, 1880-11-21
THE PROPOSED SMOKE ORDINANCE.

We understand that the ordinance dcSi gned
to abate the smoke nuisance will come up
for special consideration of the Common
Council ut its regular meeting tomorrow
evening. The purpose of this ordinance has
the sympathy and approval of the public, and
there is reason to believe that its provisions
are calculated to produce the desired effect
Of reducing the amount of smoke which Of
late years has become u curseto this city with
out working injury or injustice to any indi-
vidual or corporate Interest. The opposition
it has encountered is suggested partly by a
misrepresentation Of the effect the ordinance
will have, and partly by selfish indifference
to the welfare of Chicago and to the health and
comfort of the people who reside here. The
ordinance is not constructed in the interest
Of any patent snloke-burner, and does not
even require that snoke-burners shall be
used. It simply provides that the smoke
nuisanceshall be abatel whenever and where
ever it shall be offensive; the means to that
end is left to the discretion Of every person
who otfends. The work Of inspection is in-
trusted to the Health Department. The
process Of repression will probably consist
first In warning and advice as to the
4uCLIUA HUI IlHS UEcl1 4Q4l4u AO9b [4l1LAl-
cious in reducing the volume Of smoke, and
it is only in those cases where pervcrse aud
unreasonable opposition to the abatement OF
the nuisance shall he encountered that the
fine will be imposed. Every one who is will
ing to concede that the community has the
right to enforce from individuals proper
Difference to public health and interests Of
property must also cOnceuc the fairness Of
this proposition.
The railroad managers have offered more
opposition to the passage Of this ordinance
than has come from any other source, and
they are the very lust persons who ought to
antagonize it. The railroad corporations ell
joy exceptional privileges in this city. Their
dep0ts are located ut central points, and they
have always been treated with favor and for
bearance. When they are asked to refrain
from blackening the houses, choking the
respiration of tho people, and running the
property Of Chicago, they should be willing
to comply with the demand, even at some
cost. But the fact is, that the reduction Of
tho snoke-waste i'll the railroad locomo-
tiyes will be at the same time 4
saving to the railroads, and they may
make this saving by more systematic
supervision Of their engineers. The lii
nois Central Railroad has demonstrated this
fact by actual experiment. Some time ago
the officers Of that road, BY means OF repeated
trials, arrived ut Il close estimate Of the
amount Of coal which is necessary to enable
a locomotive to do q stated amount 1T serv-
ice. Since then every engineer i'll the en1-
ploy OF the Company understands that he
will be called to account If he shall use
more than 4 proper allowance Of fuel. The
Illinois Central engineers have thus learned
to econon,izc their coal, and not waste it in
smoke. They fire more frequently and In
smaller quantities Of fuel, and thus assure
more complete combustion. Smoke and SCOT
are only a loss of carbon that ought to be
consumed in heat. 1t is the lazy and care
less engineers who chill their fires BY plling
on great mass OF cold fuel III order
that they ncel not fccd so frequently,
and it is this practice which produces
mnst Of the black smoke that pours in great
volumes from locomotives and tugs. The
employers should welcome city ordinance
which will have The effect TO make engineers
and firernen more careful in. order to avoid 4
fine for committing nuisance, since such
restraint is bound ut the same time to reduce
their coal bills.
What is true of the corporations is equally
true Of individual employers, who ought,
moreover, to take local pride lii prom moting
The cleanliness and snod appearance Of the
city, :'.tiLa.u, dice freed fruM the unuec2s-