New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-13
GUTTER AIR AT BEST.
What the Sub1Uoy, Gets Is Loaded
1cith Microbes.

The main argument Of those who believe that
the subway is sufficiently ventilated is the
amount Of air taken in through the entrances
from the streets. The question arises, Is this
air that comes in from the street OF sufficient
purity 10 be used in ventilating the underground
system?
The kiosks are built on the pavement near the
curb. They stand wide open to every breeze
that comes up or down the street. They act as
g sort OF scoop for the dust and germ laden air
Just above the pavement There have been
number Of experiments in the past which go to
prove that this air is full of colonies of bacilli.
Unless purer air can be supplied these germs
will constantly he drawn into the subway by the
millions, 10 thrive and multiply there in the
darkness.
Some time ago a series of tests was made by
the Street Cleaning Department of the air six
inches above the pavement at various points in
Salsattan. Prepared gelatine plates were
used, and an exposure Of half an hour brought
out some rather startling results. In places
where there was a large amount OF travel, where
pushcarts were IN large numbers, in thickly
populated tenement house district as many as
1900 colonies Of bacini appeared IN fifteen
minute exposure. Even Fifth-ave, after having
been thoroughly flushed and put in the best pos
sibe condition. showed numerous bacilIL
With this article The Tribune presents a num-
Der of plates selected at random from several
hundred covering the part Of the city traversed
by the subway a tenement street near the
Bleecker-st station. for instance. shows 300
colonies This exposure with the others
was made at the middle of the block and six
inches above the pavement. At the corner
where the subway kiosks stand the authorities
say the number OF colonies would probably be
greater.
Harlem street frequented by pushcarts
Showed $3.50 colonies. It Is paved with granite
ana the traffic is heavy. An exposure made at
-hundred-and-fifty-f rst-st and AIorris-ave
showed Lib colonies, though the street is
- Sto'Gea tenement section. over in Little
Italy" in East Observation-Disclosures the
number Of colonies was 3 1876
Already the Street Cleaning Department has
nouced the danger OF communicating the sub
way leo as II IS with air from the streets. Orders
S-.e oSen gwen TO keep the streets in the mme
c-ale vicinity OF the subway openings clean
&c possible. They VIII be kept carefully swept
sno all refuse VIII be carted away Immediately
~ hefeFer possible the streets viii be flushed by
the department.
There must also ne considered the ever growing
ss9ume OF bacilli which are deposited by spitters
- the subway. At any hour Of the day men by
sAs score may be seen waiting for trains and
hP4tung Iree!y down upon the roadbed OF
tracked stone. This cracked stone cannot be
swept or flushed, and VIII hold the sputurn until
~ IS dry, when the moving trains Will sweep it
INTO the lungs OF passengers. When the floor
mats Of the elevated trains have been micro
scoplcaily examined millions Of disease germs
nave been revealed And these mats are
Sg1salled frequently, and get lots Of sunlight
Iilat WI q similar examination Of this un-
cleanaois Toadbed Of broken stone show after a
year OF continual darkness?
Il IS for these reasons that the investiga tions
y Dr. Biggs. the bacteriologist OF the Health
department. may cause radical change in the
ventilation Of tie subway.