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occasion, viz., on the 14th February, 1876, when salt was strewed
by the Company on the Carriageway of High Street, between Oxford
Street and Denmark Street.
The use of Salt for dissolving Snow has given rise to considerable
discussion in the Metropolis, many persons alleging that it is
most injurious to the health of pedestrians, destructive to their
clothing, and detrimental to the hoofs of horses. These objections
if they exist, can, however, to a large degree be obviated by a discreet
use of the material. Salt was used on the paved Carriageways
in your District on several occasions during the past winter, and
except to those who actually saw it sprinkled, its use was hardly
suspected. The measures adopted were as follows:—The Salt was
spread very lightly over the Snow, and as soon as its effect began
to be apparent by the discolouration and partial dissolution of the
Snow, a time varying from 10 to 20 minutes, the Horse Sweeping
Machines were used to sweep the Snow on to the breasts of the
Carriageways, the Salt there completing its work without annoyance
or detriment to any one using the least ordinary care to avoid it.
This use of Salt, by reducing the bulk of the snow, saved considerable
labour and cartage, and consequent expense, and enabled
the Streets to be cleared in less time and at less expense than would
otherwise have been the case.
The cost of Street Cleansing from 25th March, 1875, to 25th
-March, 1876, was as follows.
For Street Orderlies, &c. £1,643 7 11
Amount paid to Contractors for removal of Slop, &c. 1,397 6 8
£3,040 14 7
To additional expense in the removal of Snow:—
Street Orderlies £18 1 10
Paviors' Labourers 90 3 2
Salt 8 0 0
Cartage 98 7 6
214 12 6
Total cost of Street Cleansing £3,255 7 1
Street Watering.
The Public Ways of the District were Watered under contract
from 1st March, 1875, to 1st October, 1875, at the following cost:—
To Contractor for hire of men, horses, carts, &c. £1,099 13 0
To cost of water, meter hire, repairs to stand
posts, &c. 296 3 3
Total £1,395 16 3