New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-13
THE SUBW SMOKERS.
Little Paticncc UW BE Displayed
aeitk Them.

II. waller Brinkerilofr a c.vil. engineer said that
the air Of the subway VIII be in summer than
IN winter
IN cold weather he said the air of tho under
ground road warmer than that in the street. and
accordingly has tendency 10 rise. This IS evident
TO any one who enters the subway. Against his
forehead he viii feel a draught of warm atmos-
phere coming up from below, and reaching the
platform OF the subway station and putting his
hand down near the floor he will be able to notice
a current Of cold air coming from the stairway.
In warmer seasons OF the year, however, there
will be such draughts and counter draughts
Then the air OF the subway VIII be colder than the
atmosphere outside. and it Will simply lie inside
Being heavier than the warm air outside. 1t will
seek low level as possible. The trains may
stir it up. but TO whether they will be capable
of forcing it out through the entrances or not
cannot say.
II have ridden in the subway and, although
have noticed the smell Of oil and paint and new
masonry. 1 did not notice the oppressiVeness OF
TOO large amount Of carbonic acid gas. Neverthe-
less. know Of cases where persons have been af-
fected I have q friend who is invalid, and
who tells me he cannot ride in the subway without
a certain sense OF suffocauon.
at IS for this that have been led to
think that there viii be need of better means of
ventilation than employed. l do not think the
mere movement OF trains four parallel tracks,
up and two down. with no partitions between
VIII be sufficient The air forced ahead by one
train is thus thrown back BY the train which
"A partition between the two uptown and the
two downtown tracks, however, would solve this
difficulty. Then the trains would carry large
volumes OF air along with them, and in passing
stations would force through Tie openings
the street Such a PARTITION could be built without
lying up the operation Of trains. That IL would
better atmospheric conditions the subway have
not the slightest doubt.
phasized, and that is the tobacco nuisance in the
subway. Patrons of the road should not be per-
lnit:ed 70 smoke in the stations 1t is not only
heelthful. but it is grossly offensive to great
many persons have seen g man light cigarette
while waiting Tor car and then pun great clouds
OF smoke into the faces OF women. Oftentimes the
smoker did not realize what he doing. He
might be standing with his back to those he
Offending, and Yet draught of air would carry
The fumes Of tobacco over his shoulder and into
their faces On entering a station / have often
encountered sort Of mist which TO proved
especially disagreeable
Most smokers spit, and in this they menace the
health OF fellow passengers. You mFy scores
of mem standing on the platform of station and
spitting on on to the track below. the track Is
laid with broken stone and has a smooth sur
lace, there is no way Of washing away the forms
OF pollution that may fall there. Consequently the
sputuin cries and then is forcbiy thrown about In
the air by the rushing trains.
i near that certain citizens are about to make a
5oflei request or the operating company for smok-
ing cars. mis- would be adding Insult TO injury 7
nave no patience with who cannot wait ten
OF twenty minutes without blowing smoke out OF
his mouth" ~