EUROPEAN METHODS OF STREET CLEANING 



Wherever the streets of European cities are well 

 cleaned the pavements are in good repair. It is recog- 

 nized by the authorities that not only is the character 

 cost of clcanin- dependent upon the condition "^ a ^ i f oa 

 of i he pavements, but it is appreciated that it Pavement 

 is quite impossible to keep bad pavements clean. 



The nature of the pavements has much to do with the 

 way in which they are cleansed. In practically all 

 cities, a considerable use is made of asphalt in the 

 busiest streets. Asphalt is regarded with the greatest 

 favor where there is much light traffic and where pedes- 

 trians must occupy the carriageways either because 

 they are crowded from the sidewalks, as is frequently 

 the case, or for other reasons. 



Asphalt is considered to be the easiest pavement to 

 clean, but requires the largest amount of cleaning to 

 keep it looking well. There is little asphalt in such 

 poor repair as is common on some of the principal 

 streets of New York. 



Wood pavement, composed of soft wood, is much 

 employed in England and, to some extent, in Paris, 

 but wood is not as popular as asphalt or stone. Wood 

 is used extensively in the city of Westminster, one of 

 the component municipalities of London. Hard-wood 

 pavements are less popular. 



Where wooden pavements existed in 1907 they were 

 generally in excellent condition. The Avenue de 1'Opera 

 in Paris was a notable exception to this rule. The 

 defects in the pavement of the Avenue de I'Opeva, one 

 of the most frequented and fashionable highways in the 

 city, consisted in innumerable small depressions; these 

 hindered the work of cleaning and interfered with the 

 smooth running of vehicles. 



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