NECESSITY FOE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF CITY BUILDING y 



more dangerous does it become as a means of transmitting communicable 

 disease to others, and there is a constant proportionate increase in infectious 

 organisms found in the air of traffic conveyances as their congestion 

 increases. Observations made in the subway from the Atlantic Avenue 

 Station to 96th Street and back through the subway during the rush hours 

 have shown a constant increase of the disease breeding organisms such as 

 were responsible for the epidemic of infectious colds during last December, 

 January and February. Observations show the presence of these bacteria in 

 such amounts as to constitute a serious public menace. The epidemic cost 

 the city two thousand lives over and above the usual death rate as it pre- 

 vailed a year ago and for the previous five years. Those deaths were due to 

 organisms which were found constantly in the air in the subway cars, which 

 has been examined in our laboratory." 



The importance of the districting plan to the public health as related 

 to provision of light and air is immediate and undoubted. Adequate natural 

 light and air are admitted to be fundamental in health regulation. Much 

 of the entire districting plan is based on the desire to secure for the public 

 as wholesome conditions with regard to provision of light and air as are 

 compatible with the necessary and reasonable utilization of the land. Only 

 through a comprehensive plan for the districting of the city is it possible 

 to apply adequate and effective standards of light and air in the interest of 

 the public health. This is confirmed by the testimony of Dr. Emerson, who 

 says : " I would say that the opinions of physicians have been expressed 

 in reports which are almost identically worded, dating back at least one 

 hundred years, with exactly the same conclusions and recommendations 

 which might be considered parallel with those now arrived at by this Com- 

 mission; also that the report of 1832 and previous ones of citizens' com- 

 mittees on conditions of health in this city indicated the necessity of 

 providing for the future. These recommendations were made when the 

 development of New York City had not yet reached 14th Street. We are 

 still without the necessary relief, which nothing but this plan of yours can 

 provide." 



Sunlight destroys disease breeding bacteria. Artificial light as ordi- 

 narily used has virtually no effect upon bacteria. This sanitary effect of 

 sunlight is sufficient reason for its requirement in liberal amount wherever 

 people live and work. Natural light also has undoubted superiority from 

 the standpoint of general health and efficiency of the workers. The use of 

 artificial light results in an increase of eye-strain and reduced physical 

 resistance 'to disease. Good air conditions are usually possible where there 

 is good natural light; poor ventilation is a usual accompaniment of the dark 

 room. This is borne out by Dr. Emerson in his testimony before the Com- 

 mission : " It is proved that sunlight in the living room and the sleeping 

 room materially aids in providing resistance against diseases like tuber- 

 culosis. The sun has a destructive effect upon disease breeding bacteria. 

 Direct sunlight is a most effective disinfectant. Direct daylight — even 



