St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-21
AGAINST THE CAR stove.
The Railroad Commissioners Favor
Its Abolition.
PROTECTION TO PASSENGERS.
A Circular to the Leading Railroad Cor
porasions On an Important Subject
Hot Air Circulated in Pipes.

Commissioned Austin stated yester-
day that it was the intention of the rail
road commission of Minnesota to make
recommendations to the legislature
when it meets to abolish stoves for heat
ing railroad cars. s'We propose that a
date shall he fixed" he remarked, 'smak
ing it a criminal OffenSe for any of the
railroad companies in this state to use
the car stove" One of the duties of
the railroad commissioners is to care
fully and diligently inquire ito the con-
struction of and the best means of heat
ing and lighting passenger and sleep
ing cars, with special reference to the
safety of passengers from accident by
fire. The commissioners propose max
ing special report on these matters,
and are collecting all available lnfOrma-
ton to make it exhaustive as possible.
With this end in view they have issued
circular to the managers OF all rail-
road corporatio in this state and the
managers of the leading lines in the
country. Answers are respectfully
asked to the following interDgatorleS:
The whole number of passenger cars be-
longing 10 or operated by your road and in
regular use upon some one or more of its
lines.
How many such cars are furnished or
equipped with the common car stove and
have no other appiiance for heating?
How many thereof are furnished with the
Baker heaters or other systems of warming
by means Of hot air or hot water circulated
through the car in a system Of pipes, and the
heat generated within the car?
How many trains, il any. do your company
run in which the cars are heated by means OF
steam taken from the boiler of the locomo-
tive, and how many cars, in the aggregate,
are equipped for use in such trains? Has
the use of steam heated cars disclosed any
defects in the mechanism which threatens
to impair its usefulness?
Have you in use any other inventions or
appliances for heating cars? If So describe
the same
How many of the cars mentioned in the
second above question are In use on lines
wholly within this state?
How many cars equipped as mentioned in
the third interrogatory are Ill use wholly
upon such lines?
Have YOU any trains or cars equipped as
mentioned in the fourth and fifth interroga-
tories which are run exclusively within the
state, and if SO, how many cars do they COM
prise?
How many of your cars, furnished as signi-
fed in the second interrogatory, are in com
mon use i'll connection with regular trains
run in and out of this state, Upon your inter
state lines?
How many of your cars heated as indi-
Gated in the third lnteff0gatOfy, are IN cOm-
mon use in such trains and on such lines?
How many trains or cars, heated as indl-
Gated I'D the fourth and fifth interrogatory,
are in regular use upon such interstate bust
ness?
Are you experimenting in the heating of
cars, with any invention or appliances not
in use on any of the cars III regular service,
and if so with what prospects OF success!
description OF the mechanism or character
of the invention with which you are con-
Quoting such experiments if any. so far as
YOU care to give publicity, is solicited.