Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1911-02-04
REMOVING SNOW
FROM SIDEWALKS
How It Is Done In Lacrosse,
Wis., Explained
BEST METHODS TO EMPLOY.

/ In Cleaning Streets and Walks Snow
ShoveIers Should Be Instructed In
the Special Importance of Keeping
Free Mail, Police, Fire Boxes, Etc.
| The proper cleaning of snow from
sidewalks offers considerable difficulty
| to officials for its proper solution.
Where the law requires the authori-
ties to take charge of the cleaning Of
all walks snowplows can be used to
advantage at least once or twice in the
season. After this the snow will pack
on the sides and roll back on to the
walk. Hand labor must then be in
| stalled If the walk is to be cleaned full
width. Where it is a question of clean
ing walks which property owners are
required to clean, but do not, 1t is not
generally practicable to use plows
since the walks which are to be clean
ed by the city are widely scattered,
and In such cases also hand cleaning
must be resorted to.
Where there are sodded strips snow
should be removed at least one foot be-
! yond each edge of the sidewalk paving,
especially where the lots adjoining are
higher than the walks, as this will
! prevent ice from accommodating after
thawing begins.
Immediately after n snowfall all pub
lie walks, street corners and street and
alley crossings should be cleaned in a
systematic way. The work is laid out
| in routes, with from two to four men
on each route. depending upon the
depth Of snowfall. When possible the
men selected are those living nearest
to the respective stations.
1t Is sometimes difficult to Judge cor
| rectly as to what constitutes a COM
| pliance with the requirements of
| clean sidewalk. Some property owners
appear to think that a path along the
center of the walk IS sufficient, while
others wait until the snow has been
tramped hard and then remove the
loose snow on either side Neither Of
these should be tolerated by the au-
thorities, as the first thaw will cause
ice to form and make most danger
| Gus condition.
The length of routes and sizes of
crews for shoveling private sidewalks
should be increased over those for the
regular public shoveling. About eight
i men and one foreman for crew have
| been found to be the most desirable.
| The foreman should locate, measure
| and describe the work. For the meas
| urements he may use a ten foot stick
and locate the work by giving the dis
tance of It's beginning from the near
est corner and the number of front
feet shoveled-for example, north
west corner Sixth and State; COM
mence north 100 feet; so feet; skip 100
I feet; 80 feet" this being interpreted
as meaning, beginning on the north,
west corner of Sixth and State streets,
the first 100 feet running north were
| shoyeled by the owner, the next so
feet shoveled by the city, the follow
/ ing 100 feet shoveled by the owner
and the last so feet by the city.
! To correct any mistakes made by the
city force postal card printed for
this purpose should be sent to each
owner Of the properties cleaned, Civ
/ ing information of location, amount Of
work done and cost; the owner having
the option of paying this cost at once
or having the same charged to taxes.
These cards are very much appreciat-
ed by owners whose leases call for
their tenants to clean the sidewalks.
The card used In La Crosse is as fol-
lows:
La Crosse, Wis, -, 191-
Dear Sir-You are hereby notified that
snow has been removed by direction
Of the board of public works. In accord
ance with provisions of city charter and
ordinances governing the same from your
walk abutting lot -. block -. - addl-
ton. the charge for such work amounting
| to $.
Unless this is paid by -. 191-, a spe-
cial assessment will be made against the
| property and charged to taxes
All snow and ice ridges as we'll as loose
snow must be removed from sidewalks
Qull width) at once after each and every
snowfall. Sand or salt must be used on
Icy sidewalks. Respectfully,
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
After the cleaning of all walks gut
ters should be opened for a width of
at least twenty-four inches. Generally
large banks of snow have accumulated
from sidewalks or street car tracks
Where there Is street car track or
the snow is being removed from the
roadway these banks of snow should,
/ of course, be hauled away. while on
streets having no tracks or where the
snow Is not removed they may be
scattered in the center of the roadway
The saving in cost of removing loose
snow from cutters rather than remov-
ing Ice by use of picks Is an item not
TO be overlooked Where cutters are
kept open sudden thaws will find
good outlet, but If the gutter is not
opened Ice Is apt to form to greater
Or less depth.
In cleaning streets and sidewalks
snow shovelers should be instructed In
the special Importance of keeping free
all catch basin openings, hydrants and
mail, police and fire alarm boxes.