Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-28

lulO open DtltLS 20 SeuO SlscAeo lhu0n O0OI
over the city.
Splitting In Street an Steam Cars.
The unsanitary condition OF the street cars
and steam cars early nttr, o.ed the attention
of this association. The floors OF these CON
veyances are SO foul from the prevailing
habit of expeotora ton that they not only
inspire disgust, but injurs the clothes o.
women passengers. In answer to oul
petition most OF the street cnr conpantes
pectorating upon the floor, and some I'm
provement is already noticeable. very
radical improvement could easily be eflectee
II the companies would instruct their CON
ductors to remonstrate with conspicuous
offenders. The steam car companies th1nA
there is no practicable way or controlling
this nuisance, though in view of their suc
cess in restricting smoking to the smoking
car, one would think they might be Willing
to make an attempt to abate this still more
offensive practice.
LAWYERS have given us the opinion tina,
as common carriers the street car and steam
car companies are required to protect the
property of their passengers. 1t Is safe te
infer that every day, at least, one woman
has her dress I'M ured in some car In this
CITY by the offensive habit OF which we are
speaking. 1t would be q good plan for some
such woman to carry her case to court In
order that it might be definitely settled how
far a railroad company can be held respon
sible for permitting this injury to u passen
gers property. In such suit as this, we
should be happy to lend our assistance. fin
ancially AMI otherwise.
But this is not merely a question of filth
it is one of contagion. 1t cannot be toe
often repeated that consumption is not
hereditary, bnt contagious. and that the con.
tagion is transmitted solely by means of the
e1pectoration. This when dry becomes a
fine. light dust, which noats in the air we
eathe, and IN this way conveys the germs
o. disease from person TO person. The med
ical statistics of Pennsylvania show that one
in
this proportion OF consumpttves now much
contagion is there in a crowded car or i'll the
streets, where eIpectoratfon is entirely un-
restrained2 We eat, drink and breathe
tuberculosis. Even cholera can claim no
such CHASTITY hurvests as does the great
white plague, which annually destroys
more people than all other diseases COM
Dined. Yet consumption is preventable
disease, and could be as easily controlled as
smallpox. No vigorous measures such as
are needed to prevent the spread of diph-
the contagion o; consumption: all that is
necessary is that every particle of expec-
toration shall be thoroughly disinfected or
burned.
Training the Rising Generation.
II the interest of health and cleanliness,
we have procured from the State Board a
brief notice setting forth the danger to
health involved in this habit of public ex
pectoration. This notice will be posted in
burg, and, we hope, in Allegheny, and
through the hearty cooperation of Superin-
tendent Luckey the teachers will be in
structed to give occasional talks to til cir
scholars with this notice as a text. The
gentlemen in charge of the Western Univer-
sity, the Shadyside Academy and several
Catholic parochial schools have gladly ac-
ceded to our request to post the notice in
their schoolrooms. The rising generation
will thus learn not to defile the sidewalks
nor .pollute the atmosphere. We think it
would produce some effect upon the more
thoughtful part of the public if the notice
could be placed in the street cars as u regu-
lar paid advertisement. The rates for such
advertising are cents per car day. To
place this notice in q hundred cars would
therefore require s. day. Subscriptions
toward this purpose are earnestly solicited.
The Health Protective Association needs
the assistance OF every intelligent woman in
these two cities, Dirt means decentralization.
1t affects the character. Cleanliness is not
only next to godliness, it is inherent in god
illness. No man can be godly who is not
cleanly; no city with dirty streets can ON
a high plane OF moral excellence. 1t would
be an interesting question for the sociologist
to determine whether the dirty streets
OF American cities are the cause or effect of
our bad city governments. In conclusion,
has done, and what he has promised to do,
toward enforcing existing laws against the
smoke nuisance. We also wish to express
our hearty thanks to the daily papers for
theireonstant courtesy and assistance.
An Appeal for Financial Aid.
After the reading of the report, the Sec.
retary reported the expenditures of the
society for advertising, etc, had been
S44 IL, and that the treasury at present had
a balance of Sl33 3s, and that more funds
would prove acceptable, as there were many
uses to which it might be put. The Presi-
dent suggested that the ladies whose names
had been enrolled, and who had neglected
to pay their dues could do so after tine meet
ing.
The following ladies were announced to
comprise the executive committee of the
Society for the ensuing year: Mesdames
William A. Heron, John NJ. Oakley,
Charles Lyttleton Lyons, Herbert De Puy-
Franklin Felix Nichols, Christian S. Nc,
Gee, Mary Temple, Lawrence Delworth-
H. b. Prvam, Pontefact, James Schom,
maker, and Misses Mcknight, Janet Ross,
Annie Phillips and NJ. L. Jackson
DR.. Holland heartily indorsed the report
of the secretary, and highly complimented
the ladies on their success in the crusade
against such fragrant evils as now exist in
the two cities. DR.. Holland illustrated his
theory by several little anecdotes of pleas
ing character. He said he did not quite
like the plan of burning the garbage, as it
might be SO disposed of as to make it
source of revenue to the city. He also said
he was most bitterly opposed to the pro-
posed plan of dumping the garbage into the
river, "and in case" he continued, 'there
is no alternative between burning it, and
dumping it in the river, say let the former
course be pursued and burn every vestige.';
From Medical Point of View.
DR.. j. B. Murdoch, speaking in behalf of
the medical profession of Pittsburg and
Allegheny, said the health of the entire
city was threatened "These pestilential
heaps of garbage" he continued, 'tare the
breeding places for the most dangerous
disease germs. Thanks to our hills and the
heavens tears-the rain-we are inflicted
with no dread plaques at present, but
let there come hot, dry summer and the
live amid pestilential heaps, will be swept
away with some dread scourge as they were
in the time of the black plague of lower
Europe. The condition is outrageous, and
the frightful risk We are daily running,
should be eliminated at once. As for the
smoke" DR.. Murdoch smiled little, "why,
there is nothing half expensive enough.
1t is such an abominable and foul nuisance,
that 1 cannot express myself as DESIRE
A suggestion was made by Attorney Ed
ward Scull, who followed DR.. Murdoch, to
cleanse the city of its garbage piles without
adding burdensome debt to the taxpayers.
t'That suggestion is" said Mr. Scull, 'tto
part of the fund set aside for
caring for the parks to building garbage
crematories" The suggestion was we'll re-
ceived by the ladies, and MI. Scull was
literally applauded.
Reform in Allegheny Promised.
Mayor-elect Kennedy created quite a
little stir of enthusiastic appreciation by
saying he intended to act as Mayor of Allie
gheny in manner that would promote the
sanitary and cleanly laws of Allegheny.
He said he was heartily in favor of abating
the smoke nuisance and in freeing the city