DEPARTMENT OF STREET CLEANING 507 



diseased. In most large cities a department of street cleaning not 

 only cares for the removal of dust from the streets, but also has the 

 removal of garbage, ashes, and other waste as a part of its work. 

 The disposal of solid wastes is a tremendous task. In Manhattan, 

 New York, the dry wastes are estimated to be 1,000,000 tons a year 

 in addition to about 175,000 tons of garbage. In some cities, such 

 as Minneapolis, garbage must be wrapped in paper. This aids 

 burning it in the city incinerator. In many cities the garbage is 

 removed in carts, and part of it is burned in huge furnaces. The 

 animal and plant refuse are sometimes cooked in great tanks, the 

 fats extracted from this material, and the solid matter sold for 

 fertilizer. Ashes are used in some places for filling marsh land. 

 Thus the removal of waste matter may pay for itself in a large 

 city. 



Practical Exercise 34. Report to the class on the conditions existing in your 

 community with reference to disposal of garbage, ashes, and other wastes. 

 What rules exist? Is the collection of garbage and ashes a city or private 

 function? What is done with reference to street cleaning? 



Self-Testing Exercise 



Check the correct statements for your workbook : 



T. F. 1. Some occupations, such as trades which have dust or 

 poisonous fumes, are dangerous. 



T. F. 2. Food supplies which are not packed in containers do not 

 need to be inspected. 



T. F. 3. The government inspects all food so there is no danger 

 to the consumer. 



T. F. 4. People could safely drink dilute sewage if it were first 

 filtered and chlorinated. 



T. F. 5. Pollution of our streams with sewage not only drives out 

 or kills the fish but makes the polluted stream a menace to health. 



T. F. 6. The best method of sewage disposal for large cities is 

 treating it with chemicals. 



PROBLEM XIV. WHAT PROTECTIVE HEALTH AGENCIES 

 SHOULD EXIST IN A COMMUNITY? 



Practical Exercise 35. Compare the functions of your local board of health 

 with those listed in the diagram on page 508. How many departments, if 

 any, has it? How large a community does it serve? How many board mem- 

 bers are there ? Are they paid or volunteer workers ? What work do they do ? 



