The Washington times., 1929-01-16
Ventilation Is.
IMPROVED
IN CARS

The flue epidemic has brought
about renewed agitation for efficient
mechanical ventilation of motor
coaches, street cars, airplanes and
even private automobiles in many
American cities.
City and State health commits
sioners, besides the United States
Public Health Service, are issuing
warnings and asking for laws which
win thoroughly protect the health
and comfort of passengers VINO ride
in public vehicles, while some
prominent manufacturers, sensing
the trend, already are providing
these facilities.
OF nearly 500 huge motor coaches
recently ordered by officials IN
Toledo, Detroit, Columbus, Cleveland
and other cities to supplement street
car service. every one Is provided
with a complete. compact mechani'
cal system of ventilation which is
capable OF changing the air every
three minutes without opening
the windows or causing drafts.
Bad. germ-laden air and disagree
able odors are taken out continu.
ously by blower fans which also
pump in fresh air, take it through
. heater and distribute It evenly
among the passengers. Each of 100
buses Just purchased by the city
of Detroit Is provided with three
ventilators in the roof. one In the
cowl and an electric ventilating fan
overhead near the door.
U.,ARs.
DIR. Paul F. Orr, health commits.
sioner of Toledo, has investigated
the ventilating system provided IN
zoo buses purchased during tas
last three months by the city of
Toledo, besides insisting that this
type of ventilation be provided Tor
the city's 500 street cars. He .
also making a survey of public
schools. hotels, restaurants, theatcrs
and other places to determine the
extent to which the systems Of
ventilation are being operated with
the view of immediate enforcement
OF ordinances which will minimize
the risks of the widespread, con-
nunicable influenza.
Toledo, Detroit. Cleveland, Chi
cago, New York. Buffalo, Nil.
waukee, Boston, and Philadelphia
theaters are aiding the movement
by advertising that elaborate air
conditioning systems in their
theakers carry out vitiated air cOE-
tinuously and are therefore tire
iurthest removed from the dangers
Of Catching the flu"
In New York the subways are
equipped with blower fans and
other ventilating equipment which
are seldom operated, Since the flu
struck this great center of poputa-
ton there has been extensive agita.
ton to enforce the continuous
operation of these fans. Some of
the newspaper writers are caricatur-
ing foul air in the subway trains
and demanding more positive
ventilation OF the cars
In st. Louis there has been news.
paper agitation for ventilation OF
street cars. Patrons of the street
cars are writing to the newspapers
asking for city ordinances provid-
Ing for specified air changes IN
these public conveyances. Out in
Los Angeles, where the flu had an
early start, public health officials
declare that poor ventilation of pun
lie conyeyances was one of the
most prolific sources of this
battling malady.
For Private Cars
Some OF the more observing
manufacturers of automobiles are
giving increasing attention to yenti-
lation of their products Several
have adopted new type Of hot
water heater. which takes hot water
from the circulating system Of the
engine and passes il through the
heating element of the heater which
IL mounted conveniently on the
dash under the cowl.
Fresh air is driven through this
beating element by a snail blower
fan to all corners Of the interior
Of the car and returned. forming
complete circulation of fresh
warm air which will keep the in
terror of the car snug and warm
in the most disagreeable weather.
Several important manufacturers
Of the cabin air cruisers have given
particular attention to the proper
mechanical ventilation OF these en-
closed airplanes as we'll as other
conveniences for the comfort and
health of passengers. These fea-
lures recently were noted in
special report of the Aeronautfc
Division Of the American Society
OF Mechanical Engineers
Practically all the quantity pro.
ducers of automobiles recently have
bulletined their dealers and branch
service managers to make certain
that ventilating systems are oper-
ated during the cold spell which
brings with it the menace of car
bon monoxide poisoning in closed