Evening star., 1922-02-06

10. 8. Bureau Of Public Roads, Former
l ~ Engineer Of Highways, Philadel-
| piia, Pa.
The writer has read with a grea,
deal Of interest the efforts of The
Evening Star to collect data from
various cities concerning their
methods and organization for snow
removal. It fs thought that it might
be OF interest to your readers to
! learn something of the system in
operation in the nearby city Of Phila-
delphia-
As engineer Of highways of Phila-
| delphia for five years between 1912 and
1917 the writer was in charge of the
removal OF snow from the city streets
during that time. and therefore had
more or less to do with the inaugu-
ration Of a new idea. in handling
70 regard snow removal as an en-
| glneering problem amendable to solu-
tion by the applicat ton of ordinary
! engineering rules. Prior to 1872
snow removal, in Philadelphia and in
other American cities, had been con-
sidered an emergency duty to be per-
| formed after the snowfall had ceased
! rather than a routine function which
became operative as soon as the
| snowfall has started and should con-
tinue throughout its progress.
| On Christmas eve. 1912. Phila-
| delphia was visited by a very severe
| snowstorm, quite like the recent one
in Washington. After the storm be-
gan the writer was placed in charge
OF the removal of the snow from the
| streets. Neither he nor any Of his
engineer colleagues in the recently
any experience in such work. There
fore. following the custom of $50
years, the storm was allowed to COM
plete its damage before any work of
removal wSs begun The next morn
ing the snow had reached a depth of
tion of a very small amount of re-
moval with the few men and teams
the officials were able to induce to
work for emergency prices. the snow
ed and Philadelphia floundered around
for over a week in about the same
kind of a mess as Washington has
experienced during the past nine
days. There was simply no snow or
ganization worthy Of the name.
Begin When Snow Starts.
This one experience with time
honored methods OF snow removal
was quite enough for the engineers
mediately began to put into effect an
entirely new practice, namely. that
Of fighting the storm and beginning
the fight shortly after the snow had
commenced to fall. 1t was realized
that the fundamental problem was
as nearly as possible during and
after the storm. This can only be
accomplished by fighting the storm.
The actual disposal of the snow is.
of course. important, but it is of sec
ondary importance.
III a1g
phia begin in the afternoon or at
night. and as it was found almost
impossible to induce many men to
shovel and haul snow during the
stormy weather at night. it was de-
cided that the main night work must
be done with some kind of plowins
machines to keep the Travelled way
in the streets clear as the snow fell.
Horse drawn roadscrapers were tried
out and found inadequate. They were
too light and moved too slowly. Wfat
was needed was speed combined with
efficiency. Several contractors oYn-
ing large five and ten ton motor
trucks were persuaded to equip thir-
ty of them with adjustable plow
blades, fastened on the front of the
trucks and Arrangements were made
whereby these trucks with their
crews were available day and night.
They were paid by the truck-hour.
The tremendous value of these
pewerful plow' trucks during a snow
storm is quite apparent when it is
realized that they can plow. to
depth of six inches of fresh snow at
a speed of from twenty to twenty
five miles an hour. The street rail-
also equipped eight cars with front
and side plows to supplement their
sweepers. r-
Divided Into Districts.
The central business portion of the
city was divided into nineteen snow
districts, comprising about thirty
miles of streets Detailed plans of
these districts were prepared show
ing the sewer manholcs which might
be used for dumping the snow. Where
1t was found that there was In
sufficient flow of water in the sewers.
the .manholes were fitted with water
connection to increase the flow. Bids
were received by the city from team
ing contractors for the removal OF
snow within the nineteen snow dis
tricts. Not more than two districts
were awarded to any one contractor.
The basis of payment was per cubic
yard of snow disposed of in a man
hole or other dumping place indicated
on the plans. The contractors were
subject to call, and were required
under penalty to have a certain num-
ber of men and teams at work WITHIN
their respective snow districts within
one hour after notification to begin
work The total force required for
the nineteen districts was 1900 men
and 500 teams and trucks.
In addition, the regular street
cleaning force was also organized Tor
snow work. This force included l;2so
men and 200 teams and trucks. They
we're required to clean the crossings
| in the central part of the city and to
remove snow in the outlying sections
The municipal repair and sewer gangs
consisting of lilo men and ITO teams
and trucks. were an extra force axail.
| able for snow work in severe storms
thereby making grand total OF the
| snow force of 1890 men and 1.11t
| teams and trucks, thirty heavy auto
l mobile plow trucks and eight trolley
plows.
14O in Supervision Work.
| To control this force the work wa:
done under the supervision of the
writer, who had All engineering ant
! inspection outfit of about 140 men
who were available day and night
| working. however, in two shifts Of
] twelve hours each. Each man had q
definite assignment.
The organization was as follows:
Two division engineers-one il
charge Of ten of the nineteen snow
plows and one in charge of nine Of
the districts and fifteen. of the motol
plows. To each Of these division en-
gineers was assigned chief inspec
| tor, who assisted him in general sup
ervision. To each of the nineteer
snow districts was assigned an in
| spector-in-charge. assisted by si1
| lea, involving, a property loss o.