Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-16
Snow Removal
Pact Aids City,
Transit Firm

A basic difference In snow re-
moval contracts between the Dis
ltrict government and the old and
new transit companies was hailed
yesterday as a major boon to
both. the city and to D. c. Transit
System, Inc.
Under the contract signed FRI
day. said one city neeotiator.
"We1l get more service and
they'll get more money"
The contracts with the old
Capital Transit Co. provided
for the city to pay about SIS. 900
q year for use Of big company
trucks rugged to operate as sand
and salt spreaders. The con-
tracts. however, had q cutoff on
the amount Of money which
could be spent on labor.
Since the company was losing
money on the deal anyway. it
was pointed out, the longer the
equipment operated, the more
the company lost.
SIS an Hour for Each Truck
Under the new contract.
though, the city will pay SIS an
hour for each truck until stSed
up to 100 hours Of snow removal
work. whether for spreading
abrasives or for blowing. After
that the rate will drop to $40 an
hour per unit.
Thus, the negotiator said, the
company will be working longer
and harder in attempting to run
the time up to at least 100 hours.
For the last three years. he
said. the old transit company did
an average Of only a hours
work q winter, as compared to
about 100 put in by city sanding
and sailing crews. Thus. COM
Ipany crews worked only long
enough to see that major "pri-
ority" routes were clear, and
then quit, leaving city govern
ment teams to work alone on
side streets and low priority
routes.
Contract Explained
The new contract also win
provide for the first time that
company crews will perform as
required by the city official in
charge Of snow removal. VIII
liam A. Xanten. superintendent
of sanitation. who said he plans
to make some changes in oper-
alton Of the program.
The new contract provides the
city will pay fiat sum of $500
to the company on demand to
cover fixed charges. such as in
surance on the trucks and the
cost Of keeping radio telephones
in them.
The $l5-an-hour- per-unit pay
ment will cover costs Of labor.
supervision, storage for the feet
(which stands idle in good
weather. and maintenance, as
well as all other intangibIes such
as "know-how."
The last major element Of the
contract calls for the city to buy
all sand and salt used, without
any allowance for handling and
storage by the company.
Figure Called Too High
D. c. Transit had asked orig
linally for a contract to cost the
District $4,000, out Of a total
appropriation Of $149, 900, includ-
ing $4,000 for equipment pur-
chases. The asking price dropped
to $4,000 during negotiations, at
which point Engineer Commits
sioner Thomas A. Lane termi-
mated them Monday. He con-
tended the company figure was
too high.
I o. Roy Chalk. new owner Of
the transit company, called Gen.
Lane. however. and offered to
resume talks, later agreeing to a
deal in the neighborhood Of
$4,000. The contract finally
agreed upon will give the COM
pany $4,000 for 100 hours Of
work, with another $4,000 cost
to the city for materials. A So
hour winter, though. would cut
the company fee to $l4,750.
The District negotiators also
got into the contract a statement
that the company was to be paid
for services in the interest
OF the general public. and not
compensation for work per-
formed by the transit system in
its own special interest"
Qualification Sought
Mr.. Xanten said the city plans
to ask Congress for Qualification
OF the obligation OF private in
terests to help themselves in
event Of winter emergencies.
Mr.. Chalk's congressional fran
chise exempted his company
from costs Of helping In snow
removal. except to keep streetcar
tracks swept clean. He and
Morris Fox. FIRST vice president.
consequently argued that It was
up TO the city to door pay for
all snow removal. Mr., Fox
even threatened to hold the city
Responsible for loss Of revenues
and damages aecruinR from said
failure TO sand, salt and remove
said ar0ur -