Municipal housecleaning : $b the methods and experiences of American cities in collecting and disposing of their municipal wastes—ashes, rubbish, garbage, manure, sewage, and street refuseCapes, William Parr
Science
Municipal housecleaning : $b the methods and experiences of American cities in collecting and disposing of their municipal wastes—ashes, rubbish, garbage, manure, sewage, and street refuse
Capes, William Parr
Refuse and refuse disposal
In Chicago an analysis was made of the character and percentage of waste
thrown about by pedestrians in the streets and by business houses in
densely populated sections of the city. It was found that a great
portion of the street dirt collected by street cleaners consisted of
waste paper and other light litter. The Chicago Civil Service Commission
in a special report says: “It would appear that with the cooperation of
merchants a considerable portion of such litter could be kept off the
streets and if street cleaners would patrol the street for loose paper
and deposit the same in the street dirt boxes provided at different
points along such streets, a great portion of the cleaning work would be
saved and the streets would generally appear cleaner. The litter of
streets in tenement and manufacturing districts is a matter which can be
greatly minimized by proper distribution of work and cooperation of the
street cleaning forces and residents. The quantity of street dirt
collected from the pavements in market places illustrates an instance
where pavements become unavoidably littered.”
Gustave H. Hanna, when head of the Cleveland Street Cleaning Department,
expressed the belief that nothing encourages carefulness on the part of
the public so much as efficient and careful cleaning. He argued that a
man does not hesitate to throw paper or rubbish into a foul street, but
thinks twice if the street is clean. If there is a waste box at hand
with a printed suggestion on the outside, Mr. Hanna thinks he is apt to
use the box.
The greatest source of expense comes from those who use the street as a
place of business, such as resorts of professional hucksters. Mr. Hanna
and others think it would be a small return for the permission of doing
business in these streets to require the hucksters to keep the
surroundings clean at their own expense under pain of arrest or
forfeiture of privilege.
In an effort to get the cooperation of the general public, Philadelphia
placed waste paper receptacles in prominent locations throughout the
city, such as two in every block in the principal business sections, in
front of school houses and entrances to business, elevated and subway
stations, etc. Circulars were sent to each householder throughout the
city containing information and instruction as to improving conditions
by using uniform and suitable receptacles.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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