New-York tribune., 1906-03-16
WOULD LET GUARDS OUT
Physician Thinks Tube LabOrers
Are an Craze Danger.

1t was suggested by DR.. Gilman Thompson who
spoke the Academy of Medicine, NO II west
4si street. last night following an address by Dr
George A. Soper the condition Of the air IN the
subway that as one company operates both the
elevated and the underground railroads, it would
be humane plan to let the employees alternate
on these roads. and thus avoid the danger OF
breathing the foul air for twelve and sometimes
fourteen hours day. passenger. he said was
seldom compelled to breathe 1t than half an
hour AT a time. and the employees were the real
sufferers DR. Thompson's plan was heartily IN
dorsed by the physicians present
DR. Soper who with ten assistants. has been en-
pIoyed for six months by the Rapid Transit Com
mission said he found the difference of temperature
less in summer than in winter In July it was
65 higher the subway than in the street. In
November il was 10 degrees higher than in the
street The conditions, he said. for the public
were far more dangerous in winter than IN sum
ner because of the quick changes in temperature
II dropped sometimes from 5914 degrees Fahrenhelt
TO 12Ih degrees in one and a half minutes.
Speaking of humidity. he declared that the sub
way was practically dry as sheltered spots III
the street. The dew point was little higher
Three thousand bacterial analyses We're taken In
all and he found nearly twice many bacteria IN
the street as in the subway. The most objection
able cause of bacteria in subway. he said, was
caused by the people coughing and sneezing IN
one another's faces. and the equally dangerous
practice of splitting DR.. soper continued:
1t is but just to say that the company when
keep and orderly Ny objection is tha6 Ine
and are used by the porterS IN & b5uSiGg 81 M
the platforms. But they are generally uSed IN an
unsuitable manner. As far as keeping tae dnsI aus
down is concerned, stiff brooms. without SaWdusI,
might almost as well be employed The strong
draughts are the most effective ana constant
agencies in keeping the platforms free or 1uSI
contract was let a So-called sanitary com,
many for keeping the toilet rooms in clean ana
pToper condition. but this sanitary company mas
been allowed To violate its contract from the ga
the subway was thrown open to the puohc 49,,
The stations have been flushed ana cleaned WIN
hose at intervals. But those Intervals nave ? peen
So long that many of the employees at the SCalols
have memories too short to remember % theini Ia "A
trash gang has been employed to remove the pleCeS
OF "a ner and other debris from the track pui the
smaller refuse. which is the most Oblectohdpe' Is
allowed 10 accumulate. Probably the aggregate
weight of dirt and rubbish removed from the sta
tions and cars has amounted to many TONS Il
month but this amount could probably have been been
multiplied had the work been more Systematically
and ntelligenty done
DR. Thompson. in response to an invitation from
the chairman to discuss the subject. said;
Instead Of signs forbdding the people to spit why
not provide a sufficient number or sanitary
spittoons and then put up signs bearing the words
Spit Here" The amount of dangerous dust Goes
not alarm me for myself, nor for the passengers
but for the employees