Evening star., 1952-01-01
New Traffic Plan
Permits Test Of
Snow Removal
Clearance Program,
Equipment Adequate,
D. c. Officials Soy

In discussions resulting from
the traffic breakdown during I:
storm December IA, District au.
thoritieS maintained that tn,
snow removal program is ade.
quate. They blamed the traff1,
snarl on the fact the storm brok,
Unexpectedly during the work day
and thousands of workers were
excused from their jobs at a time
when transportation facilities were
inadequate.
Snow removal equipment coulc
not go into action because al
principal. streets were clogged
Such work as was done came after
the congestion cleared up. By
then, rain had begun to fall.
Present Program.
This is the District snow re.
moval program:
Whenever winter weather is
threatening, equipment is mobil.
lied and crews stand by, prepared
for action.
This work is supervised by Will
ham A. Xanten, superintendent
OF the sanitation division. Dis
trict-owned trucks and equipment
are supplemented by equipment
from the Capital Transit Co. and
the National Capital Parks agency
Mr.. Xanten's forces have al
their disposal about 70 trucks fol
sanding and sailing, 100 plows and
enough men to handle them. This
is estimated to be sufficient to take
care of 140 miles of the principal
streets unless the snowfall should
exceed II inches. In that case
the crews would concentrate or
120 miles of streets.
Mr.. Xanten estimated his
trucks can do a complete sanding
job in about four hours.
Limited Use of Salt.
Salt is used on some asphalt
streets, but not near trolley lines
that have a third Underground
power rail. Short circuits and
damage to the transportation serv-
ice result when salt gets into the
power rail. Engineers say salt
also causes fresh" concrete to de-
teriorate. (Fresh concrete is that
put down within the asst few
years.O
Mr.. Xanten said the public err
roneously believes salt on the road
causes serious damage to automo-
bileS. He said 1t is paradoxical
fact that a light film of salt, such
as that deposited by seaside
breezeS. is more damaging than
heavy concentrations.
When snow begins to fall, the
District forces start their sanding
and sailing operations on principal
thoroughfares, provided the streets
are not blocked by traffic. Plows
are not brought into action unless
and until the snow falls to a
depth of inches. This is general
practice. Engineers say it is USE
less to begin scraping as soon as
a storm begins.
The objective in the snow emer-
gency traffic plan is % to move
people on dry pavements before
snow begins to fall, if the snow
forecast is received in time, and
(2) to postpone their movement
over streets covered by ice or snow
until the anding-salting opera
tions are accomplished.
Day Storms More Troublesome.
The operations are always more
difficult if storms break during
daylight hours or the normal
working period. On January "a,
1948, eight inches of snow fell at
night. Mr.. Xanten said his crews
did satisfactory job making the
streets passable for traffic the next
day.
Last year, the snow removal
crews were out 20 times. Most of
the storms broke at night. Mr..
Xanten said relatively little in
convenience resulted, although
any snow storm is bound to cause
some delays.
The December IA snow began
falling during the day. BY early
afternoon, Government agencies
closed to release their employees.
The streets were clogged before
they were sanded and before extra
transportation could be provided.
Mr.. Xanten said the great in
crease in the number of privately
owned automobiles means citizens
will have to do more and more to
help relieve the situation. He de-
clared no government can spread
enough sand to take care Of all q
city'S needs under all conditions
The problem has become one for
the entire community, he said. sc
that if the job is to be done COM
pletely, citizens will have to heir
sand some streets and sidewalks
too
Shovel Crews Important.
The District uses street sweepers
to help clear the principal inter-
section croSSwalks.
Shovel crews are called out tt
help open the main business
streets. Such crews were usec
after the December IA storm tc
remove slush in the downtown Sec
ton. Despite theories to the con.
trary. Mr.. Xanten said, shovelin.
is the only answer under certain
conditions.
Mr.. xanten said Washington /.
better equipped for snow emer.
gencies than Baltimore and han.
died its situation in December
better than did Philadelphia.
In the District, the crews spread
$500 tons of sand on lao miles o.
street, in addition to about foul
carloads Of chemicals, which melt.
ed snow and helped provide
traction.
Heads Fraternity