New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-24
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
CITY'S DUST And NOISE.
They Are the Causes of Much Dis,
ease, 1t Is asserted.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: 1t is said that from one-hfth to oue-third
or the men employed in the Street Cleaning De-
partmeut contract tuberculosis. The conclusion
which some seem TO draw from this is that these
men get tuberculosis by inhaIing germs with the
dust IN the air. But dust will cause tuberculosis
whether there are any germs it or not. This IS
proved by the fact that tuberculosis is contracted
by so large proportion Of those who work in in
dustries like knife grinding
Dust is liable 10 irritate the lungs and form
what is called connective tissue. putting part
OF the lungs out OF action. and if the process is
kept Uo long enough consumption results.
During dry weather the air in the city. parricu-
larry in the streets. is charged with dust The
street cleaners perhaps get more dust than most
other people, because they are right IN the thick
OF II all day. But every in the city gets
enough dust-too mucn. With the appliances used
10 clean the streets the fine dirt cannot be gathered
up. With the brooms or brushes used by the street
sweepers the can be cleaned about as much
as they could be cleaned with garden rake. The
Drcons leave a great deal Of dust, which the wind
and the rushing cars send up into the air. some
times i've or six stories high or higher The result
Is that the air OF the city is continually s1rcharged
with dust in some places worse than others. but
bad enough everywhere If the streets were swept
with the kind Of brush that is used TO sweep
ONCE floors, that they would be thoroughly
cleaned. and If this were done with sufficient fire.
quency, and large masses of dirt picked up as soon
as deposited there would be little or no dust in the
air Not only should the streets proper be more
thoroughly cleaned. but the sidewalks should be
kept cleaner.
Sprinkling the streets, If done often enough will
prevent dust, but is otherwise very objectiona bic
1t would cost more to keep the streets thor
oughly cleaned, but II would be We'll worth the
cost II there were on every block, or at
most one for every two blocks the streets could
De kept as clean a parlor floor. With five or six
blocks TO look after, about al that q DO
is 70 gather Up the co4rser dirt
Al agree that germs can't develop in a person
ENJOYING sound health The important thing, then.
The two things which make il difficult or practi-
caiIy Impossible long 70 maintain sound health in
this city are dirty air and noise. There is no
other reason why the city should not be health
Lu4 as the country Dusty air not only causes con-
sumption but even II II does not cause consurnp-
ton. II is likely 10 weaken the lung power. with
the result that the blood IS not properly purified
the body Is weakened the health is reduced below
the normal and almost any disease may be the
Noise. perhaps, IS responsible for more injury
than dust Noise causes pain and annoyance
Affects the nerves, retards and tntereres with d.
gestion, dstUrbs and prevents sleep. lowers vital
ty and reduces the health below the normal so
mat almost any disease may pc the direct or IN
direct result Of noise Most OF the injurious and
disturbing noise IS unnecessary, and IS made II
violation OF the penal laws Screaming and whist
ling and the noises made by cats, dogs. chickens,
cows newsboys. hucksters and scissors grinders,
kndling wood. cutting iron. rafting coal through
steel cautes, and other unnecessary noises, could
The noises made in the operation OF street and
elevated roads could be greatly reduced i the
companies would take care 70 avoid running Cat
wheels. and take other precautions % avoid a2d
reduce noise, as they can be compelled 70 90. N
noiselessly. This IS because the rails and wheels
and gearing are OF the night kind and kept n
Most Of the necessary noise-as for instance. the
hum OF traffic. Ike the noise made by wind or
waters not disturbing. or not so olsturolns IS
the unnecessary noises y the unnecessary Eolses
were stopped people would suffer little annoyance
or N ia5-5E iS'' Nav 100. o. 1901 N D.