The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-01
MARTIN OVERCOME BY FUMES OF DUST ON EAST LAKE CAR Is Taken to Hillman Hospital Where Doctors Work
 or Him
CITIZENS COMMENT
 ON DUST NUISANCE
Say Condition of Streets Between Birs mingham and Woodlawn Is Menace to Public Health
 on Account of Dust

A peculiar case which puzzled the phy- day afternoon was that Of A. B. Martin of East Lake. an elderly man who became unconscious yesterday morning about 1o:30 o'clock while riding on an East Lake car.
 Martin had boarded the car at College station and was on his way to the city. Louisville and Nashville depot for Louis- vile.
 At the time of his fall tho street car was nearing Forty-ninth street on First avenue in woodlawn. Several passen- gers, who rode the same car, stated that dense clouds of dust whirled up by tho motors from the dry street. had entered through the doors and windows of the car, and that the air was suffocating.
 Martin Sinks Unconscious
 Martin. who was seated on rear seat. was seen to gasp several times. and then tear his collar open He staggered to his feet as though intending to walk to the door, but gasped once moresand sank to the floor unconscious
 Others in the car rushed to him ant he soon revived. but. was too weak 70 get back to his seat vezy few stons were made. after that and he was rnShed into the city as quickly as possible At the corner of Twentieth street and First avenue several gentlemen suggested eali- ing an ambulance. but Mir. Martin obIet- ed saying that 1t was necessary thgt he catch his train. However. he was later presuaded 10 be carried to the Hll- man hospital. A taxicab was secured near the corner and he was taken there at once.
 At the hospital. before the attendants could put him on a couch. he 1apsed into unconsciousness again from which he only revived after almost an hours work. During the afternoon. however. as the result of restoratives administered Mi. Martin had greatly improved and phy- sicians at the Hllman hospital stated last night that he would probably be able to leave the hospital this morning
 Doctors at the hospital stated yesterday evening that the strange fainting spells were due to Mir. Martins having been overcome by the choking clouds of dust It was understood that the case could not have been serious in the case of a healthy person. but that man or woman with weak constitution might have & great deal of trouble from this source.
 When the news of MT Martins Illness became known in Woodlawn and East Lake yesterday and the probable cause. several prominent citizens commented on the dust nuisance.
 Citizens Score Dust
 The Rev. W. M. Anderson, pastor of the Fifty-sixth Street Baptist church of Woodlawn, said: "The dust which the residents of East Lake and Woodiawn must endure while riding as passengers on an East Lake car Is not only a nuis- ance but a danger Children and small babies, especially, are in grave danger from the clouds of dust that fill the cars all along the entire length of the car line Some action ought to be taken by not only the officials of the street car company, but stringent measures ought to be considered by the city au- thorities."
 pr. D. V. Edmundson, proprietor of tks Edmundson Drug company, at Woodlawn. said: "A ride on the East LakS car line to Birmingham or from the city oua to the suburbs has now become f positive abomination. It is rideulousy outrage- ous and dangerous The city has neg Iected it's duty to the citizens of Wood lawn and East Lake. The street im- proyements have been almost worse than no Improvements at all. and the cars stir up more dust from First avenue now than before the streets were 'improved.' It would be advisable for any one who has to ride these ears. to take along suit of overalls, gloves and an umbrella. as he ynl have the sensation of trip very much like one across the Sahart desert on a windy day"
 Dr. w. r.. Prescott of East Lake said. ''The dust which we encounter on the trip to Birmingham over the Birming- ham, Railway. Light and Power company. 4 tracks is absolutely menance to the pue-l lie health. It is dangerous for any personN to ride through it. and the city and ths company should both take steps to allevf-v ate this evil If they will not, saen th3 citizens of woodlawn and East Lax should take the matter into their owl hands"