The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-07
sALTING THE TRACKS.
From Profeusor n. TToyvard uaua.


10 nc Editor Of The Evening TeIegroph,--
The writer is not interested in any way,
directly or indirectly, in any street railway
company; being gifted with good pair Of legs,
ne does not use the cars, and may therefore
be at least entitled to hearing as an impartial
writer,
The hue and cry raised in regard to salted
tracks does not, certainly, reflect much credit
on the judgment OF our people. The Grand
Jury. under oath, presents the custom as a
nuisance; the Legislature unanimously passes
through one branch brl making it penal
ohense; and one branch of Councils, with equal
unautmity, forbids IT,
On what authority is all this faction based (?
Certainly not on that of scientific or medical
men, for when such testimony was taken q few
years ago before Committee OF Councils IL was
decidedly In favor OF the use of salt Let us con-
slider its advantages and drawbacks. Salt, by
an action which may be termed chemical, thaws
snow during cold weather, and removes Ia u
natural agencies in as many days. The snow
must melt, and the salt only makes IL do so more
quickly. As the result of this action, in q few
hours the streets used by cars are open for
travel, not only of cars but of vehicles of all
kinds. Abolish salt, and travel on the street
ears would necessarily be suspended after each
heavy snow for hours, and sometimes for days,
as is now the case in Boston and New York.
The inconvenience to thousands of ali classes,
and the loss from suspension of business would
be considerable Not only would car travel be
have TO increase their teams, and much hauling
would have to be put off until thaw. The
truth of this can easily be seen by comparing
after snow any street having track in it
with side street not so provided. Supposng
II possible to remove the snow by ploughs and
brushes, IL will only make the piles on each
side of the track higher than ever, and render
turning out in many of the streets matter OF
tmposSibility.
As TO the disadvantages of the custom of salt
ing the tracks.
It is alleged that it is injurious to the health
of the community. This is not true, nor will
any respectable medical man endorse such an
assertion. Our city is as healthy now as it was
before the use of salt, as is shown by the tables
of deaths. a few years ago IL was said that
sailing the tracks caused diptheria, but scarlet
fever this year takes the place of diptheria.
VIII they charge the scarlet fever to the use Of
salt?
AS to the destructive effects of salt upon
clothing. Salt water does not penetrate leather
so readily as fresh snow water. This has been
shown by actual experiment. A light gum
or slippery weather, will entirely protect both
boot and foot from wet. That person may be
made sick by wet foot where there is no salt
is not denied.
Salt is neutral body: it has no chemical
action upon fabrics, IL does change some colors,
and if women prefer to drag silks printed with
aniline dyes through the mud and slush to
using more suitable material for such pur-
pose we cannot pity them If their finery be-
comes damaged. AS before stated. walk over
all parts of our city, and can truly say that
have not suffered one-tenth of the incOnveni-
ence from salted streets that have from the
miserable system Of surface drainage.
r. r.