The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-10
SUBWAY AIR GOOD;
GRATINGS FAVORED
Engineers' Report on ventila-
ton Plans Says Bacteria
Keep Out Of Tube.
FANS TO PLAY A PART

A svport ssvsssnG xhs continuance Of
sidewalk gratinSD - the most eficient
and economical method Of v%entilating
the present gubWays ana those now be-
ing CONSTRUCTED was made TO the Public
Service Commission yesterday BY the
consulting engineers Of the Inserboroush
Rapid Transit Company and the New
York Municipal Railway Corporation.
who. WIN q ". Murdoch - the repre-
sentative u Alfred Craven. chief en-.
ginesr Of the commission. have had the
matter under consideration since last
JunA
IN Q printed pamphlet Of twelve pages
uss ooard eoes INTO the whole matter of
subway Ventilation from the investiga-
ton Of he subject made during tho nrst
yoaP a operation down 10 recent experi-
msnes. Two points Are disposed Of i'm
msalueSly. The first 10 that numerous
easts Brow that the air IN the subways
shoxv . siight increase IN the percentage
q oAS0onio acd Ga over what was IN
M nrst yssrs Of operation.
This II SAID to be due to Increased
trahsn, and the percentage still falls
below ne normal percentage In office
buiidinn. OF bacteria the report says:
I'VE have submitted many samples OF
cir. both IN the subway and tho street,
TO similar meteorological examination
While Individual tests ehowed. naturally
considerable variation. averaging all the
soBee thai No have made We have found
Shae thero wers 219 bacteria In the sub
wry cir and 256 in the street air pei
cubic meter. And that the bacteria In the
subway air were actually less thar those
m the air In the streets. probably due &c
the fact that the drier air Of the subway
10 n0e conducive 20 meteorological life.
Question Of Hot Air.
~Thsse f9ures simply confirm tire SEN
eaSions Of those using the subway. thai
Il 10 only At times, when the air IN thu
rtreets II hot hat h temperature con
AitIons in the subway are disagreeaole
There IL no cause for complaint OF ethel
the chemical or ARCHAEOLOGICAL condition
OF the air at my time Of the year"
The engineers sAy that they have care
fully considered suggestions made FOL
the ventilation Of the subways. The FRS
Of these was that the air be chemical,
treated. This suggestion 's disposed q
nv the proof that the trouble with th'
subway air u not It's impurity but III
heat, and that the conditions call for nt
chemical treatment. The suggestion tina
currents Of air IN me subway BE-, con
trolled BY the use OF revolving doors a
subway entrances Is declared 90 be I'm
practical and dangerous because OF th'
large crowds.
A third suggestion Wal mat openings
FOR ventilation IN places other than the
sidewalk No made. especially that chin
neys In buildings b used for forced
draft exhaust II n found by tho board
that 10 introduce forced draN ventila-
lion In the section Of the subway between
Brooklyn Bridge ana Ninety-siStf
street would cost 100000 900. and thai
the operation Of such n system would
entail, with the installation. . total cap
italized cost OF $4,000. 900. or about
81 oO. 900 a mile Of four track subway
Numerous physical and engineering oh
S~ections 10 the chimney suggestion an
set forth In the report
The plan Of cooling subway air by re-
frigeration. which admittedly goes Il
vUe TOOl u tUS pEODlCihis u iNycNtN' uc'
cause Of the practical difficulties 70 be
overcome and the cost
Coming TO tho present system Of side
walk gratings tho board points on
that a typical subway sidewalk Eatint
discharged air at much less velocity ant
at u much lower temperature han dc
many Of the sidewalk gratings owned b,
persons who have raised objections I,
this scheme OF ventilation for the sub
ways.
Fans for FomerEency Cso.
The ANAL conclusions reached are:
THAT in the opinion of your commit
tee tho natural method of ventilation h.
ina piston action OF trains. With ,ntak'
and discharge openings OF large area
md supplemented by fans for emergenc
use, is the most effective method whicl
can be applied at practicable cost. am
provides the maximum degree OF safet,
against unforeseen effects Of interruption
Of traffic due to accident.
THAT in subways constructed wit
moro or less continuous grating open
inGs along the length OF the structure
rho natural method OF ventilation Is ade
quate without auxiliary mechanical In
stallation. That in the application q
tnl8 natural meuhod tne location or IN
gratings required should be closely stud
led. In order TO minimize their occupa
ton Of silewalk area at any point. an
that when care has been exercised /
this matter such gratings are less OF
Jectionable tina IN practicable metho
Of ventilation which would secure 10
the public using the eubways eQus
safety and comfort.
FINALLY. the recommendation OF on
committee. therefore. Is that the plan
adopted by your commission and no'
undo construction in the subways OF IN
dual system be adhered to, with sue
notifications in detail as may be sup
gested BY further consideration OF OF
Grating conditions n necessities"
The members Of the board were VII
fam Barclay Parsons, s, F.. l.. Deyo, .
vipond Davies and Lewis u. Stillwel
The position taken by these engineer
Ia tho same as that taken by Chief Err
ginoor Craven Of the commission pre
vious to h demand for a more thor
eugh Investigation Of the subject.