The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-11-15
pusT IN STONE sHEns.
James McAdam Discusses Question Of
Better Ventilation.

James MeAdam OF this city contrib
utes the following on stone she'd ventila.
ton 70 the Granite Cutters Journal for
November.
Editor Of the Granite Cutters Journal
Since my article appeared in your
paper upon the question of better venti-
lation Of stone sheds, / have had letters
from various parts Of the country com.
mending the discussion Of the subject
and urging the necessity Of this reform.
In certain quarters, too, the press has
taken up the matter, and altogether
there is evidence Of a widespread feel
ling that something should be done
towards at least minimizing the dust
levil, II it can not be entirely abolished
Most Of those who have written upon the
lsubjeet agree that system Of venti
slators, with fans, properly placed, would
carry oil the heaviest part Of the dust
land make the atmosphere fairly clear.
1t must be admitted, however. as
something OF problem to preserve heat
lin a stone shed in the winter season.
land yet have proper ventilation, and
would not be inclined to dogmatize as
to the special advantage OF this partic-
IuIar method. Other methods there GER
tainly are, and II any among our large
membership knows or, or can devise a
practicable scheme TO accomplish the OBJ
lject in view, he should by all means let
sit be known. 1t IS quite possible that
Zone especial method might not be suit
able in every case, but out Of number
there could be one adopted which most
lcommended itself as suitable to the
location or construction Of the partic
nlar shed. in my opinion 1t would not
be difficult TO induce employers to 10
something in this matter II a practicable
scheme was advanced. Not many OF
them would weigh a few dollars ii The
balance with the physical we'll -heing Of
I their workmen, The greatest difficulty
lwonld be, | believe, in keeping yentiia-
tors III q serYieeable kind open. It is
iwcll-known fact that there are stone
sheds in various places which have ven
ttihtors of one kind on another, but they
alc never opened The cold air super.
sstition dies very hard, and until ii en-
ltrely passes into oblivion, we viii have
with us one Of the chief stumbling block
ID the path Of reform in ventilation
! A3th ARAifAAINA hAbstNeAA RNVal AiAft~HAo
and colds IS an unmitigated nuisance
While at work should be feel Il puff Of
fresh air coming from 4 gentilator, a
door % window, he straigbtway pro
cecds to enyeop himself III old coats
until he looks ike an EsquimauS, and
will solemnly declare that unless the
blame thing il shut up at once, he win
have all the symptoms Of All the diseases
that We're ever named il a lying quack
advertisement.
IN my former article | pointed out
that the popular idea Of colds" and
respiratory diseases being caused by air
of low temperature is complete de
hision, and | repeat that this hats been
proved beyond the shadow Of a doubt
There is no danger whatever of contract
ing any kind Of respiratory disease from
being exposed to and inhaling cold ain.
III Is simply q ease OF mistasing the best
possible cure, for the cause of the trou
Bile, and the sooner this truth Is under
stood the sooner the vast Importance
of proper ventilation viii be realized
The putting III Of yentilators in the
stone sheds Is only one thing; II Is abso
lutelv necessary that they be kept open
las well as doors and windows whenever
suitable opportunity occurs, and this
will not come about until mems minds
become disabused of the old fashioned,
absurd idea that cold air il the cause Of
nearly all the diseases to which human
flesh IS heir 70 advocate anything OF
this kind which il not in accordance
with popular sentiment one lays himself
open rs Ne called a crank but what Of
that
The late Herbert spencer set it down
MS an axiom that II one believes in a
particular doctrine, be should advocate
Iit at every opportunity, and let the re-
suits take care Of themselves. Now, /
knew that what / advocate in this mat
| ter is true beyond peradyenture, and if
| succeed in causing even u few to think
the subject for themselves, and mental
/ ~ step from error 70 truth, will not the
effort be well repaid Let us hope and
believe that this discussion viii bear
| fruit, and ultimately result Id a clearer
atmosphere in the stone sheds and con-
isequently an extension Of LIES allotted
span % those who toll therein.
During Tic past twenty years | have
seen dozens 0t fellow -WOrkmen, many
Of them personal friends, earriedoG BY
pulmonary tuberculosis, induced mainly
lbv inhaling granite dust in the sheds,
although sometimes tile disease was ag.
gFavated by rmhygenic modes 81 living
/ have watched this fatal disease from
It's inception, indicated by hectic fever
and shortness Of breath, To its last stage
when hemorrhaees and dropsieaI swell.
ings caused Che mind of the victim
hitherto bright and hopeful to give
way to gloomy forebodings, the harbin
gers 81 that long night which often
Gusts It's shadows before While wit
Messing these scenes the question has
always occurred To me, could not the
lives of many such victims have been
prolonged for years by radical change.
firmly believe that This is possible. !
firmly believe that this awful scourge
81 civilized nations, called consumption,
can be effectively dealt with, and event
ually stamped out from of the face Of
the earth ii proper measures and means
are adopted To this end. But this has
to do with the broad question Of the
disease in general In this, and IN my
former article, | have only dealt with
that phase of the matter relating to
the effect Of badly ventilated and dusty |
stone sheds upon the lungs Of the work !