
limit and the lack of adequate forces of
handsweepers which mainly prevents our
keeping the streets in the condition demand
ed. Each handsweeper covers about 9.CGo
square yards of street surface, whereas
5000 square yards is enough 10 apportion
To a
The appropriation for sprinkling. sweep
ing and cleaning each year contains pro-
viso that the cost of hand cleaning done
directly under the supervision OF the Com
missioners shall not exceed nineteen cents
per 1000 square yards. This is serious
handicap. inasmuch as the necessity of keep
ing within the limitation as to cost makes
II necessary To allOt to each laborer about
The average | have stated, and which area
he IS required 10 patrol daily. A compare
uNeIE sight reduction of this would
not OF course result in keeping the streets
as clean as might be desired, but ii would
Undoubtedly result In an Improvement over
the present conditions
The httering of the streets with paper
and other debris is one of the great diff
cultes with which We have TO contend. A
great many householders and the smaller
shopkeepers make It practice to sweep
paper and other debris from their houses
and stores into the streets. and pedestrians
ana travellers on the cars throw fruit skins,
paper bags newspapers and other articles
INTO the cutters and on the carriageways.
If You want work read the want coil