Mechanical Street-sweeping in London Boroughs.
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THE advantages of sweeping streets by mechanical means against handbroom or horse-drawn machine is fast being recognized by borough engineers. In the borough of Islington, with its 126 miles of busy streets, the usefulness of mechanical sweepers is fully recognized, as 500 miles of streets are swept by this
means four times a week by their Laffly machines. The saving effected is obvious from the fact that the cost is now 10s. Ski. as against 16s. 98. by other means.
The borough of Holborn, with its 24 miles of centrally situated streets, uses one Lacre machine, which works day
andnight for Six days per week. The life of a broom on this machine is 10 days. In considering the cost of this item, however, one has to remember that brooms used by hand sweepers wear out at an equally rapid rate. The petrol consumption on this machine is one gallon per 6.3 miles. The cost of the running is ill 5s. per week, working night and day for six days per week, and the cost per mile works out at is. 18. These results are certainly very satisfactory mid reflect credit on the Machine.
The borough of Deptford employs one Laffiy motor broom of 8-ft. sweep, which is found sufficient for their district. The working figureS of this machine for the six months from April to September, 1924, were as follow :— Total mileage ... 3,383 Number of possible work ing days ... ... 151 Number of days at work 134 Petrol consumption per
day (galls.) ... 2.S.4 Miles per gallon(petrol) 8.72 Cost per mile ... .. 1s. aid. Inclusive cost per day... £1 Sc. 10d. Cost per day (without wages) , I7s. lid.
Wages ... £82 7s. Petrol, oil and sundries 126 19s. 7d. Repairs and fittings ... 139 15s. id. Depreciation, licences, insurance and garage 188 16s. 68.
-Total Cost ... • £217 18s. 2d.