Evening star., 1937-07-25
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Much complaint was voiced fifty years
ago about the inadequacy of street clean
ing service in Wash
Protest Against ington. The Star of
Dirty Streets. July 10, 1887, says:
1t is not true, as
has been claimed that the streets of the
city are better swept and kept cleaner
generally than under previous contrac-
tors performing the same service. II
human observation, experience and tes-
timony are worth anything, the reverse
OF this assertion is true. This, however,
is doubtless due only in part to defec-
tive machinery or inefficient service in
the street sweeping department. A very
large proportion of the dirt lying upon
the streets and the flying dust COM
planned of every day comes from the
wretchedly careless manner in which
those engaged in carting dirt from new
buildings and other excavations are al
lowed to perform their work Hardly
single cart engaged in this work is as
free from large cracks and holes as it
might be and where any are found in de-
cent condition their loads are usually
piled so high that large portion is
shaken over the tail and side boards
when the cart is in motion. The result is
that nearly every cart thus engaged
leaves a thick trail of dirt on the streets
from the point where it is loaded to the
place of deposit. Now, there is no ex-
cuse, as there is no necessity, for this
state of things. 1t is observable that
loads of coal in transit are largely spilled
in small quantities on the streets. The
presumption is that if dirt from cellars,
etc. were as valuable as coal, measures
would be taken by those engaged in
transporting it to prevent its loss. At all
events, the coal business shows that spill
ing from carts can be avoided when de-
sired. and ought, therefore, to be pre-
vented. Our impression is that there is
already in existence a regulation to this
effect. II there is, it ought. to be en-
forced. II not, one should be framed
and put into operation at once"
A dispatch from West Africa reported
the death Of Henry M Stanley. the ex-
plorer, at the hands
1"iSe A'epoi' VI OF natives, and also
Stanley's Death. another dispatch
stated that he had
been drowned in the sinking of steam
er. The Star Of July 81, 1887, says:
THE different stories Of the death OF
Henry M. Stanley are, at the present
writing. too conflicting to put even the
main statement beyond doubt. In the
barbarous region where his life work has
carried him it is well nigh impossible
to ascertain the details of any occurrence.
Most OF the news must necessarily be
conveyed for long distance by word of
mouth and through chain OF Ignorant
messengers, and by the time it reaches
its final destination story is liable to
be garbled, distorted and colored beyond
recognition. If it shall turn out that
Stanley is dead, however his death may
have occurred, the world will have cause
to mourn very remarkable man.
The report of Stanley's death in Africa
proved to be false. He died in London
May 10. 1904. more than seventeen years
after this comment was printed.
X
"The inquiry is respectfully made"
said The Star of July %, 1887. whether
halfpast three o'clock
Washlngtons in the morning is not
Dark Streets. too early an hour for
the extinguishment of
street lamps. That is the time when
number were turned of this morning
and the darkness was quite as great then
as it had been at any time during the
night. It may be true that few people
are abroad on proper errands at that
particular hour. 1t is also true on the
other hand that most good people are
wrapped In sound Slumber at that hour
Yet these are just the reasons why the
street lamps should be kept lighted until
daylight.'