The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-29
STREET CLEANING PROBLEMS.

STREET CLEANING PROBLEMS.
Analvsis of the statement from the
S.,,e.in.endent OF the Street Cleaning
DEPARTMENT 30 the Mayor and the "A
illustrative Board reveals four ways
IN which the city can be kept cleaner
Efficiency standards and skilled su-
nerviston should be applied 10 the pres
ont force of employees 10 guarantee 'h'
maximum of actual work done Tor the
present expenditure of salary money
The present equipment should be en-
larced and modernized TO meet the de
ynands Of the growing city.
The hauling of trade waste and IN
dustrial refuse should be regulated so
ihat individuals or corporations 90
mot usurp an undue amount OF city
zine and money for removal OF matter
that should be charged against them
and not against the general taxpayer
who l. by so much neglected.
The citizen must be impressed. both
Nv ordinance with fine penalty. ana
b, the cultivation OF civic pride, that nc
Is often responsible for dirtXcity' and
that his cooperation will materially
reduce the cost and. increase the scope
Of the cleaning service.
The superintendent is under the
necessity of proving that his present
force Is used TO its maximum capacity
and is then unequal to the demands
made upon il. before he should be per
roitted to increase the force by his
,resen- recommendations. He wants
uinetv-seven more men at an added cost
10 Richmond of about $4,000. II IL prob
ably true that a certain increase Is
necessary. But Is the present force
used to the best advantage Two
po,nts will show what Is meant. The
superintendent admits that he carries
some men. who are incapable of retsrn-
ing the amount of efficient work thar
their pay should secure. He says THESE
arc worthy men. who have served the
,itv for wears and deserve some re-
turn. II is not the function. however
of the Street Cleaning Depart ment to
give pensions. Its force Is lnenicien'
by lust SO many men. Let them DC re
moved. pcnsioned elsewhere and OF
fcially if necessary. and active. able
workers put in their places Then the
need for ninety-seven more men VIII oe
reduced The payroll Of any depart
rnent should not include a single mar
who doesn't return just work for hi'
pay.
other efficiency reforms are the en-
ployment of large carriers. using one
mans time as driver to haul what now
takes three small carts each using a
driver. This saves two mems time
Further. in Chicago the street cleaning
DEPARTMENT added the equivalent OF
sixty men to its force by simply requir-
ing the gangs to report at the Job,
instead of at headquarters and then
going 10 the Job If necdful the driver
could report early and get his wagon
on the spot az the hour of going to
work. such efficiency standards arc
preliminary 70 any increase of force.
The depart nent asks for sl06 O0d
amount. but the board and the budget
committee should see that what is
actually needed to keep Richmond
clean Is provided
The removal of waste from stores
fsctcries hotels and the like takes 50
riiiich OF the departments time that
the superintendent roughly estimates
that If he were relieved Of this burden
re could increase his services TO tho
average citizen by 20 to IS per cent
particularly in cleaning streets and
removing ashes The remedy that
might apply to tbs is to limit the
amount removed from any one place
and charge for the removal of the ex-
cess. The city can handle such refuse
economically. but the charge should. be
against tho individual OF company
not against che whole community
IN this connection there should be-
ras-e. an ordinance specifying the
size and character Of refuse containers
and III nature Of the contents
Cooperation from the citizens mean.
putting waste m street cans Co 20
provided for the purpose faciitatin.
tho proper handling Of ashes an,
garbage. dcsis;iuV from making un
reasonable demands oa the service
and generally working for % cieaue'
city. Proper punishment and contro
81 nsisauccs should be provided.
u fhc Administrative Board wiI
attack these four problems in the -ish
vay. tho presenf general di-conten
~su Dc reduced