Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1915 — Inspected Street Flushing Wagons in Use in Chicago. [ARTICLE]

Inspected Street Flushing Wagons in Use in Chicago.

H. R. Wood, df the city council, and J. J. Montgomery, of the Retail Merchants’ Association, spent Friday in Chicago investigating the wagons which are used to flush the paved streets in the city. Those engaged in their use stated that they were the only thing and .would keep the paved streets entirely clean. The power for the flushing is air pressure, which does not have to be refilled after the first filling of the season. The representatives came home very enthusiastic about the outfit and will recommend its purchase to the city. The value of having the city fire team at or near the engine house was fully demonstrated Friday when prompt response saved the house of Leo Reeve from destruction. Had a delay of 10 or 15 minutes resulted as would have been the case if the team had been some distance from the engine house, it is probable that the. house and contents would have been destroyed, as it. was the loss was adjusted for SBS, of which S6O was for the house damage and $25 for the contents. It is probable that the flushing system can not be used off of the paved streets and business houses that are not on the brick streets will have to be provided for in some other manner if the flushing outfit is purchased. It is proposed to do this by oiling or providing other method of sprinkling. Dunlap & Crisler, who own the sprinkling outfit that has been used here for a number of years, believe they are deserving of some consideration. They had contracts for sprinkling last summer but the fact that Washington street was torn up for a long time while in the course of paving, almost put them out of business, although they faithfully operated on the other streets during the season. They believe it is hardly fair for the city to put them entirely out of business. Their claim is deserving of consideration by the council and the merchants..

It is a very sure thing that to give the brick streets a good appearance will require frequent cleaning and that the flushing system is the only one that seems adequate. It is also certain that as a protection against fire the fire team should be kept within easy reach of the engine house. It is also necessary that a systematic collection of garbage from the business district be provided and that there be some sure method of having rubbish and garbage collected from the residence district when persons desire it. The Republican has always believed that the best way to do all of these things is from the general treasury and by general taxation. Then each person pays a fair proportion of the cost. The city, however, has been hard hit by recent improvements and although taxes are high, not enough is provided to do everything just as we would desire and the plan hit upon by the" merchants seems liekly to solve the question for this year at least and possibly by another year the additional expense may be provided for in an adjustment of the tax rate.