The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-15

New York, July 15.-That New York
will be the first city in the world to be
cooled artifcially during the summer
months as soon as an efficient system
for accomplishing this result Is COM
pleted is the most striking result OF the
recent hot wave which in five days
caused more than 100 deaths and near
Iv 1000 prostrations and kept the am
balances tearing through the streets
to such an extent that the city thor
oughfares resembled an enormous race
track. The possibility Of providing
municipal cooling system has been dis
cussed before, but nothing has ever
been done because of the fact that 1t
has been thought that the expense OF
its installation would be too great.
Now. however, the realization has
come that 1t would work tremendous
economies. Experts who have looked
into the matter figure that every stiff
ling summer day causes loss OF at
least half a million dollars to the city's
business interests through the decreas-
ed efficiency Of labor Of all kinds I'M
der the existing conditions. Every day
when the thermometer shows 80 de-
grees or over means a decrease In
working efficiency of about 40 per cent
It is figured. Moreover, practically
every kind of business feels the effect
through slackened public interest. Al
together the loss of half a million dol
lars a day is considered conservative
estimate. Even at this figure the to-
tai for the hot period comes close to
$25, OOO, 900 which would pay twice over
the interest on the sum which 1t is
estimated would be necessary to sup
ply cool air to the city during the
summer along exactly the same lines,
though on a larger scale, as those by
which heat is supplied to the great
office buildings in winter. The solu-
ton of the problem has, Of course, not
yet been worked out, but its actual
value in dollars and cents makes its
ultimate arrival seem inevitable.
In returning here this week in the
role of investigator, to labor in an Of
fetal capacity in this state for the
first time since he left Albany for
Washington, former Governor Hughes
starts on what may be termed the sec
ond lap of one Of the most meteoric
careers in political history. AS an in
vestigator and an unraveller in this
field which first brought him into gen.
eral prominence. His masterful hand
ling of the insurance investigation led
to two terms as governor of
this state and thence to an APP
pointment as member Of the supreme
court of the United States. Now he
returns as head of the commission
which is confronted with the task of
gathering evidence to determine what
should be the rate for the differnt
grades of second class matter. While
this is not such task SO far as the
amount of money involved as was the
insurance investigation, it is Of huge
proportions and renders still more diff
fcult because of its many ramifica-
tions as a chief factor in the conduct
OF the postoffice department. Just
what changes may occur remains to
be seen. Periodical publishers have
protested against any change which
will increase their rate, and the rail-
roads which carry the mails are plead
/ ing for a readjustment of pay which
will allow them to earn a fair return
for their service, plea which has
gained added weight since the report
of the postmaster general that out of
about 400 roads investigated nearly
one-t third are losing money under the
present system of mail pay, a condi-
4 ton which congress will undoubtedly
be called upon to remedy next winter.
In addition the railway mail clerks
have their grievances, thus complicat-
| Ing matters still further. Altogether
former Governor Hughes returning
/ here in the role which made him FAM
Gus, that of investigator, is likely to
find himself confronted with a prob
lem worthy OF the man who straight
ened out the life insurance muddle.
il -
Il An invasion Of women's rights on
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