The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-31
TRAMWAYS CD,
Manager Pain Presents
An Argument.
Claims That Cars are Not lnsanitary
and Challenges the Critics.
Paul Neumann Talks.

In conversation with an Advertiser
reporter at the Punahou Tramway sta
bles last evening, Manager Pain said
that he did not care to discuss the ac-
ton of the Board of Health in stopping
the cars, but was quite willing for any
unbiased person to examine them, and
form his own conclusions as to their
sanitary condition.
Walking toward the car barn, Mr..
Pain said: There are the cars; they
have remained in that shed since the
day we received a peremptory order
from the Board of Health to suspend
operations, and they will remain there
until that order is countermanded.
LAS for their so-called insanitary
condition." continued Mr.. Pain, Il
challenge anybody to prove the state
ment. AS you see, the cars are built
of wood and iron. They always have
been thoroughly washed every night
and swept and busted every morning
before they left the yards. At all the
terminals except Waikiki the cars are
again busted at the completion of ev-
cry round trip. and Waikiki is ex-
cepted because we have no facilities
there for the accommodation of brOOms
and busters.
Light and air the cars certainly
/ have in all conscience, and in view of
/ these facts | consider the statement
| that they are insanitary a most absurd
one. The only portions of the car that
might by any chance hold disease
germs are the curtains. and if it is de-
sired that they be removed we are
perfectly willing to do so, but the pub
| lie would soon complain of the lack
! of shade from sun and shelter from
rain.
eff it is desired that disinfectants be
sprinkled throughout the cars, we are
prepared to do this also; but why
should the hacks be exempt from such
Ia regulation? They have cushions and
clOth-lined hoods; why not disinfect
these also? They run about infected
districts, lay up in any sort of shack
/ for the night, and never see water on
/ the parts likely to carry disease. We
have no cushions nor rugs, and our
cars are washed inside and out every
evening
I THE Board of Health in a general
/ way has stated that the cars will be
! permitted to run when they are placed
\ in sanitary condition. We maintain
| that they are, and always have been,
/ in that condition, and challenge any
one to disprove our statement. Mr.
! Lydecker has made two or three visits
/ through the sheds and stables, but has
never yet been to the Office, nor has he
4 spoken to me at any time. Once he
| suggested to the foreman that rubber
curtains and rubber handstraps be sup
| piled to all cars, and at the same time
said he could point out no fault in
! their condition. AS to their external
I appearance, we have two men con-
stantly at work renewing the paint and
varnish upon the cars, and their time
/ is fully occupied. The condition of
/ the roads fully accounts for the dusty
condition of the seats during a trip.
and person has only to put on a black
suit and make a single Journey upon
the cars to find that we are not to
blame in this respect.
"A tramways system is the peoples
means of transit, and amongst our
cosmopolitan patrons we may include
persons in a diseased condition. III.
with view to the prevention of the
spread of disease through the medium
of our cars, the Board had stopped
them during this present trouble. no
objection could possibly have been
made, but to state that the cars are
themselves insanitary and a menace to
the health of the community is alto
gether ridiculous.
Your suggestion in this mornings
issue that our stock is on half rations
Is quite in line with the attitude OF the
paper in relation to the Tramways
Company, but do not mind that at all.
The entire stock with the exception
only of a few draught and riding ami
mails is all at the pastures near Dia-
mond Head and Palama."
Paul Neumann states that the Tram
ways Company has no intention of fl
ing claim for damages against the
Government by reason of the order is
sued by the Board of Health to suspend
street car traffic. He says that the
company at once complied with the or
| der from the secretary of the BOARD IN
/ stop the cars, and that a srbsenuent
letter from President Wood was re-
ceived, in which it was stated that I'M
der certain conditions the cars would
again be allowed to run, but probably
through an oversight the conditions
we're not specified in the communica-
ton.
We have made enquiry as to the
terms upon which we may resume oper-
ations,' said Mr.. Neumann. "but ND to
the present have not obtained an an
swer. 1t may be that the company will
ind the conditions unreasonable. and
in that case We will keep the cars in
the barns. but If We can see our wav
to fall in with the views of the BOARD
or Health, we shall resume our car
service in a couple of days"