The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-26
SNOW FIGHTING BEES
IN CITY NEXT WINTER
Every Man Should Re His Own
ShOvcller, Mr.. Fether-
stOn Says.
TO ENLIST ARMY OF 10000
II Snow Is Attacked ut start
and Forced Into Sewers,
Cost Will Re Small.

n the snow removal plan which John
r. Fetherston. Street Cleaning Commits
sioner. has evolved for next year proves
will every citizen VII have personal
Inherent and share In the work and Snow
lighting bees not unlike In character to
the old barn raisins" and "huskin' bees"
OF other days and places will be In order
all over the city.
In an article in the current Engine -rt~o
Record Mr.. Fetherston outlines this
scheme, the principle Of which Is not to
wait until all the snow has fallen to re-
move IL but to tackle II during the storm.
enlist a militant c.tizenry and shovel the
stun down every manhole.
IT every sewer in the town can he used
for Anow nght.ns says the Commits
sioner-"snd practically every street has
"A sewer In it--thcn the snow removal
problem instead Of becoming not only n
burden to all concerned but also n POSI-
tive source Of loss to the city and citi-
Eens would take on the nature 81 a snow
fighting bee. with everybody member
Of the division--the city being divided
for the purpose into sections.
AT present the city waits until the
snowfall In over and traffic congested
before 1t begins to dig Itself out. To have
every sewer In town available for the
disposal Of snow as Il falls and TO se-
cure . SUFFICIENT number OF men to keep
snow moving into the sewers as II falls
appear TO be the most feasible ways OF
meeting the snow removal problem.
The principal dificulty In snow fight.
ing Will be TO secure an adequate number
Of men ready and willing to begin work
on the first appearance OF snow and to
start actually removing the snow not less
than an hour after the first flake has
fallen under conditions which indicate
that a continued storm might be expected
THE solution OF this part Of the
problem will undoubtedly involve the or
ganization OF the city into blocks or
sections with n captain or supervisor in
charge OF each block or district and the
registration OF men In blocks or streets
available for snow work, either during
the day. when not otherwise employed.
or at night after the days work Is
finished.
1T II estimated that for the $40 miles
Of streets scheduled for snow removal
q force varying from 20, 900 to 20. 1000
men. working continuously for eight
hours. will put into the sewers m eight
inch snowfall at cost not to exceed
$4,000
For the arrangement OF this scheme .
exist In the department. will be required.
and publicity campaign also to interest
citizens and get them to lend physical
aid.
Mr. Fetherston does not propose to
neglect the present method OF removing
snow after a storm, but VIII keep "a
large force for that purpose. The greatest
difficulty In that end Is to secure an
adequate number of trucks, He says that
motor trucks are displacing horse drawn
vehicles to u large extent but that the
motors are not easily secured for snow
work.
He advises n bonus system for depart.
ment employees during snow removal
periods He thinks that the cost OF re-
moval will not be much reduced for
some time but that the contingent loss
can be greatly reduced by speedy action.
such as he thinks his new plan will
insure.
Mr.. Fetherston says that, considering
the size OF the storms and the bad
weather following. the work last winter
was all that could have been expected.
II Will cost the city more than 81 500. O00
for the removal OF this years fall Of
S4.7 inches. Damage to business and
private property brings the total loss Ia
the city 10 more than 100000. In the
way of criticism Mr.. Fetherston says that
neither the city nor the street railway
companies are properly equipped for
rapid snow removal.