The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-17
41ea 50 -
Bill for Sanitary Cleaning Of
Cars Is Under Consideration.
State Board Of Health Back Of
Proposed Move.
RULES NOT ADOPTED.
Some Railroads Oppose the En-
fOrcement of Boards Orders.
DR.. Crumbine Throws Bouquet
to the Pullman Company.
RULES NOT ADOPTED.

Railroad companies generally through
cut the state, and particularly the street
railway companies and interurban lines
are showing a disposition to comply
with rules which have been formulated
nv the state board of health. through
its secretary, DR.. s. J. Crumbine, for
the sanitary cleaning OF passenger cars
Some of the railroad companies. how
ever. do not seem to look with favor
on a good many of the rules, and it is
probable that if they continue to show
no inclination to comply with them,
bill will be introduced at the coming
session OF the legislature which viii
compel the railroad companies to obey
these rules. 1t will be pressed vigorous
1y by the board of health and the
chances are that with the present senti-
ment in the state on all railroad pro-
positions it will be enacted into law
easily A similar bill was introduced
two years ago at the inStigation OF DR..
CruTnbine but it died almost as soon as
it saw the light OF day
For many months past DR.. Crumbine
has been working on this proposition OF
the sanitary cleaning OF passenger cars
In May last he attended the meeting
of the executive OfncerS OF the DOaros
OF health of every state in the country
in conjunction with the marine hospital
service which was held at Washington,
D. c., and this subject of the proper
sanitary cleaning OF cars was one OF the
important matters discussed During
the course of that meeting DR.. Crum-
bine held consultations with the repre-
sentatives Of the boards of health Of
other western states through which the
big trunk lines of Kansas pass, and
they agreed that it would be a good
plan for each of their boards to fOrmu-
late a uniform set of rules for the
cleaning of cars. This plan was in the
interests of the railroad companies so
that they would not be bothered with a
different set of rules in each OF the
states.
work of formulating these rules
was undertaken by DR.. Crumbine
and a number of representatives of
the boards of health of other western
states. The situation was thoroughly
canvassed and the rules were modelled
IN the main after those which prevail
IN Indiana. These rules were adopted
in Indiana after a conference between
the health officials of the state and all
the railway and steamboat companies
operating in the state. AS adopted
they were agreeable to the transpOrta-
ton companies, and as they are con-
sidered most efficient. the boards of
health of the western states thought
that the railroad traversing these
states would not have good grounds
to object to them, because Of their ap-
prevail by other railroads.
After these rules had been formu-
lated DR.. Crumbine communicated
them to the railroad companies oper-
ating in Kansas including the street
IT am highly gratified." said DR..
Crumbine today, Eat the manner in
which a good many of the railroad
companies in the state have met us
in regard to adopting our rules for the
proper cleaning of cars. All of the
street railway companies. with but
two exceptions I think. have readily
responded to our requests. The Tope-
ka street railway company was one
of the first and the people of this civ
feel q Tn rid in,
which are properly cleaned and clean
ed in a sanitary manner.
"A number of the steam railroad COM
panies have also signffied their willing
ness to comply with the rules. and there
are others which have not but which
we hope will get in line. 1t is my Opin-
ion that the rules are not only neces-
Eary but that they are eminently fair
and make no demands which the com
panies ought not to respond to will
ingly. I am not in a position just now
to announce the nature of the rules nor
to give out the names of the companies
who are complying with them and those
that are opposing them. I will do so in
good time. however, and If some of the
railroad companies continue their an
8agonism to them. the board of health
Will press legislation at the coming ses-
sion Of the legislature. looking towards /
the compelling of every railroad to OBJ
serve the rules, and 1 think that such
HSzislation can be passed.
There is one company operating in
the state which is not only in sympa-
thy with our rules, but goes way be-
yond them in the sanitary care of their
cars and that company is the Pullman
company. It's cars are fumigated once
each month. except those that are run
to health resorts. These are fumigated
after every trip. and q car that is
known to have carried a person with an
fllfectious disease is fumigated as soon
as possible. It is safe to say that the
Pullman company's cars in this state
are as clean as it is possible to keep
~ they are to the dirt incident 10
travel.
'As said am highly gratiAed at