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
Bulletins and letters of information were distributed among business and
civic associations. The officials learned that one of the most effective
methods in reaching the householder is through the women’s
organizations. A woman inspector was appointed to keep in touch with the
activities of the women’s clubs and to secure their cooperation. This
inspector during the year gave over two hundred lectures to various
organizations and enlisted the cooperation of householders, women and
children in connection with preventive street cleaning measures. To the
housekeeper it was shown how vital is her part in an efficient
collection of all waste. Children were impressed with their duties as
citizens, and to them was given an opportunity to demonstrate their
knowledge in the home, school and on the street. As a reward of such
activity 5,000 buttons were distributed in six months. Twenty thousand
folders for children and adults relating to the care of streets and the
collection of waste were also put into circulation.
Former Street Cleaning Commissioner William H. Edwards, of New York,
says that four kinds of cooperation are needed by street cleaning
departments:
(1) “Cooperation with the force by showing a human interest in the work
of the men. This can be done by establishing a pension fund so that when
a man has served faithfully for twenty years and has reached the age of
60 or has become incapacitated after he has served ten years, or is
injured in the performance of his duty at any time after service has
begun so that he is disabled for future service, he can be retired on
half pay. This instills in men a keen desire to do better work and
permits the Commissioner to retire men who are no longer able to do good
work. The danger of street sweepers in busy streets is apparent to any
one. More than 2,500 accidents resulting in death or personal injury or
damage to property occurred in one year in connection with the New York
City Department’s activities. The percentage of killed in the street
cleaning force was considerably higher than that in the police force.
(2) “Cooperation of women in the communities in New York. The Women’s
Municipal League and other bodies have cooperated with the department.
Every year they offer a medal to the sweeper, driver or foreman who does
the best all around work.
(3) “Cooperation with citizens. Carelessness up to the present time has
added to the work and expense and has been an obstacle to real
cleanliness. It must be remembered that before the sweeper can begin
that part of the work which is beyond prevention, he must remove the
litter carelessly thrown on the street.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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