The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-26
Two Reports from the Aldermanio
Railroad Committee.
BRYAN REILLY ON COLD DRAUGHTS
Cuntzer On the Unhealthiness Of Hot Air
Clean Straw and Animal Steam Enough.
ALDERMAN COWING'S SENSIBLE PLAN.


road cars. The two FIRST named gentlemen, who are
report against the idea, while Mr.. Cowing.
who a republican IN favor Of beating one-tenth Of
the experiment. Tho following is the 70.
port submitted by Aldermen Guntzcr and Reilly
THE MAJORITY REroRr.
Tho subject received the closest attention Of
committed. Several meetings have been held, and all
persons interested for and against the measure were
afforded every possible facility TO mako their wishes
known. AT the outset your committee were induced
believe that the question at moro than
binary importance; that our entire community-at
least that portion Of II that used travel
ling to and from places Of business for other
unanimously in favor of compelling
tho 10 heat thor cars and that but
one sentiment pervaded our people, and that favor.
able 10 the proposition In this, however,, they were
greatly disappointed. At the meetings OF your COM
mittec but classes Of persons appeared-one the
officers OF the several companies the other inventors
OF apparatus Tor heating the cars Both classes
terested person. czon other than those above
referred to, appeared before your committee in sdv0
cacy in opposition 10 the measure.
QUEER CONCLUSIONS.
From this it Is clear to your committee that the
general public totally indifferent and care NOT
what action your committee t"Ke IN the premses
Indeed, from inquiries mado by your committee Of
persons who daily the cars, they convinced
that tue travelling public averse 10 the measure
being apprchensive that crowded car ovcrheated ~
ARTIFICIAL means, IN addition TO tho natural heat or
warmth OF the body, would supernduce disease, and
that the seeming comforts oil heated Car would be
than offset by the lear OF contracting disease
The Board Of Health, your committee arc informed.
gven the subject much thought ana elaboration
This Board by It's ordinances already controls tho
dtion Of the cars, and have compelled the
eral companies to improve thn by giving atten
ton their ventilation and cleanliness is equally
in the power Of the Board to compel the heang OF the
ana is fair 10 presume that measures looking
TO this end would long since have been adopted were
proceeding deemed advisable. II Is also clearly
in the power Ol the Common Council 10 compel tho
companies to obey this any other reasonable orcc
ton but for obvious reasons 1t Is not now doomed
advisable simply IN sanitary point OF view.
CLEAN STRAW AND CLOSED DOORS.
Your committee, therefore, are Of opinion that Il 10
advisable at TINS tme at least, to exercise this
power aud compel the heating OF the city railroad
cars. So many contingencies connected with the
health Of the constantly present themselves
to the minds OF your committee that they believe the
question can safely be left oil those charged
directly with the preservation OF the health OF tho
public. One or Two regulations connected win me
vantage to the public be insisted on. The front door
oil every should be securely fastened and never
should he opened from the time the starts until Il
reaches its destination Clean straw should be pro.
yded every day for the bottom OF every and the
ventilation should be arranged that impure air
coud be TO escape from tho car by somo ar
rangemens that will at the same time prevent the adj
mission Of cold air. Your committee, therefore, rec
ommend that the Board OF Health be requested to
notify the officers OF the several city railroad
pancs adopt regulations the three conclusions OF
your COMMUNICATIVE, closed front doors, clean straw
and proper ventilation and In the event of neglect
or refusal enforce their ordinances by proper penal
ties. should the companies however, continue 70.
fractory application be made to tho Common Coun.
Gill; wno by virtue OF the agreements made with the
CITY, have recourse TO the power therein retained
10 compel obedience Your committee, therefore,
offer for adoption tho following resolution
Resolved That several city railroad companies
ming hs city be anS e
s %. Ecar Ss an. 20
companies to keep the doors Of their
constantly closed in cold weather. thai esan straw be pro-
said Board may direct and that proper system Of ysns
every city passenger railroad car
Alderman Cowng read his minority report as fol.
lows
THE MINORITY REPORT
Your committee, TO whom was referred the subject
of compelling the street railroad companies OF this
city heat their cars, respectfully report that they
have had several meetings. which this subject has
been under consideration, ana have had before
them several OF the representatives OF the leading
street railroad companies OF tho city and many
patentees OF patents Tor heating tho cars some
patrons of the various roads, and have also taken
Of this city
While your committee find Wide difference OF opn-
ion TO tho practcabihiy OF heating tho cars YET the
objection offered against tho project from
any source that TO heat the cars would prove In
furious 10 the health OF those who travel IN them.
So lar this Is concerned, where there arc long
ana short lines OF cars, and where during certain
hours Of day. the are loaded lar beyond their
capacity for carrying passengers comfortably whether
10 heat the cars would be conducive the comfort OF
the passengers and not injurious to their health Ia
somewhat experimental although from the evidence
adduced before the committee 1t would that tho
experiment has been tried IN other cities with eminent
success
Tho streets aud OF the city OF New York are
opened aud laid for the sole use benefit ana con.
venicncc Of the public generally and when the var.
Gus street railroads operation in this city had
granted unto the valuable franchise of using our
streets tor their own private advantage
and gain they assumed duty TO the public to at all
times run sufficient cars TO accommodate the public
and also Keep tier cars clean and comfortable and
there can be no question but that this Honorable
Board of Aldermen the represcn tatives OF the ci-
zens of this city, bound 10 sec 10 II that the duties
voluntarily by tho railroad companies toward
nallu pfn mod IN na n
cars would add the comfort O the patrons and
not DO injurious health then there he ques-
ton but that the duty OF the railroad companies de-
maud that they should at take steps 10 heat
them, there be question but that It Is the
duty OF this Honorable Board Of Aldermen to see to It
that their obligations III this respect are fully per-
formed For the foregoing reasons your committee
would most respectfully report to this Honorable
Board and recommend that the resolution referred 10
them in reference TO heating the street cars, fol-
lows, be adopted
Resolved That the of Public Works DO and
necessary compel tho several city railroad compsnies
and III use ss sT os 10 VA
cold weather 10 The end that the proecs shall prove TO
s Il s e" sss y be s"a a
by this Board compelling the companies to heat their cars
generally.
Your committee would respectfully report that the
above recommendation made by them as to trying the
project by way OF experiment first meets with tho APP
proval OF the Honorable the Board Of Health OF this
city, all Of which is respectfully submitted and re-
ported.
Alderman Cole, after tho reading Of these two 70.
ports, SAID -"Thc great difficulty seems to DO that
who opposed TO heating the cars have NOS
examined the subject They believe, because the cars
AT present warmed only on the Russian plan Of
healing rooms without lire placcs-namey, by pro-
duccd by animal heat and cxhalatons-that therefore
IL is impossible TO heat them on any plan consistent
with the public health. In the winter months every
window ana ventator In our city cars Is closed and
the arr sitting that the idea OF heating this I'm
pure atmosphere naturally suggests most disagree
able state Of things II was demonstrated by
tentt uc m Rail.
roads, that the foul atmosphere caused by
crowded cars can be obvated by heating them.
The heating apparatus Is placed in such manner that
the whole car comfortable, and the ventilaors
being open, the foul atmosphere disappears
them The bodies ana feet oi the passengers kept
warm and their heads cool have doubt when he
heating of the city cars Is practically in operation tho
people who In them will be surprised al the change.
Instead vi the disagreeabe, unwhocsome atmosphere
that now exists with the windows and vcntilators
closed, they will breathe pure air, and the genial
warmth will impart feeling OF pleasure TO those who