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Show seriously traffic hazards during rush hours, the plans for battling Old Man Winter must be mapped out well in advance of his attack. The preparations made by the department for "Operation Snow Removal" are somewhat similar to the planning involved in a military campaign in which men, equipment and supplies must all be ready to move into action at a moment's notice. During August and September the blacksmith and welding shops at the city yard begin the job of checking and repairing snow removal equipment, which consists of the following items: 18 snow plows, 5 diesel motor graders, 4 army half-tracks with snow plows attached, 2 Athey snow loaders, 1 Pettibone snow loader, 7 yard rubber tired frontend loaders, 25 dump trucks (various sizes). The workmen in these shops have instructions to replace any broken parts, supply new chains and blades, repair hydraulic systems, etc. Inasmuch as snow plow blades are subject to much wear and tear, a supply of extra blades is kept on hand. Some of the trucks which have been used for other purposes in the summer and fall are converted con-verted into snow plows by the attachment of special frames and plows. The frames are put on as early as possible in the fall, but the plows are not attached until the first snowfall, thus these trucks can be kept in operation on other jobs in the meantime. S. L. Street Department Commended For Excellent Snow Removal Job Salt Lake City's Department of Streets and Public Improvements Improve-ments this week drew commendation commen-dation for the excellent manner in which it has kept the city's more than 410 miles of streets free of snow and ice. Commissioner Joe L. Christen-sen Christen-sen noted that thus far for a very mild winter, the department has spent $25,000 for salt and sand to use in the program. He said that snow removal crews have been called out 15 times this year. of the year. In the spring, the emphasis is on clean-up work the patching and maintenance of roads, attending to drainage, etc. During the summer months, the crews rush work on the construction con-struction and repair of streets, sidewalks and storm sewers. In the fall the removal of tons of leaves from the city's streets presents a major problem, for unless gutters and intakes are cleared before the onset of the wet weather, clogged drains result re-sult in flooding at intersections. Patching on streets and other road work is also continued as long as weather permits. Winter brings no respite from work, for the first snow storms mark the begining of another phase of the beginning of another phase of the year's work. Since the street department is responsible for such a variety of jobs to be done, it is necessary that men and equipment be able to serve in more than one capacity. capa-city. Trucks which haul rubbish or leaves at one season of the year may also be used for sand and gravel, dirt or asphalt at another time, and then serve for hauling snow or sand and salt during the winter. The huge diesel motor graders which are used in road construction construc-tion during the summer months are also used to plow the downtown down-town streets of Salt Lake City during the winter. The yard rubber tired front end loaders which load dirt and rubbish in the summer are used for loading leaves in the fall and snow in the winter. Another of the machines is used to load salt and sand. The same men who serve as construction and district foremen during the rest of the year each have special duties in connection with the winter program of the Department. Since a heavy snowfall snow-fall in any large city is likely to bring traffic to a standstill and even a light powdering of snow in freezing weather can result in He also cited the city's "good relationship" with the Salt Lake City Lines which maintains two sanding trucks. The City Lines trucks work in conjunction with city sanding and salting crews to eliminate duplication of effort. ef-fort. The City Street Department pays for the salt and sand. When a heavy snowfall blankets blan-kets the city the foreman at the city shops has authority to call in all the crewmen he needs. The department works in conjunction conjunc-tion with the State Road Commission, Com-mission, which has charge of snow removal on certain streets in the city. In a recent report on the de-I de-I partment's operations Mr. Chris-tensen Chris-tensen noted the following facts: According to the latest tabulation, tabula-tion, Salt Lake City now occupies occu-pies an area of some 54 square miles, in which the 275 employees em-ployees of the department are responsible for more than 410 miles of roads. New road construction con-struction and major street repairs re-pairs anywhere in the city are done under the supervision of a construction engineer and foreman. fore-man. For purposes of minor construction, con-struction, repair and maintenance mainten-ance of roads and sidewalks, Mr. Christensen has divided the city into three districts, each in j charge of a district Foreman who ; is responsible for all such work ' in his district. Seasonal changes and weather conditions influence the type of work planned for different times |