The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-20
RAIL ROAD ECONOMY
S|CKENS PATRONS.
Bitter Complaint of the Oak
land Ferry Passen-
gers.
DRIVEN FROM THE CABIN
Nauseating Odors Overcome the
Ladies on a Ferry.
Boat.
CAUSED BY CHEAP FLOORING.
Linoleum and LinSeed Oil Heated by
the Funnel Empty the Salon
Daily.
CAUSED BY CHEAP FLOORING.

The passengers who are so unfortunate
as to have to travel across the bay on the
ferry steamer Oakland complain loudly
against the latest evidence of Southern
Pacific economy. This sign of frugality,
or worse, is brought to the attention of
patrons of the ferry boats in most in
sistent and obnoxious manner. And the
result is that people are driven out OF the
cabin to parade the upper deck or suffer
the multitudinous odors of downstairs.
But even the outer decks, unprotected
as they are against the winds and cold, or
the lower half of the boat with its oils and
kitchen smells and all it's other discom-
forts, is said to be a decided relief in COM
parison with five minutes experience of
the interior of the Oakland's cabin. For
within the glass doors there is an over
towering, offensive effiuvium of charac-
ter wholly indescriD able. though, indeed,
the perfume of burning fish oil In an adj
vanced stage of putrefaction might sug-
gest its popularity.
Il is certain that the ladies cannot bear
the stencil. and that men evade the Oak
lands cabin. In more than one instance
when the elements compelled ladies to
seek the shelter of the cabin they became
nauseated and remained sick for hours
afterward. Such is the testimony OF some
young women who cross the bay daily in
pursuit of their business in San Francisco.
Should they go aboard the Oakland they
now remain downstairs or seek shell
tered spot in the open, where passengers
crowd to avoid the cabin. And this ex-
plains why so many ladies are seen on the
lower deck among wagons, baggage and
undesirable telloW-passengers.
The cause of it ali is an i'm provement'
recently added to the Oakland. When the
carpet wore out in the cabin it was not
replaced as usual by another one. In
stead cheap kind of linoleum was laid
down. The next step was to give it coat or
two of boiled inseed OIL which, 1t appears,
has the effect of preserving the pattern,
and also the linoleum itself. 1t was all
very we'll until the boilers began to give
up their heat through the great funnel
running through the cabin. Then new
and an altogether original and noisome
smell filled the ladies' salon-the odor of
heated linoleum of shoddy quality, mixed
with that of Sweating" linseed oil.
AS the funnel continues to give out heat
sufficient to keep up the sickening stencil,
the comfort of the ferry patrons is still
seriously disturbed.
ut is awful: it is terrible; it makes
nv head ache and then l feel sick" one
young lady was heard to exclaim. "Worse
than fish oil and positively UNDESIRABLE. l
any more. | do wish the company would
do something to stop the smell, or, if not,
throw out that frightful stuff
She spoke the sentiments of many of
the regular travellers over the bay, who
are one and all loud in their demands for
a change that will permit them to sit in
the cabin of the Oakland ferry-boat.