MODERN METHODS OF STREET CLEANING 



city of London the discharge at the nozzle averages 

 80^ imperial gallons per minute. Much skill is used 

 in handling the hose and the man at the nozzle re- 

 ceives more pay than the other workmen of his 

 grade. 



The stream is always directed well ahead and straight 

 toward the material to be removed, the idea being to 

 use the water less to lubricate than to sweep the dirt 

 away. The lubrication is always very thorough 

 and was done by sprinkling carts in advance. This 

 preliminary wetting or flooding is in reality the secret 

 of the art of successful flushing. 



Where the pavement is not perfectly smooth or 

 economy has to be practiced in the use of the water, 

 the flushing is assisted by men with brooms and squee- 

 gees. One man at the nozzle and two with squeegees 

 can clean a mile of asphalt or wood pavement in about 

 five hours. In the city of London on streets which 

 are flushed every night the work is much more rapid. 



As the methods of street cleaning differ in different 

 cities, so there is great diversity among 



Plant and 



Equipment the types of apparatus employed. 



No automatic flushing-machines seem to be 

 used. Motor-propelled water wagons of large capacity 

 are in use in London and Berlin. The best forms of 

 apparatus for street cleaning are, aside from the mo- 

 tors, simple in construction and designed with careful 

 regard to convenience, efficiency, and durability. 



In Antwerp there is a machine which sprinkles the 

 street, sweeps it, picks up the refuse and carries it 

 away. Considering the unavoidably complicated nature 

 of this machine and its weight, it appears to be fairly 

 satisfactory. No mechanical sweepers can, entirely dis- 



48 



