Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-13
PUBLICITY CLEANS STREETS

TNHE gentlemen contractors who have
L grown rich not cleaning the streets Of
Philadelphia, and, up to this time, have
scorned the efforts of honest citizens TO
have the filth that litters highways and
alleys carted away, have run against q
snag They could laugh at abortive efforts
20 drive them 70 the performance Of their
duties, but particularly is about to smite
them in the loins. What did they care
about dirt l1 general? But along came
this newspaper and discovered Nely's
Alley. The name has leaped into popu-
lArity as the synonym of utterly intoler-
able conditions, OF garbage uncolected, Of
rubbish that breeds death and of filth that
lies ungathered for days and weeks.
Citizens have seen in it a slogan and
hope. Every day scores of people tele-
phone or write to this newspaper, giving
the location of the particular Nelly's
Alley in their neighborhood and urging
that we do our bit to see that it is cleaned
up. Our function has been to carry their
complaints direct to the responsible city
department. We back them with the
power of publicity; for pictures can tell
the truth in such form that no contrac-
tor can gainsay 1t, and the truth
is something our Investigators do not
fear Nor have we, therefore, up to this
time, experienced insuperable difficulties
in procuring prompt remedial measures,
Not one Nellys Alley but many, within
the past few days, have felt the shove of
the shovel and the rumble Of the cleaning
cart, and pure, sweet air has flowed
where formerly it was unknown.
There is no Nelly's Alley in Philadel-
phia which need remain a Nelly's Alley
forever. The public has come to the assist
ance of the city authorities. Our readers
constitute an inspection force of their
own. Theirs is a voluntary service, vital
ized by indignation, and extremely eff
cient on that account We SHALL there.
fore continue to invite complaints, which
we shall investigate as rapidly as possible,
and we feel comparatively safe in assur.
ing the public that action will follow.
The street.cleaning and garbage.collect.
ing systems of the city, however, are in.
herently wrong. How can we expect
clean streets when it is money in the
pocket of politician 70 have them dirty?
paper should have to undertake an inspec.
tion service, furnished by its readers, to
assure even a modicum Of good service
from paid employees. But an alleviative
measure of that sort is the only remedy
in sight, and none other will appear, the
public should understand, until the
municipality sweeps the entire contractor
system out OF being and itself performs
the functions which properly belong TO it.
The city spends enough money TO
assure good streets; the part that becomes
private profit is measured by the condi.
ton of the streets. The more profit, the
more dirt the less profit. the less dirt.
Generally speaking, every Nelly's Alley
means another bottle of champagne for
somebody But under a municipal system
of street cleaning, every Nelly's Alley
would mean the loss of his job for some.
body That is the difference between
street cleaning for profit and street clean.
ing for service. The latter gives health;
the former gives business TO undertakers.