KinSource - Tale of the Week - Keeping The Cars Clean Closed

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The St. Paul Globe, March 8, 1903, p. 22

KEEPING THE CARS CLEAN.

An arrest has been made under the ordinance prohibiting spitting in street cars. The Globe knows nothing of the merits of this particular case and has no idea of prejudicing the rights of any citizen in the courts, but it is to be hoped that something will be done to promote public health and decency by keeping the cars clean.

The human hog is altogether too much in evidence in the street car, as he is also rather plenteously in evidence in the conduct of the same necessary evil. It is [necessary] for the preservation of the public health that spitting be absolutely prohibited, yet the custom is by no means estopped by the administration of the laws.

And while something is being done to restrain the natural disposition of the man who cares nothing for health and decency the effort of the authorities might go farther. Cars are packed to the point of indecency and when the weather is heavy and damp there are times when a delicate person finds it a real infliction to travel in the villianous atmosphere of some of the cars that are used as trailers. It must be admitted that most of the cars in use in St. Paul are fairly ventilated but it is also true that passengers are packed into them in a manner that offends against personal rights and decency.