ROSA: REGULATION OF NATURAL MONOPOLIES 217 



business, this is their best time for reading. As a rule, however, 

 the Hghting of cars is insufficient and the arrangement of fights is 

 often atrocious from the point of view both of the passengers who 

 are not reading and those who are. Eye sight is too precious a 

 possession and too easily injured to justify the continuance of 

 poor lighting of cars. Better light is required than would be 

 necessary if the cars were not moving. The problem is different 

 on electric cars from what it is on steam cars, because in the former 

 the current for lights comes from the same circuit that supplies 

 the motors, and hence great variations occur due to the fluctuat- 

 ing voltage on the trolley wire. To secure better lighting (1) a 

 steadier voltage should be available, (2) better lamps should be 

 used than are generally seen in electric cars, (3) a greater quantity 

 of light should be available, and (4) the lamps should be so shaded 

 and so located as to keep the glare out of the eyes of the passenger, 

 and yet give good illumination for reading. The immense im- 

 portance of this subject can only be realized when one considers 

 the millions of people who daily spend a considerable time in 

 steam or electric cars, and how much better the service would be 

 if the cars were pleasantly and sufficiently lighted. The public 

 service commissions have it in their power to effect an immense 

 improvement in this respect, but first a thoro investigation should 

 be made, with the co-operation of the railroads, to show what 

 are the best methods to follow, and what it is practicable to ac- 

 complish with present resources. 



Heating and ventilation of cars. Another question of great 

 practical importance is the heating and ventilation of cars, includ- 

 ing Pullman sleeping cars. Any person who has sweltered in an 

 overheated, unventilated lower berth of a sleeping car (and who 

 has not), will allow that there is great room for improvement. 

 Surely the resources of American invention have not been exhaus- 

 ted in this direction, nor, indeed, with respect to heating and 

 ventilation of day coaches. It is one of the functions of public 

 service commissions to see that the health and comfort of the 

 public are kept in view by the utifity companies, and if it can be 

 made clear what should be done in this respect, the way to reform 

 is open. 



