MODERN METHODS OF STREET CLEANING 



for fifty miles along the New York shore and for seventy- 

 five miles along the New Jersey shore. It was recom- 

 mended, if sea dumping was to continue, that the refuse 

 be carried to sea in ocean-going vessels and cast over- 

 board at least one hundred miles away from the nearest 

 shore. 



Ashes are collected from the houses at varying inter- 

 vals, probably on an average of once a week. The 

 ashes weigh about 1000 pounds per cubic yard. The 

 ashes are almost exclusively the residue of coal. New 

 York is fortunate in being supplied largely with anthra- 

 cite. In 1906 the total quantity of ashes collected by 

 the Department of Street Cleaning in the whole city 

 of New York amounted to 3,755,047 cubic yards. The 

 ashes were, for the most part, hauled to the water- 

 front, tipped into barges, and taken away to fill low- 

 lying land. The same carts are used for collecting 

 ashes and garbage, but both are never collected at the 

 same time. 



The standard cart is a heavy metal vehicle of one and 



one-half cubic yards capacity, set high between two large 



wheels. It is provided with a canvas cover. 



Like most refuse carts, it is by no means well 



suited to its uses. It is too high, too heavy, and too 



small. It allows its contents to be blown out by 



winds and joggled out by the rough pavements. Its 



chief merit is durability. 



One man goes with each cart in the capacity of 

 driver. It is his business to take the receptacle in 

 which the refuse is placed from the sidewalk or area 

 in front of the house and empty it into the cart. Each 

 cart has a specific route which averages about one 

 mile in length. A few trips are first made for the col- 



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