Municipal Cleansing by Motor
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THE commercial vehicle and appliance have conferred many benefits on the nation and on the individual, but in no direction have greater advantages accrued than in the different channels of municipal ad . ministration. This fact is clearly borne, out by the remarkable range of exhibits which is now on view at Olympia in connection with the International Conference on Public Cleansing.
The satisfactory execution of such tasks as refuse collection and disposal, street sweeping and cleansing and the emptying of gullies has a vital bearing on public health, and the efficiency with which municipal motors can undertake such duties is materially contributing to the solution of many problems of international importance.
During the past decade methods of collecting household and trade refuse have undergone marked changes, and, although many dissimilar systems have been devised, they all have as their primary object the more hygienic accomplishment of the work. Enclosed bodies are the order of the day, and in some cases, where special bins are used, it is impossible for dust to escape, whilst in others the special precautions taken to prevent currents of air from disturbing the refuse during loading minimize this risk.
Apart from this aspect, the work of the men engaged in such tasks has been made less -laborious by a general reduction in loading height, which enables the bins to be discharged at or below shoulder level. In addition, hygienic improvements effected in the design of the vehicles have brought about corresponding benefits in the conditions of working of the loaders.
Considerable ' advances have also been made in street sweeping and cleansing, and in certain types of sweeper and collector the difficult problem of preventing the brush from leaving a trail of dirt appears to have been overcome.
The mechanical gully emptier has also revolutionized another phase of municipal activity, and modern appliances overcome the drawbacks of the old system in which open horsed carts were used to convey the sludge after it had been manually extracted in ladles from the gullies.. Steam and petrol motors have not only greatly speeded-up this work, but have made it infinitely less objectionable to perform.
The display of vehicles and appliances arranged in connection with the Conference is fully representative of the industry's efforts to help in the solution of the -tasks of municipal cleansing officials, and in view of the continuous progress being made, we hope that it will he found possible to arrange for the event. to be held at regular intervals: