Evening star., 1953-11-26
Xanten Cites
immensely Of
Snowstorm Job
Sanitation Chief
Gives Reasons for
Possible Tie-Ups

VSStDiS tSOPS
District Sanitation Supt. Will
liam A. Xanten today admitted
there isn't much the city can do
to keep traffic moving when a
heavy snow falls.
He asked for tolerance from
citizens who always demand the
streets be cleared of snow i'm
mediately. He also presented
what probably is the longest
documented alibi on record to
explain why it isn't done.
There apparently is consider
able misunderstanding among
many citizens of large metro
politan areas regarding the
potential ability Of existing snow
fighting forces and equipment to
maintain traffic flow during time
of snow," Mr.. Xanten said.
Immense Problem.
"Such a situation presents a
problem of such magnitude that
it is physically impossible for
municipalities to prevent occur
renee of serious traffic tie-ups."
Mr.. Xanten pointed out that
Washington hasn't had a severe
blizzard for many years. He
declared:
"Under present-day traffic
conditions, such a storm could
prove disastrous without the
utmost cooperation on the part
of all users of the public highway
system"
Mr.. Xanten said that. to
prevent such a disaster-and to
alleviate traffic tie-ups during
any snow fall-all non-eSsential
traffic should refrain from "try-
ing to make it. Those who must
travel should be properly
equipped to do so without
anticipating assistance from
public agencies. none of which
are physically able to cope with
the overall situation"
Action Planned.
Mr.. Xanten said the snow pro-
gram of the District contem-
plates four definite actions. They
are:
/. The plowing of snow from
main thoroughfares, totaling 342
miles Of streets.
2. The actual removal by haul
ing of snow in the major busi-
ness areas only. This is about
80 miles of streets.
8. The progressive opening of
crosswalks, catch basins and fire
hydrants, all by hand.
4. The spreading of sand and
chemicals on the most important
hills and intersections.
Estimates Travel.
To show what the city faced
in case of snow. Mr.. Zanten said
the 160 snow plows available
would have to travel $500 miles
to clear the entire 342 miles of
arterial streets just once. He
added:
I'm the event of a 10-inch
snow falling at the rate of l inch
an hour and based on the esti-
mate that each route is covered
once every two hours, it would
be necessary for the plows to
travel 1880 miles during the
10-hour period"
If the snowfall is more than
IL inches, this plowing is done
on only 122 miles of arterial
highways, Mr.. Xanten said.
AS for the hauling of snow
from business areas, Mr.. Xanten
said that same 10-inch snow
would dump the equivalent of
$4,000 truck loads on the 33 miles
of streets in those sections. 1t
would cost 100000, he esti-
mated, for hauling alone.
Mr.. Xanten said salt is not
spread on many streets of the
District because its use results
in the short-circuiting of the
underground third rail of the
streetcars. No attempt is ever
made to clear sidewalks, he
added.
Some Face Fines.
He pointed out that, if a snow
emergency is declared, motorists
who stall on arterial streets be-
cause they lack chains or snow
tires are subject to fine.
A heavy snow calls into action
the forces of the District govern
ment, Capital Transit Co. (Which
sands it's bus routes and scrapes
streetcar tracks,, the National
Capital Parks Office, the Army
Engineers and private contrac-
tors, he said.
Mr.. Xanten's 13-page docu-
ment outlining his snow troubles
declared:
"It is highly desirable that this
problem be considered as realis-
tically as possible by the general
public and others. The purpose
of this communication is to
earnestly solicit such under
standing and cooperation.