New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-10-19
STREETCARS AND PUBIC HEALTH.
WHAT Is DONE TO PREVENT rHE srREAD OF COS
rAGInrs nIsEASES BY IME CARS.

WHAT Is Done TO PREVENT THE srREhD OF coz
TAGIOrs DISEASES BY HE CARS.
In view of the fact that millions OF people
ride every week upon the street IN ths city and
that under circumstances these may become
vehicles for the wholesale d.tribon Of disease in the
community particularly I'm times " epidemic and con
tapion It becomes matter Of serious import whether
horso-car companies alive to the fact and frequently
remove the dirt and NTH which daily accunn
latcs il them Contagious diseases WILL ~ course.
be- carried hy Travellers in horse long ~ p"op"
como from houses where such diseases exist ani
about without first dahfc, ting their clothing and
destroying the germs Of disease Strcctcar companies
cannot however stump Tins evil. but can 10y the
of proper means do much 10 cNcrniuatc the seeds NJ
diseases that develop n the sircct-cars Themselves
TRnrNE reporter recently called at the stables ~ all
the largo street companies n the city, ami gathered
some information to the construction " cars and
the treatment they receive after the daily run
b., over The loud cutlery made few years ngo
aus, the IL fashioned plush spring cushions
then used In street ears for soats a'd backs.
caused them o he removed and set car builders 40 work
to make hat would hc light healthy aul comfort.
able The general plan of perforated wooden ''1ts with
plain back hns been adopted u, am the companies rhcy
are covered with aur quality of hoavy Administer car
urt ,utiu the winter and the ucarl, an IA"
cara have only the wooden seats and backs open ears
are uard ON - uumh,r ~ rnuts during the summer aud
ui be- ,utnr,.r tn the hral'h paaH'ngrts, 81" nuy
il, errcuco tn the uruiitr urtuc cara IA the
innts us~l an the Hoor Seven ~ the ln".
| ace sectional Vou-lun watH ~ PLAN az otutu'utd
design, Whiu tntc retain cocoa mats W"od'u uunht"
the rslrst to- cicau. tocoa mats retain mo,siur ON
damp ct raiu} dNnUnd emit q m",N "l"r lh,i' are
four rnr each and they are changed every lP On
inc VIZ, and Second Avenue routes, under one man
ngr,utut rum $50 ears, the lhltd Avenue, $50, thr
rnurth r.. tine sixth -; the broadway and seventh,
1885, IA, El-hth AMI smith, 100, and he Tenth TO AZ
the stables ot each r SANE General atlas,m.nt in'
being regulated hy the Judgment amt experience oI I'll
pcrntcndcnt4. FROM ak 20 htcru men are employ ed
After every round trip HAT = car nake7,it'. taken Ia
the stable the mats are taken on me uo"r ana Two men
with broom. and specially constructed brushes cVc II
thorough sweeping and brushing. AFTER car makes ~
a, trip AZ night l. ran up" w"N ~ l.tMoI ihe ".'h
! drint- Everything movable l. taken out ot H. and
water IL nlayr1 ron 4 hose. ON the inside ana outside
lii fr men Att ~ rubbing brushes and sim brpnis
remove vhatrverdri has accumulated during me gay.
After TIM. Opcrst ou the car - ram upon side track
/ aud $50 mca day the inside "Hd polish the VIII
| While passengers find fault with the unbiiness Of
trcc cars -upcrlutcudent- have word also for com
plant against pa sengcr- If men ""nd NOT convert a
ear into spittoon. for the Itrrptioh"i 'iEar SinlS
tobacco pit quldS. and eatir box Tor hut size" y
frIii rius cores and pSthe remnants ot lunches ana ol'
papers t. would bc muc! easier - keep up t'"'i "p
peraHcc. section l67 Of he -anyar$ c%c winch PRO
'cs that 10 soied at,i lie Of ' s,r ., or ' cH
ding shall DE earned ON htro'' ,ii g., "a
crrt the front platfonl, +, strictly en-,
.onucor's position if he proved derrlct IN m re-
spcct Car companies, though generally coi.dercd M
tii,oy selfish aud unmndf of tie wants OF travellers,
yet believe duty they owe 10 thrr t'f"us 10 ""c
Inc most comfortable means OF convey and tO look
h,.Iitn lii> III tI' p''t
Ecarv All the. car companies hulid tcir and
| all have rcpairshops ut their sablc- and ~ soon
/ A. "A ear il damaged by collision IL Is sent
| M once io the shop and repaired. lrn
are detailed keep strict watch over all the Working
! parts OF cars. , ,,..,. ., -. =.
NO metal or plate Yet been found or winch To make
| hand-rsllug that viii keep bright and Wtaru>ird
MANY have been tried, bu' the hardest pate
that can be- obtained viii not stand the friction ~ me
hands Ion ger than months before the Plate hcidl
Will show through painted and vanished at
least once year The various parts OF tie car l't diner
eut perios The wheels average about eighteen no!hs
psl- It
and platforms last about five years There Is no ltrli
lar limit FOR the floors and framework a. they are put
little worn. Cars frequently built nj from an OIL
floor or framework the end Of about nftec years
| there is but little left Of the original car