New-York tribune., 1901-07-27
CALLS 1T PUBLIC NUISANCE
DIR. CYRUS EDsON'S REPORT ON THE
PARK-AvE. TUNNEL.
TWO TRIPS THROUGH 1T DAILY. HE SAYS
WILL WEAKEN ALL BUT THE MOST
VIGOROUS PERSONS"


The grand jury yesterday resumed it's investi-
cation of the railroad tunnel in ark-ave. and
heard testimony from Joseph Gardan. electrical
supply man; Arthur M. waitt superintendent OF
motive power OF the New-York Central: Dr.
Cyrus Edison, Professor Charles A. Doremus Dr.
George 7. Stewart superintendent of Bellevue
Hospital Joseph s. Wood. president Of the
Board of Education of Mount Vernon. Dr.
Michael b. Feeney sanitary superintendent;
Frederick Springer, sanitary inspector; DR.. Dan
lei F. Lenahan. assistant to DR. Edison; Dr.
Walter G. Hudson, William j. Baldwin. ventilat-
ing expert; DR.. Joseph Shears sanitary inspec-
tor. and Albert A. Cary, consulting engineer.
The witnesses gave their personal experiences
and described the conditions of the tunnel as they
knew them to be. The grand jury then deferred
the inquiry until Monday, when more witnesses
will be examined
DR.. Cyrus Edson's testimony given as a
report of Investigations which he had made at
the request OF the District Attorney His report
alleges a serious public nuisance in the tunnel
affecting the health and comfort of a large num-
Der of people. and described follows
This public nuisance is mainly caused (a) by the
gases of combustion, containing carbon monoxide
carbon dioxide. sulphur dioxfde. ard other dele
terious gases entering the passenger which
ventilation in the tunnel (c) of the during
-hetr transit through the tunnel.
The report says that the arrangements for
ventilating the tunnel. however sufficient they
may have been to effect their purpose when the
tunnel was originally constructed and traffic
was lighter are now utterly inadequate to ef
feet proper ventilation TO remove the gases
given off by the engines. between five hundred
and six hundred in number. which daily traverse
the structure"
L do ,raa-a aF
tions In In transit through the tunnel on
Wednesday, and noted the increase of tempera-
ture and the presence OF the gases in the cars.
end he summarizes his conclusions follows:
The gases of combustion which plainly ap-
parent to the senses while the cars are passing
carbon ioxide and sulphur dioxide All these gases
are very poisonous and In snclsnt am0unt viii
soning from breathing small amounts OF this gas
sea. vomtiag. debility, dry Irritating cough and a
train OF symptoms siriiss t. those OF malaria
mus with whom 1 have been associated IN the per-
formarca Of this work; to a comparison between
the tun.ol and those in the celebrated ..BlacS
persons were thrown into room the size OF an
eighteen foot cube o'clock I'm the evening. This
latter were open simple calculation will show
that each OF those 146 had in this room about
ii :I5 p n. oll were dead but twenty-sx, most OF
whom afterwerd succuubed to fever The only
BLACK Hole were ca:bon dioxide and the exhaus-
o. 10 Of the afr There were, how
ever two small windows t5 effect ventilation
In the case of the passing through The tun-
neil there is about hfty-siy cubic feet of air per
passenger when the is full and no veuttla ton
whatever and n leakage into the car OF vftiatng
gases Of combustion.
In my opinion the condition Of the cars In pass
ing through the tunnel IS worse for the period OF
uassagS than those which obtain IN the Black
Ecle' ~ Calcutta during corresponding period
The effects of the inhalation OF poisonous gases
on passengers of cars running through the tunnel
under the usual conditions are plainly visible In
the symptoms they exhibit. which symptoms
have frequently noted. These are an inorea sed
pulse rate increased respiration to thirty and forty
a minute profusa sweating. dyspOnea, feeling OF
construction OF :he chest. nausea, dizziness and
general 6iscomfcrt.
These coadt:;ons affect all but the most seri-
cuslv affected OF course. fnvalids. delicate
wouner and chjldren. I have on two occasions seen
women overcuue and nearly lose consciousness.
The continued effect OF trips daily through the
tunnel In INV opinion will deb!litate and weaken
all but the strongest and most vigorous persons