The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-05-04
DEMONSTRATION TRAIN STATE
BOARD OF HEALTH, IN AR
CADIA MAY 10TH.

49, " NhN AANeASH
Train" on it's wanderings UP and down
the state, Florida Ia staken a long
step forward. No other common.
wealth in the entire country is better
equipped than this for the work #
educating it's people to higher ideas
~ sanitation and to the prevention OF
disease, according to the irost ad
vanced scientific methods and eVper.
fence.
DIR. Porters Pet Ambition
This train with its splendid equip
ment Is the realization Of the Ict am
billions OF DR.. Joseph Y. Porter, for
more than twenty-five ;ears the ef-
foient and able officer # tho STATE
Board OF Health. II provides the
means by which the board may come
into closer touch with the people Il
Florida, may bring its campaign of
practical education on health and san
itation to the people themselves. This
campaign has been carried on for
years by correspondence, by period.
cal and special publications and
through the press Of the state, which
always has been most hearty and lib
eral in its support OF the work Of the
board.
During the year past representa-
tives Of the board have visited various
sections and cities Of the state, car.
rying with them panels, models and
other equipment to bring TO the poo
pie practical instruction for better liv-
ing. The splendid success that at
tended this EFFORT suggested it's elabo-
ration and extension, and the health
train is the result.
This has been accomplished without
any special appropriation of state
funds. The initial cost of the train
and its equipment and Its operation
will add not one cent to the burdens
already resting upon the tax payers
Of Florida.
Responses Were Ready.
Prior to the gathering OF the legisla.
ture of 1915 the board preached to
the various railroad companies oper.
ating In the state the matter Of free
hauling OF such a train and free pas.
sage for the necessary representatives
Of the state board and Of the attend
ants and servants required. From the
officers Of these transportation lines
came ready response Of willingness
to furnish. such service without cost
to the state or the board il it could
he done within the legal provisions Of
the statute books Of the state.
Next, appeal was made to the state
railroad commission. which expressed
the opinion that it had not the au-
thoirty to grant such permission TO
the railroad companies under the then
existing laws. II was considered that
special enactment by the legislature
would be needed to such such authorl-
ty. This was adopted by the legisla.
ture in May, 1918. which. in effect,
gave the commission authority to give
the railroads permission to do what
they had already promised to do. and
so the complicated problem was solved
and all was well, so far.
THE Pullman Company was most
liberal in its bargain with the board,
by which the latter secured three
sleeping cars for its use.
These were remodeled to meet the
requirements Of the new and some. |
what novel service, and they were .
brought to Jacksonville some weeks "
ago. The intervening time has been a
occupied in preparing and installing c
he equipment for the great ana i'm. "A
Iortant work. II
The cooperation Of the railroads Of Il
he state with this work Of the state
ard has been most liberal even en- q
husiastic. The agreement between Il
he roads and the board provides that -
ll'car inspection shall he done with il
mt cost and that all minor repairs,
UGH as replacing brasses in wheel ~
repairing broken draw bars, 81
nd the like, shall be made at actual II
ost. Some roads have promised to a,
e the cars without charge. Il
At the regular rates. such as are u,
harged for the handling OF theatrical Ia
pedals or parties travelling in pri. al
ate cars, the service rendered with. Ia
ut charge would amount annually to us
ms Of thousands Of dollars This CO. re
peration Of the railroads will be Of &C
ntold worth to the people Of the tn
ate, and II is strong evidence that M
zen railroad managers have souls.
By a ruling Of the interstate COM ed
erce commission the train may be I'm
indled beyond the limits Of Florida TO
nd in any state in the Union, without he
large or at reduced rates, whenever me
e transportation companies Of such sit