The main question, therefore, is, what is the difference in the cost of the two systems, and is the admitted “superior cleanliness” produced by the continuous mode of scavaging, in comparison with that obtained by the intermittent mode, of sufficient public value to warrant the increased expense (if any)—in a word, as the City people say—is it worth the money?
First, as to the comparative cost of the two systems: after a statement of the contracts for the dusting and cleansing of the City (matters I have before treated of) Mr. Haywood, for the purpose of making a comparison of the present City system of scavaging with the street-orderly system, gives the table in the opposite page to show the cost of street cleansing and dusting within the jurisdiction of the City Court of Sewers.
Mr. Haywood then invites attention to the subjoined statement of the National Philanthropic Association, on the occurrence of a demonstration as to the efficiency and economy of the street-orderly system.
“Association for the Promotion of Street Paving, Cleansing, Draining, &c., 20, Vere Street, Oxford Street, January 26th, 1846.
“Approximation to the total Expenses connected with cleansing, as an experiment, certain parts of the City of London, commencing December, 1845, for the period of two months.
| £. | s. | d. | |
| “350 brooms, being an average of 5 brooms for each man | 23 | 18 | 10 |
| For carting | 99 | 1 | 9 |
| For advertising | 65 | 0 | 0 |
| For rent of store-room, 3l. 14s.; Clerks’ salaries, 12l.; Messengers, 5l. 5s.; wooden clogs for men, 2l. 5s. 10d.; expenses of washing wood pavement, 5l. | 28 | 4 | 10 |
| Expenses of barrows | 24 | 14 | 0 |
| Christmas dinner to men, foremen, and superintendents (97) | 15 | 12 | 6 |
| 83 men (averaging at 2s. 6d. per day) for 9 weeks | 573 | 15 | 0 |
| 4 superintendents at 25s. 4d., foreman at 18s., cart foreman 20s., storekeeper 18s., chief superintendents 2l., for 9 weeks | 112 | 10 | 0 |
| For various small articles, brushes, rakes, &c. | 36 | 7 | 8 |
| Petty expenses of the office, postages, &c., and stationery | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Approximation to the total cost of the expense | £987 | 4 | 7 |
Signed, M. Davies, Secretary.”
“I will now,” says Mr. Haywood, “without further present reference to the Report of the Association, proceed to form an estimate of the expenses of the system as they would have been if it had been extended to the whole City, and which estimate will be based upon the information as to the expenses of the system, furnished by the experiment or demonstration made by the Association within your jurisdiction.
TABLE SHOWING THE COST OF STREET CLEANSING AND DUSTING WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY COURT OF SEWERS.
| Date. | Mode of Contracting, whether Contracts for Dusting and Scavenging were let separately or together. | Leading or Principal feature in the Regulations for the Dusting and Cleansing. | Sum paid for Scavenging and Dusting, or for Scavenging only during the year. | Sum received by Commission for the Sale of Dust when the Contracts were let separately. | Total Disbursements by the Commission for Scavenging and Dusting. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | |||
| Year ending Michaelmas, 1841 | separately | Main streets of largest traffic running east and west cleansed daily, other principal streets every other day, the whole of the remainder of the public ways twice a week; dust to be removed at least twice a week. | 4590 | 6 | 0 | Amounts paid and received are balanced | 4590 | 6 | 0 | ||
| „ 1842 | separately | 3633 | 7 | 0 | 3633 | 17 | 0 | ||||
| „ 1843 | together | 2084 | 4 | 6 | 2084 | 4 | 6 | ||||
| Average per Annum for 3 Years. | 3436 | 2 | 6 | ||||||||
| „ 1844 | separately | Main line of streets cleansed daily, other principal streets every other day, and all other place twice in every week; dust to be removed at least twice a week. | 3826 | 12 | 6 | Amounts paid and received are balanced | 3826 | 12 | 6 | ||
| „ 1845 | separately | 2033 | 2 | 0 | 2833 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Average per Annum of the 2 Years. | 3329 | 17 | 3 | ||||||||
| „ 1846 | separately | Daily cleansing throughout every public way of every description; dust to be removed twice a week. | 6034 | 6 | 0 | 1354 | 5 | 0 | 4680 | 1 | 0 |
| „ 1847 | separately | 8014 | 2 | 0 | 4455 | 5 | 0 | 3558 | 17 | 0 | |
| „ 1848 | separately | 7226 | 1 | 6 | 1328 | 15 | 0 | 5897 | 6 | 6 | |
| „ 1849 | together | 7486 | 11 | 6 | 7486 | 11 | 6 | ||||
| „ 1850 | together | 6779 | 16 | 0 | 6779 | 16 | 0 | ||||
| „ 1851 | together | 6328 | 17 | 0 | 6328 | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Average per Annum of the last 6 Years. | 5788 | 11 | 6 | ||||||||