The New York herald., 1879-09-28
NOISE. SMOKE AND SMELL.

INTERVIEW WITH MRS. ISAAC wALToN-A
WOMAN WHO HAS DEVOTED HER LIFE TO
THE ABATINa OF NUIsANCEs.
Mrs. Isaac Walton, the lady who has contributed
much toward lessening the noise along part at
least of the "L road in Sixth avenue returned from
Europe Thursday in the steamer Denmark, and
yesterday, though still suffering from the effects Of
her tedious voyage. she received HERALD reporter
and related the numerous trials she had gone
through to make name aud secure solid income
not for herself she stated. but for her son. who
is an invalid. aud for her grandchildren.
II did not go to England" Mrs. Walton said elm
regard to my device for stopping the noise rail-
roads. but to obtain patent for something now I
have invented to prevent dust. smoke smell from
poisoning the air where railroads running
factories emitting foul gases. Passengers need
not shut down the windows in q railroad car when
passing through q tunnel, nor will there be any
smell in the vicinity of gas works. for instance.
the oil works at Hunters Point the moment my
method is applied have succeeded in invent
ing something which not going to
describe in detail until all my papers are
properly filed. This I can tell you. however. that
had my American patents before started for Eng
land and there learned. after eleven days were
spent in incessant searching. that nothing like it
had ever been submitted to the British authorities
at least since 1882. Then I received my patent
with the congratulations of the British officials A
prominent lawyer said to me- 1t is strange, indeed.
that woman should come all the way from Amer.
ica to solve problem which have been discuss
ing these many years past. We consider it of
the greatest inventions of the age When get my
final papers. in very few days. shall be
glad to make experiments in the presence of any
number OF experts or other gentlemen. can
assure you of this. that with my method I'll be
able to burn any amount of garbage in outside OF
the city and smell dust will result from it. 1t
is far more important invention than my device to
stop the noise on the IL" roads. which consider
very ordinary one and it will affect only this city
but the entire country-in Pittsburg for instance,
where volumes of smoke from the iron furnaces
and mills continually cloud the sky. Is 1t q wonder
that a prominent gentleman from that city has
already been here in this house since my
return from England to look into this matterf
have, to my bitter COST learned much, assure you.
since my invention to stop the noise on the IL"
ful amount of trouble and do not wish to be caught
in like manner again. I must say this. however.
that the railroad company has treated very gener
ously, and have fault to find in that direction.
The company wanted to buy my entire patent, but
certain amount, and 1 was to have received subse-
qucnt payments ut stated times-a stipulated sum
por nile.Dut they are at present enjoined from
doing SO, though am confident / shall be success
ful In having the injunction removed
BOXING THE RAILS
"Wil you please give u technical description
OF tho method for stopping the noiso railrosdsr
asked the reporter.
II call 1t boxing the rails replied Mrs. Walton.
II made up my mind one day when everybody along
tho avenue was complaining of the noise that Il
must be stopped where II originated. The method
Is thisTo box the rails with frame Of wood, lined
underneath with tar and light padding
OF cotton tightly packed with sand COW
cred with asphalt and tar. This has been
done from Twenty-sixth to. Thirtieth street.
But this invention to absorb the smoke ana smell
from railroads. factories and forth. Ia far moro
important to me. Years ago, when my husband
alive spoke to him the subject but he rdiculed
my ideas Now both tho United States and Great
Britain have testified by letters patent that my hus
band was wrong and Twas right. Even when child
had the tact OF a mechanic. 1t apparently .
years old made with my own hands, in my fathers
toolshop, wagon large enough to hold two chill
dren. and in whatever mechanical work my husband
was engaged always assisted him. During the.oarly
years of our married life contributed much to the
support OF our family. My husband was employed
salesman and buyer in Wholesale hosiery
house in this city. Before that he engaged In .
wholesale cloth house. and he always had consider.
able business of his own so that he never received
income Of less than $G,0O0 or $4,000 per annum.
He was, nevertheless, exceedingly penurious,
and ut his death In 1875 left fortune
OF about 100000 in United States bonds.
These, however. have boon kept from me,
but while In Europe succeeded in getting all the
evidence required for the purpose, and will shortly
lay the more before tho Surrogate Ono
that my husband had such confidence In the
the man who deprived OF my rights was that they
both Free Masons. And let me add that the
only men who have dishonoraby treated me since
my husbands death members OF that great and
honorable fraternity"
Mrs. Walton, who is intelligent looking matrou
"on the shady side of hfty." she herself stated,
was here interrupted by n gentleman who called to
talk on business matters aud the reporter wthdrew