The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-01-09
How Street Car Overcrowdng Spreads Disease
THE Health comni.'ionsr OF N.- York.

TvHE Health Commissioner OF New York.
Dr. & 8. 0oldwster. has attached the
evil OF subway ovsrcrowding from . new
point OF view.
He declares that the ovsrerovdine IN endan
ssrinE public health By spreading contagious
deadly disease germs and that Il 10 the duty Of
the Health Department to stop IT,
Dr. Goldvsier was requested by this news
paper TO explain Just how. I'm his opinion the
rapid transit corporations were eultivating ana
disseminating psstilentiai germs. and how
tho evil could be remedied. In a lengthy
Interview he has dealt with every phase Of
this question. which concerns the health OF
every New Yorker so closely
In the nrst place" said the Commissioner.
J want 20 impress On the people OF New York
hat the willful and unnecessary overerowding
Of the subway cars Is one OF the most danger
GUS causes OF disease and mortality that we
have to face. The cars are deliberately over
crowded for proht II is our belief that the
vitality OF persons who ride In overcrowded
and poorly ventilated cars is .njuriously az
fected: that tho breathing. coughing and sneez
ing OF persons who are packed together result
in the transmission OF diseases by means of
the so-caled 'droplet' infection.
Over-Crowdins of Cars
Willfully Caused.
i speak Of the subway because Il Is con
venient to concentrate ones attention on one
line. but the Brooklyn Rapid Transit il. II any
thing. a worse offender. and there are others
The overcrowding OF the Fifty-ninth street
erosstown line At theatre time Is seandaious
and entirely unnecessary. There is no doubt
that the cars unnecessarily oyercrowded.
for Commissioner Maltbie. one OF the Public
Service Commission. that has charge OF the
comfort OF railway passengers. makes this
port to me:
Investigation OF the subway service in non
rush hours, made my request during the past
few weeks. shows that cars were crowded when
more trains could have been run. that the
orders Of the commission were constantly vio-
lated and that the numerous complaints re
ceived regarding inadequate service were
largely Justified. During rush hours the Inter
borough company claims to be operating trains
% the maximum capacity OF the lines, and no
more can be expected. But there Is no ex-
cuse for constant crowding OF the cars at non.
rush hours. and for continual failure to comply
with the orders OF the commission. Under pres
ent conditions. passengers must be indecently
crowded Z. certain hours. but because they are
accustomed TO II is no reason why they should
compelled TO hang on straps when Il is not
necessary.
"A recent tally by the transportation de-
Ninety-sixth street station on one Saturday
uight and Sunday morning between IL 20 D. IN.
and l:4O a. m, shows that the northbound
trains had standing passengers in every period
OF twenty minutes except one. At another time
here were standing passengers from TO- 10
D. IN. to l:40 n. m. Upon a recent Sunday night
here was overlooking from 800 D. m to mid
light. Another count showed congestion from
20 to $3.50 D. m. on sunday.
'Thaap ara of tod "a nd M
mission had a sufficient number OF inspectors
20 count the passengers at all hours for the
whole system similar conditions would doubt
.ess be found at ether places and at other times
Judging from the complaints received"
Measures to Be
Taken Against the Evil.
Just how do you propose TO remedy the dis
semination OF disease through car overcrowd-
.ng?" enquired the writer.
at present what we demand Is that the SUB
way should enough cars 20 prevent over
-rowding at The hours when II Is able to do so
As a matter Of fact as soon as the rush lessons
they reduce the number Of to keep
az the overcrowding. Their ambition is TO have
As many straphangers as possible. One OF my
Visitors the other day noted that the subway
provided two straps for every seat and that
there we're twenty-five passengers on the plat
form. where there should have been none Our
requirements amount practically to saying that
the subway should run the largest possible mum.
Der Of trains Of the maximum length all day
ong. This they certainly ought to do TO mini
mize a danger that is causing a great loss Of
dfe in New YORK
i am now waiting for the Public Service
commission 20 act. for II Is OBVIOUSLY their duty
70 act first n Il falls the Health Department
VII take energetic action. I should not hest
tate n necessary 10 take control Of the offend
ing roads and force them TO protect public
nealth. 10 may be necessary 20 adopt an appro