the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第37节
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of the city were delighted with the cleanliness of the pavement that
surrounded the market； it being a convenience to all； and this rais'd a
general desire to have all the streets paved； and made the people more
willing to submit to a tax for that purpose。
After some time I drew a bill for paving the city； and brought it into
the Assembly。 It was just before I went to England； in 1757； and did not
pass till I was gone。 and then with an alteration in the mode of
assessment； which I thought not for the better； but with an additional
provision for lighting as well as paving the streets； which was a great
improvement。 It was by a private person； the late Mr。 John Clifton； his
giving a sample of the utility of lamps； by placing one at his door； that the
people were first impress'd with the idea of enlighting all the city。 The
honour of this public benefit has also been ascrib'd to me but it belongs
truly to that gentleman。 I did but follow his example； and have only some
merit to claim respecting the form of our lamps； as differing from the
globe lamps we were at first supply'd with from London。 Those we found
inconvenient in these respects： they admitted no air below； the smoke；
therefore； did not readily go out above； but circulated in the globe； lodg'd
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on its inside； and soon obstructed the light they were intended to afford；
giving； besides； the daily trouble of wiping them clean； and an accidental
stroke on one of them would demolish it； and render it totally useless。 I
therefore suggested the composing them of four flat panes； with a long
funnel above to draw up the smoke； and crevices admitting air below； to
facilitate the ascent of the smoke； by this means they were kept clean； and
did not grow dark in a few hours； as the London lamps do； but continu'd
bright till morning； and an accidental stroke would generally break but a
single pane； easily repair'd。
See votes。
I have sometimes wonder'd that the Londoners did not； from the effect
holes in the bottom of the globe lamps us'd at Vauxhall have in keeping
them clean； learn to have such holes in their street lamps。 But； these holes
being made for another purpose； viz。； to communicate flame more
suddenly to the wick by a little flax hanging down thro' them； the other use；
of letting in air； seems not to have been thought of； and therefore； after the
lamps have been lit a few hours； the streets of London are very poorly
illuminated。
The mention of these improvements puts me in mind of one I propos'd；
when in London； to Dr。 Fothergill； who was among the best men I have
known； and a great promoter of useful projects。 I had observ'd that the
streets； when dry； were never swept； and the light dust carried away； but it
was suffer'd to accumulate till wet weather reduc'd it to mud； and then；
after lying some days so deep on the pavement that there was no crossing
but in paths kept clean by poor people with brooms； it was with great
labour rak'd together and thrown up into carts open above； the sides of
which suffer'd some of the slush at every jolt on the pavement to shake out
and fall； sometimes to the annoyance of foot…passengers。 The reason given
for not sweeping the dusty streets was； that the dust would fly into the
windows of shops and houses。
An accidental occurrence had instructed me how much sweeping
might be done in a little time。 I found at my door in Craven…street； one
morning； a poor woman sweeping my pavement with a birch broom； she
appeared very pale and feeble； as just come out of a fit of sickness。 I ask'd
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who employ'd her to sweep there； she said； 〃Nobody； but I am very poor
and in distress； and I sweeps before gentlefolkses doors； and hopes they
will give me something。〃 I bid her sweep the whole street clean； and I
would give her a shilling； this was at nine o'clock； at 12 she came for the
shilling。 From the slowness I saw at first in her working； I could scarce
believe that the work was done so soon； and sent my servant to examine it；
who reported that the whole street was swept perfectly clean； and all the
dust plac'd in the gutter； which was in the middle； and the next rain wash'd
it quite away； so that the pavement and even the kennel were perfectly
clean。
I then judg'd that； if that feeble woman could sweep such a street in
three hours； a strong； active man might have done it in half the time。 And
here let me remark the convenience of having but one gutter in such a
narrow street； running down its middle； instead of two； one on each side；
near the footway； for where all the rain that falls on a street runs from the
sides and meets in the middle； it forms there a current strong enough to
wash away all the mud it meets with； but when divided into two channels；
it is often too weak to cleanse either； and only makes the mud it finds
more fluid； so that the wheels of carriages and feet of horses throw and
dash it upon the foot…pavement； which is thereby rendered foul and
slippery； and sometimes splash it upon those who are walking。 My
proposal； communicated to the good doctor； was as follows：
〃For the more effectual cleaning and keeping clean the streets of
London and Westminster； it is proposed that the several watchmen be
contracted with to have the dust swept up in dry seasons； and the mud
rak'd up at other times； each in the several streets and lanes of his round；
that they be furnish'd with brooms and other proper instruments for these
purposes； to be kept at their respective stands； ready to furnish the poor
people they may employ in the service。
〃That in the dry summer months the dust be all swept up into heaps at
proper distances； before the shops and windows of houses are usually
opened； when the scavengers； with close…covered carts； shall also carry it
all away。
〃That the mud； when rak'd up； be not left in heaps to be spread abroad
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again by the wheels of carriages and trampling of horses； but that the
scavengers be provided with bodies of carts； not plac'd high upon wheels；
but low upon sliders； with lattice bottoms； which； being cover'd with straw；
will retain the mud thrown into them； and permit the water to drain from it；
whereby it will become much lighter； water making the greatest part of its
weight； these bodies of carts to be plac'd at convenient distances； and the
mud brought to them in wheel…barrows； they remaining where plac'd till
the mud is drain'd； and then horses brought to draw them away。〃
I have since had doubts of the practicability of the latter part of this
proposal； on account of the narrowness of some streets； and the difficulty
of placing the draining…sleds so as not to encumber too much the passage；
but I am still of opinion that the former； requiring the dust to be swept up
and carry'd away before the shops are open； is very practicable in the
summer； when the days are long； for； in walking thro' the Strand and Fleet…
street one morning at seven o'clock； I observ'd there was not one shop
open； tho' it had been daylight and the sun up above three hours； the
inhabitants of London chusing voluntarily to live much by candle…light；
and sleep by sunshine； and yet often complain； a little absurdly； of the duty
on candles and the high price of tallow。
Some may think these trifling matters not worth minding or relating；
but when they consider that tho' dust blown into the eyes of a single
person； or into a single shop on a windy day； is but of small importance；
yet the great number of the instances in a populous city； and its frequent
repetitions give it wei
