Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-18
Commissioner West to Extend
His Alley Crusade.
TRASH TO BE TAKEN AWAY
Sanitary Movement to Be Conducted
With Vigor.
PEOPLE. HEARTILY COOPERATE
Many Letters Received at the Dis
trict Building Indicating Cordial
Endorsement Of the Steps Taken.

Every vacant lot in the city will be
cleaned OF trash before this crusade for
clean alleys and yards is ended said
District Commissioner Henry J.. West this
morning.
The result of the work Of the first two
DAYS OF the cleaning-up crusade and OF his
personal Investigations. he announced. has
convinced him that there are many vacant
lots In the city which have been used more
or less as dumping grounds. and he thinks
that these private lots ought to be cleaned
as well as the public alleys. When the
gang of workers moves into an alley, part
Of the men Will be detailed to rake over
vacant property adjoining the alley, pull
ing the debris back into the alley. Then
the wagons will cart it away
Commissioner West said today that
work for cleaning vacant lots and pri-
vate alleys. and ii will be expended in the
next few weeks TO give Washington a
good spring house cleaning.
Popular Cooperation.
Clean the alleys
This slogan has been caught UP by resi-
dents of the city In every section. and
many are extending their cooperation
and their suggestions TO the District Of
fetal who is directing the campaign.
The announcement of Commissioner
Vests plans awakened the residents to
the conditions of alleys In the rear of
their premises and Endorsements of the
move have been pouring in on the Com
missioner. and the mail man has been
laden down with letters about the cru
SADIE
Many Of the letters ask improvement
of particular alleys. Said one writer:
II read with much interest in yesterday
evenings Star of the campaign inaugu-
rated by You for clean alleys. This Is
laudable undertaking. and / wish to call
attention to the condition of square 1909
/ live in 100 G street northeast, and
the alley In the rear of these premises
is In a disgraceful state. Especially
during any rainy weather Is this alley
almost impossible to either men or teams
Will lose their footwear trying to get
through the mire. 1t appears to be badly
on grade I Will appreciate 1t, as / am
sure all whose houses have an outlet on
prove this alley. Please give us due
consideration along with other localities"
Control Of Private Alleys.
Another writer thinks that alley condi-
tons could be improved by providing that
private alleys be subject to the same regu-
la'ions as public alleys. and be required
10 keep out the trash that frequently ac-
cumulates.
This 1.-THE alley crusade) is an excellent
move. says the writer, land II couId he.
aided materially by an amendment to the
police regulations placing all private al
ieys on the same footing as public ones.
lie. that ashes. trash and garbage cans,
etc, should not be allowed to stand in
Them al H.,
private one used by six families the most
OF whom persist in keeping cans boxes
etc. In IT, Dogs and cats providing in the
alley frequently upset these cans, etc,
In hot weather the stencil and flies are
unbearable. The only way / can get any
reiief from the nuisance Is to complain to
the police. who invariably see that the
alley Is cleaned for the time being, but
tney inform me that they have not the
power to order the cans kept out for the
reason that the alley is a private one"
a suggestion for new regulation for
alleys is made by another writer.
Mark all alleys Nof ten feet or of in
ing in opposite directions to pass. with
signs visible from the roadway En-
trance at one end and Exit at the other
and enforce 1t by police regulations"
the smaller. crooked alleys would in MANY
instances prevent loss Of time In the de-
livery OF merchandise and avoid the noisy
dnarreis between drivers over the right
OF way.
Approval by a Clergyman.
The need for an alley cleaning rp is
emphasized in another letter from a
clergyman.
Allow me to heartily thank YOU for
the interest you are taking in improving
the insanitary conditions of the alleys
"f our city says the writer For near
~ two years I and my associates fabout
fifteen or twenty persons in NUMBER have
been engaged In the work OF improving
the moral and physical conditions of the
people living in the alleys Of the north
western section of the city. This work
has taken us into these places every
week. and sometimes every day in the
week. We have frequently noticed the
insanitary condition Of these alleys and
have spoken Of II repeatedly. We have
also urged the residents in these places
10 do what they could TO assist in keep
ing the alleys clean.
L an sure that the paving Of the un-
paved alleyways will make ii much easier
10 keep them clean, and also safeguard
the health OF the entire city