New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-06-05
THE Ar IN THE SUBWAY.

Distressing hints of the character and conal-
ton of the air to be found in the subway DUR
ing the coming summer are aSaiE Delng ahoru'
ed a premonition of trouble was experienced
last autumn. but the advance of cold weather
temporarily put end to a discussion OF the
matter. Despite the lateness of the current
spring. there have already been occasional DAYS
which have brought a renewal OF the eViI ahu
which have revived popular discomfort what
is more the situation is bound to grow worse
steadily in the next few weeks and, If no steps
are taken to deal with it suitably. TO become
far less en6urab BILE than it was In November
During the colder months of the year an auto
matte ventilation of the subway taxes place-
The air outside is heavier than the air INSIDE
and il gently sinks through all aVa1iaoie aper
lures and insensibly forces outward the loul
atmosphere below In warm weather the OUT
side air is lighter than the inside air. 1t tenus
to rise, not to steal downward Consequently
the only change which occurs in the atmos-
phere within is that it grows viler ana Viier Iof
days. or weeks in succession. Churnng is not
ratification The motion of trains may SHIFT
the air about, but the density due to lower tenn
peratlre and the admiXture of carbonlc aclu
gas serves to retain it under ground
We cannot avoid believing that Dr. Daring
ton was premature and injudicious in accept
ing Professor Chambers guarantee of the harm
lessness of the subway air. In, the first place.
it is possible that the chemists tests were
made on days when the meteorological conul'
tions were different from what are to be ex-
pected between June and November, Secohu'
even if the analyses were both accurate and rep
resentatiye. they failed to take account of
kind of pollution which is particularly Often
sive Carbonic acid gas is odorless, but exnala-
tions from the human body are not Every
| physician knows that in warm weather the SKIN
| assists largely in the elimination OF waste mat
| ter from the system. Hence the clothing ana
| environing air are defiled more rapidly then
than in cold weather. 1t has thus come to De
recognized that artificial ventilation is neces-
sarv in tunnels where large numbers of people
| are transported Such proved to be the case
| in London after the opening OF It's electrlc IN
derground roads a few years ago.
| Before the Central London Company Installed
its huge rotary fans, for instance, it was as
serted that at times the air in the tuppenny
tube was worse than that in the tunnels where
| steam cars were operated. Ii DIR. Darlington
| will inquire further into the matter, we believe
that he will see the wisdom of modifying MS
attitude regarding the subway The Commis-
sioner of Health has large powers, and II the
| RAND Transit Commission does not afford re-
lief there may be serious need OF tneir EXERCISE
in the near future.
Whether the plan adopted in London for the
notification of subway air was the best which
can be pursued is a question needing some
consideration The fans employed were driven
only at night. They were large, but there We're
only two Perhaps better results could be Sc
cured by using a larger number and operating
them in the daytime. However, any uncer-
! tainty which may exist on these points would
be dispelled after little experience, and the
sooner the requisite apparatus is installed the
| ,o6
TO think last fall that the necessary conduits
for ventilating the subway had been provided
in IFS original construction. If that opinion was
we'll founded only a small investment for fans
and electric motors would be needed, and the
wholesome application of official pressure might
possibly insure their installation by the Fourtf
of JuIv. If suitable passages do not now exist
# should be feasible to construct them without
much delay, and it ought not to be a difficult
task so to design them that they will exclude
light Bends in discharge pipe do not sacrifice
efficiency