Evening star., 1928-12-24
More Fresh Air Urged
For Street Cars Here
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
AS one of the many thousands that
are daily called upon to use the street
cars of our fair city I would like to en-
ter plea for more and better ventlla-
ton of our street cars. 1t has been
my observation that since public Sentl-
ment arose in behalf of the motormen
and conductors some IS years ago and
caused the cars to be 90 constructed as
! to protect these men from the cold and
inclement weather, these same men
have assumed public be damned
attitude and now make no efforts to as
SiSt the car riders to healthy and COM
Portable ride on the cars.
Whereas these operators formerly
wore clothing adapted to the condl-
tions of the weather at any particular
period, and were thus dressed to with
stand those conditions as well as their
passengers, now you seldom see one
with an overcoat or sweater, and to keep
themselves warm and comfortable with
the present ventilation systems OF the
cars it seems to result in the at
moSphere in the average car (eSpe-
cially on a mild day and during the
rush period being foul and very un-
pleasant.
Sometimes when boarding a car just
as it leaves the barn 1t has evidently
not been opened and aired at the end
of the run, as could very well be done,
and it seems to me it would be prac-
tical to permit four or five windows on
the rear end of each car to remain open
during at least part of each run-the
passengers who dislike a little air Will
soon learn to hunt the other end.
Furthermore, the common practice OF
opening only a couple OF ventilators in
nif hn 0f
them all in one direction is Of so little
practical benefit on close, Sultry days
as to be of little use.
Apparently those responsible for Ven-
tilation have only one cut-and-dr1ed
method for all occasions and all kinds
of weather, assuming that the paSsen-
gers will do the rest, which is quite
right, as far as it goes. but it usually
takes strong man to lift car window,
and quite frequently have tried and
have seen other men try several times
to lift some of them and fail to bulge
them; so what chance has many an
other
On the other hand, almost any per-
son can close window If he wishes,
and in the interest of better health
and comfort would suggest that dur
ing all moderate weather the starter at
the barns be instructed to insist that
at least all of the windows in the rear
half of the car be left open when the
car leaves the barn; then II they were
only as hard to close as they now are
to open perhaps a Straphanger would
not be in quite so much danger OF Suf-
location.
The above observations and sugges-
tionS, I find. meet with the hearty ap-
proval of many other straphangers
with whom I have talked and who feel
very serious about the subject. Little
do wonder that many prefer to buy a
flivver and furnish their own tranSpor-
tation even if the cost is greater.
/ we'll remember 1918 and the flu
of that year, and have noted that our
health officer has advised every one to
avoid crowded, congested places and
especially to keep in the fresh air. Has
the present threatened epidemic to
start taking heavy toll of lives before
some sensible, strenuous measures are
adopted to remove the greatest liability
as breeding place for diseases OF the
respiratory organs?
AS I was among the first to advo-
cate some measure Of protection to the
actual operators of our street cars,
now wish to make plea to those and
all others in a position to assist, that
some measure of relief be now accorded
to the car passengers.
we'll know that no one rule will
please all persons, nor do expect to
have all the rules adopted to meet with
my entire approval, but when hear SC
many interested persons discussing this
subject and so many expressions OF the
above sentiment in this matter. it seems
to me that some effort should be made
in some way, shape or form, to relieve
the situation.
N.pF. MATTESON.