The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-03
Chicago Council Says COmpa-
MES Shan't Freeze Patrons.
Cars Must Be Heated to a Com
Portable Point.
YERKES DIDN'T CARE.
Street Car Magnate Said Cars
We're Sitting Hot.
Temperature of Cars Taken By
Reporters, 81, S6, Etc.

Chicago, Dec. 2.-The city council has
taken hand in the movement for the
proper heating of street cars Spurred
by tempera ture records to a realization
of the dangers and discomforts of cold
cars, the aldermen lost no time in in
structing the commissioner of public
works to enforce strictly the ordinance
which requires comfortably heated cars
and the commissioner of public works
later announced that he would execute
the order
Alderman Gallagher was the father of
last nights order. 1t was founded on
the ordinance passed by the council
Jan. 70, 1891
The alderman said his attention had
been called to the subject by the agita-
ton of the matter and he had been led
to introduce the order through inVesti-
cation, finding that dissatisfaction with
the condition of the cars was general.
Alderman Gallagher's order reads as
follows:
ordered that the commissioner Of
public works be and he is hereby direct
ed to enforce the provisions of sec. 5,142.
5,l43 and 5,144 of the laws and Ordinan-
ces OF the city OF Chicago of 1884, known
as the supplement to Myers laws and
ordinances of 1890. -
The ordinance was passed by unani-
nous vote of the council
The sections in the city ordinance re
ferred to in Alderman Gallagher's order
read as follows:
.'5,142-Be it ordered by the city coun-
ell OF Chicago: Sec THAT all per
sons, firms, companies, or corporations
owning, managing or conducting any
street, horse or cable railway cars with
in the city Of Chicago shall cause the
same to be heated sufficiently TO ma Ike
them comfortable for the transportation
of passengers at all times while in Op-
Grafton during the months of October,
November. December, January, Febru-
airy. March and April of each year.
5,l43-Sec- Amy person, firm com
pany or corporation which shall fail to
comply with the provisions Of this ordi-
nance shall be subject to a fine of not
less than $25 nor more than 500 for
each car operated in violation of this
law, and each day of the operation of
such car shall be considered a separate
Offense."
Before the city council took action
Mr. Yerkes was not impressed with the
necessity Of warm street cars. He in
sisted that the temperat ure of his cars
was sitting and that he is in receipt of
letters from patrons protesting against
the frightful temperature maintained
by the stoves.
Mr.. Yerkes in the afternoon declared
he would make no changes in his cars
this winter
After announcing that he was indie
pendent of the newspapers and every
thing else, Mr.. Yerkes was asked if he
cared for the public
Yes, I listen to the public" he re-
piled, but there is no sense in all this
everybody. Some people are cold blood
ed and others are warm bloOded. The
cars are warm enough in fact they are
sitting I am IN receipt of letters con
stantly from people protesting against
the heat in the cars.
Personally, I am against heated
street cars. I wouldn't go in a street
car where there was a fire. 1t is very
bad from sanitary standpoint There
are many physicians IN Chicago who
would denounce fires in street cars. I
always stand on the platform when I
ride. / can't stand a fire in a car"
1t was here suggested to Mr.. Yerkes
that he did not patronize his own cars
very often; that he was in the habit of
using his carriage
True, I do ride to my office and re
turn in my carriage" continued Mr.
Herkes, "a distance of three or four
miles, but I frequently ride in the ears
when L am in a hurry. And I never go
on the inside Of a car-never. sir
There was no marked Improvement
in the condition of street cars last night
and a rank offender was found on the
Cottage Grove avenue line with tenn
perature of only five degrees above
the freezing point. Here are the read
ings as taken by reporters with Their
mometers, the accuracy of which was at
tested by the weather bureau
Degrees.
Car No 7S7. limits, 1920 p. m.......36
Car No 776, Wells street 1920 % m 20