Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-06
IMPURE AIR IN CARS.
THE RAILROAD OFFICIALS AND
HEALTH AUTHORITIES STUDY
IMPORTANT PROBLEM.
Surgeon General Wyman of the United
States Marine Hospital Service De-
votes Much Attention to Question,
Securing Opinions From Others.

!. Securing Opinions From Others.
Washington. D. c., May 4-(Special)
In the course of his inquiries as to
the possible spread Of diseases over
the country through the unsanitary
condition of railway passenger and
street cars, Surgeon General Wyman
of the United States marine hospital
service, has received large number
of letters from health officers of the
various states and cities. From these
letters it appears to be the almost
unanimous opinion among health Off
GERS that many diseases are con-
tracted by the travelling public through
breathing vitiated air in the cars, or by
the reception into their system of d.
sease germs from others infected.
Especially is this said to be true of
the white plague
From these letters 1t also appears
that health boards and health officers
In almost all parts of the country are
this great evil, but that they are ham
pered in their efforts by the lack of
legislation. Only one or two of the
states have laws giving authority to
the health boards to enforce sanitary
rules and regulations on the railroads.
In some other states the health officers
have undertaken this good work with
out waiting for legislation.
i All Of the health officers who have
II written upon this question recognize
the importance Of the subject and ex.
press an earnest willingness to aid in
every possible way to protect the pub.
lie health by enforcing rigid regula'
lions. On the question of the ventila.
ton OF street and passenger cars, DR.
j. N. Hurry, secretary Of the Indiana
state board of health, writes:
An Important Question.
"Its Importance can hardly be .ex.
aggerated. Indianapolis has good
street cars and very satisfactory ser.
vice, but the ventilation is simply hor.
rid. l never think of riding in the in
side of the cars, but always stand out
on the platform, even in cold weather
because the air inside is always so ex.
tremely foul It Is my opinion that
the people are more to blame for this
condition than the street car company
AS you know, the only method for ven
tilating street cars is by the ventila
tors in the roof and by the windows
and doors. No passenger will permit
a window to be lowered and if doors
are held open for even moment some
one will rise and close them. The
same is true in regard to the ventila
tors in the roof have repeatedly
opened these ventilators only to see
them Immediately closed again by
some other passenger. The street
railway authorities will give orders te
their conductors to keep the ventila
tors open. but passengers will close
Space In Cars Is Costly.
1.-THE problem of car ventilation /:
a most difficult one. Cars have beer
, termed houses on wheels In these
moving houses space is at a high pre-
MUM and to keep them supplied witt
sufficient pure air is a matter of ex
IRENE difficulty. Indeed, so difficult is
the problem, do not believe that cars
can be thoroughly ventilated without
creating drafts and without, in colo
weather, lowering the temperature be
low comfortable endurance. Passable
ventilation will doubtless be some day
secured"
These comments by Dr. Hurry are
practically reiterated by every othel
health officer who has written on the
question: except that some are more
optimistic and forsee adequate ventila
ton through the application of simple
scientific principles. DR.. Hurry goes
on in his letter to speag strongly on the
question of the unsanitary condition
of passenger cars and of the spread O
diseases by the filthy habit of expec
l torating upoI the floor. All Of thu
: health officers who have written OF
the subject express an earnest desir,
> that congress may enact the necessar.
= legislation to place the sanitation o
> passenger cars under the direction o
= the interstate commerce commission
under regulations prescribed by tn,
!; United States marine hospital service
! Many Of the more important railroa'
= companies are using nearly every Ell
> fort to secure better system Of ca
,. ventilation G. A. Goodnow, genera
. manager of the Chicago & Alton Raj
;. way company, writes that his compan
y has been experimenting with a ney
Il device and that as It has proved to b
: satisfactory the company will doubt
less equip all their cars with it.
The Pullman company has appointe
:. a superintendent of sanitation who's
. special duty it is to make thoroug
and complete tests of whatever d.
vices may be offered until one is foun
that will prove satisfactory. Othe