The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-11

|
would he impracticable in any event,
because the change was 80 recently
made; but it is made entirely out Of
the question by the fact that no de-
tailed unit costs were kept In former
years. I can tell from the records,
OF course, how much was spent on
streets In 1912, but I cannot tell just
how much Of this was for their re-
pair. or cleaning, nor how much for
moving Of our parkways. etc. neith-
or can tell the amount Of each kind
Of work done nor the cost thereof
per mile Of street.
That thse figures are not to be had
10 not the fault Of anyone. The per-
son who ought to attend to such
thinss-a general superintendent --
was not there; there was no connect
ing link between the general policy
and the production" ends Of num-
cipal business. But the condition
which found here. and which can
likewise be found in any other similar
town. merely emphasizes the necessity
for putting municipal business on the
modern basis Of any successful private
enterprise.
In order to provide a means for
the collection of cost data, as we'll
as to enable closer supervision of
the work and secure q greater effi-
cheney from the village workmen, I
devised two simple forms shown here.
with. One Of them Is an order for
work to be done and the other a daily
report for each workman to turn In
at the end Of the day. These are per-.
haps self-explanatory. In the daily
report under Charge to. -"
the workman enters the order num-
Der, as found on the upper right hand
corner Of the order blank. and under
1t the amount Of time spent on eacn
order. BY keeping duplicates of the
orders I am able to make a distribu-
ton Of the time of the men to the
various classes Of work-euch a. street
repair. sewers. etc.
The village is now buying it's elec-
trio current, and under continuance of
the old order Of administration
would probably find 1t economical to
continue to do so, because Of the fact
that no one would have the time
necessary to go into the matter Of
establishing a satisfactory private
plant. With my own time devoted
exclusively to the work Of the village,
however. I believe we can take ad-
vantage Of certain local conditions
and manufacture our own current at
= saving this saving probably ,he,ng
put into better service rather than
lower rates.
The disposition of garbage has been
one % :hc vexed questions or the VII
iage. Under our contract with the
garbage contractor he Is required to
carry away free kitchen garbage,
ashes, tin cans, bottles and crockery
This left large amount of refuse
and rubbish unprovided for. includ-
ing manure where horses were kept.
Recently arrangements were made
with the contractor for carrying away
the classes of refuse not covered by
contract with the village. sub ser.
vice TO be paid for by the household
er at the time Of service. and at the
following standard rates:
Minimum charge. =. :. :. ....9 10
For one-half barrel full. .. :. .1b
For one barrel full. >. :. :. 40
For one double. horse wagon
ioao.. :. .. :. ..1.b0
Each householder has been supplied
with printed instructions as to this
arrangement. together with instruc.
tions as to the manner Of caring for
garbage. the specifications for gar
bage boxes and manure vaults. etc.
The result Is more cleanly and satis-
factory condition In this regard.
Last April, before the general super
intendent was employed. the trustees
passed an ordinance requiring all
property owners to keep the weeds
cut on their premises. In July /
served notice on 1856 owners cover
Ing about six miles Of street frontage.
1 realized that In many cases. as that
Of the nonresident owner. the find
ing Of man to cut the weeds might
be both inconvenient and difficult.
and result In a Noncompliance with
the law. At the same time that no.
tilted the owner to cut the weeds,
therefore, advised him that the vii
lage would be glad to do the work
upon request. and payment OF &c per
front foot. The results were worry
gratifying and at the time this article