The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-29

experiences at first were rather en-
barrassing. When the company aban-
doned corrosive sublimate and carbolic
acid as antiseptics; the first because it
destroyed all the metals with which it
came in contact, and the other on ac-
count of the pungent and suggestive
smell, the employees had little faith in
the innocuous substance that was sup
piled them to take the places of the
strong drugs. ss.ss
At first they were prene.to use about
as much formaldehyde in the antisep-
tic solution as they had been accus-
toned to use of carbolic acid, and when
the car inspector entered the coaches
to look them over before ordering them
to be made up for the western trip he
came out snorting and with tears of
pain running down his. face. While
formaldehyde does not lookyas if it was
strong it is, as the inspector discov-
cred.
The effect of it on the eyes of hui
man being is not pleasant, although
there is no record of serious injury
following the inhalation of the fumes.
On the other hand, it is death to germs
of all sorts. 1t is said that there are
some kinds of germs that dote on alco-
hol and carbolic acid and on which
burning heat has little effect, but for
maldehyde gets them all.
1t is also well known fact that the
workmen and scrubwomen who are
constantly laboring with the antiseptic
are at least as strong and healthy in
their appearance as those who never
come near the fumes.
The floors of the Pullmans are also
subjected to cleansing wash and
then the crew turns its attention to the
windows. They are first scrubbed on
the inside and dried and then the whole
exterior of the car is washed down
with warm water and in cold weather
the janitors dry the outside glass and
woodwork at once to prevent them
from gaining a covering Of ice.
After this the platforms and steps
are cared for and the coaches are
practically ready for another trip. The
matter Of supplies is then taken up.
The water tanks are filled with pure
water and ice and detailed 1nspec-
ton of the accessories of the car is
made. The brakes are tested, wheels
tapped with hammer to determine
the non existence of cracks or impend-
ing breaks, and each of the appliances
is carefully gone over in search Of pos
sible defects.
When these are found, as they
sometimes are, the car is ordered out
of service unless the defect is of such
slight nature that the repairs can be
made on the spot. When this can be
done the inspector has to call again
when the work is complete and pass
the car.
Car Sent to Shops
If Hange is broken on a wheel, or
coupler or vestibule out of order, the
car is sent to the shops, where it is
overhauled as rapidly as possible. for
the railroad companies know that the
only way they can get proper return
from the money invested in rolling
stock is to use the cars as much as
possible when they are modern in pat
tern and new in material. 1t would
prove very bad policy to lay up new
car for two or three trips when the
defect or repairs could be made good
without the loss of so much time.
The treatment of the Pullmans is
slightly more complex. The upper
berths are all opened and the blankets.
sheets, pillows and mattresses are re-
moved to the open air. Each car
has certain number of clotheslines
assigned to it, and the blankets, mat
tresses and pillows are hung out to
get the air. The linen is stripped off
and checked into big bundles which
are sent to the laundry.
About an hour before train time, if
the car is going out in the daytime,
the porter is notified to take in his