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GREATER CLEANLINESS IN A YORKSHIRE TOWN.

15th June 1926, Page 39
15th June 1926
Page 39
Page 40
Page 39, 15th June 1926 — GREATER CLEANLINESS IN A YORKSHIRE TOWN.
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The Introduction of Modern Appliances and the Removal of Tram Lines has Meant an Improvement in Sanitary Conditions.

Pir HE sanitary department of the

Keighley Corporation, which serves the needs of over 42,000 persons, provides one of the many examples of the introdue.tioa of mechanical power against horse-power which is typical of many throughout the country. The horse has already been almost eliminated. and in its place has been put the mechanically propelled vehicle. Ease of transport has not been the only advantage gained by the change, however, and it is undeniable that in many departments the work is being carried out much more hygienically than hitherto. For instance, the introduction of the steam gully emptier, with the suction apparatus to lift the sludge, provides a means for working which was impossible until some method of applying more than man or horse-power was available. Further, the motor road sweeper and collector provides a means for picking up the objectionable refuse which was left on the roadside to be the sport of the wind until such times as it was convenient to bring other vehicles to carry it away. Changing values make it impossible to contrast the saving in cost, but not only has there been a saving per ton, but the work is more efficiently carried out and less objectionable ter those con

cerned in the work itself and to the public generally.

The equipment of the sanitary department, which is under the direction of Mr. John Foy, the sanitary inspector and cleansing superintendent, comprises four 1-ton Ford wagons and two 2-ton Vulcan wagons used for refuse collection, in conjunction with two horses. In contrast with this was a fleet of wagons and 12 horses in 1919. The .staff comprises six motor drivers, two horse drivers, and 12 collectors, and, although on the ground of economy it is held in some quarters that the horse is still supreme in so far as short journeys with many stops are concerned, the work of the sanitary department at Keighley is much more efficiently carried out than it was in the old horse days, because of the rapidity with which the motor vehicle can deposit its load. The loaders are kept much more steadily at work than they were when horses had to make the journey to the tip. The department selected 1-ton vehicles when motors were introduced at first, but this has not been found to be so satisfactory in working as the adoption of larger vehicles, which have been introduced since, the larger vehicles allowing three loaders to be employed, with a consequent speeding up of collection.

The vehicles work in pairs and cover certain districts every day, this allow ing the whole of the town to be covered in a week. The bulk of the work is the weekly house-to-house collection of dry ashes and other refuse, but there is also a semi-weekly collection in some parts of the town and a daily collection from trade premises. The town has not a refuse destructor, but. everything is taken to a tip some distance from the centre of the town, and the rounds are arranged to provide work for two vehicles to work together. One is filling while the other is away at the tip, and in the work of clearing and filling the driver of each vehicle ;takes his part, but the men Who are engaged in filling do not go to the tip. Usually the minty vehicle is back from the tip in readiness for the men when the other vehicle is ready to depart. Thus a continuous service is kept up.

This could seldom be arranged with the horse vehicles, however, and it is much better to employ motors for collection in those districts which are some distance from the tip, owing to the greater speed of the motors.

The collection averages 30 to 35 tons per day, but attempts are being made to impress householders with the importance of reducing refuse as much as possible, and Mr. Foy estimates that it would easily be possible for householders to effect a saving .equivalent to a rate of 2d. in the pound if they would burn:in the houses asonuch combustible refuse as possible. The current year's estimate for refuse collection is £4,898, and the charge on the rates for street scavenging is estimated at £2,226.

In connection with the substitution of selfless traction for tramways, the streets of Keighley have been very much improved within the past two years, and the street-cleansing work has been rendered very much easier on account of the improved road surfaces. A short time ago a Kessler street sweeper was purchased, and this has enabled more work to be done than was possible in the past. 'The had roads which were in existence before the abolition of the tram rails made it impossible to carry out the work efficiently by mechanical means, and it had to be confined to street gangs. With the Karrier the sweeping has been considerably extended, and it is now possible to cleanse streets regularly which previously were seldom touched, and this must be to the benefit of the health of the town.

Mr. Foy lays stress upon the advantage of good roads in so far as street scavenging is concerned, mid points out that the roads of to-day, where the surface is in good condition, are infinitely cleaner than they were when the surface was uneven and the number of horses in use much larger than to-day. Along the roads with smooth asphalt surfaces, after the removal of horse droppings by street orderlies, it is only necessary for the mechanical sweeper to pass down each side, hence a material saving in time.

The Yorkshire gully emptier has given entire satisfaction, and the advantage of the suction_ method a dealing with the refuse against methods which mean stirring up distasteful smells is spoken of very highly. The whole of the town, with the exception of a few inaccessible gullies, is now cleared by the machine, which draws the filth into a closed tank, seals the gully with clean water, and takes away the refuse. The machine can also be used for sprinkling roads or washing streets with a deluge which flushes away all grease in wet weather.

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People: John Foy
Locations: YORKSHIRE TOWN

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