Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-07
MONEY IN THE FIGHT.
Business Men Will Raise a Fund to
Secure Smoke Consumers.
THEY CAN DOIT ANDSAvE EXPENSE
A Leading Fifth Avenue ,Jeweler to Head
the List With $500.
CLEANLINESS REGARDLESS OF EXPENSE

leading Fifth avenue jeweler authorized
THE DISPATCH to say that he would heat
fund for the abolition of the nuisance witt
q subscription of $500.
The gentleman believed anywhere from
$40, 900 to $50, 900 could be raised in Pitts
burg The idea is to fight for an ordinance
but if that is found impossible and the
manufacturers cannot pay for these contri
vances the cost will be lightened by appro
priations from this fund.
While speaking of the matter, he said
now that coal was being used extensively
he noticed wonderful increase in the dam
age done to his goods. Fine jewelry be,
came soiled. Fans and lamp shades suffered
especially hard, and nearly all bric-a-brac
was damaged to greater extent than here
tofore.
''Why," he continued, "I lose more than
$500 year in goods that are damaged, to
say nothing of the way furniture, wall
paper and drapings are ruined at my home.
There is not a merchant that does not suffer.
While smoke consumers may save fuel for
the manufacturer, it certainly will benefit
others more than those who have to use
suppose we will have to pay for them.
NONE DRAW PRIZE PACKAGES
'SWe don't usually get much for nothing
in this world" he continued, 'and l don't
suppose this will be any exception TO the
rule We have lived in a smokeless city
and cannot afford to go back to filth now
that it is possible to avoid it
Sheu George W. Biggs was seen he ad-
mitted that large quantities of fine goods
were ruined by the smoke and SCOT, but did
not believe there would be any sense in
buying smoke consumers for millionaire
manufacturers. He was, however, in favor
of fighting for an ordinance.
Among the drygoods men the plea was
made that they did not have goods on hand
long enough to be ruined. They, however,
admitted that such was not always the case.
Goods were quite frequently ruined, but
they argued that smoke damaged goods on
ladies' backs as much as goods on the
counter. Women consequently had to buy
more frequently and it was a case Of "horse
and horse"
The Ladies' Health Protective Association
Is also keeping up the war. Through them
q contrivance for preventing smoke is being
put on Pennsylvania Railroad engine, and
if it is satisfactory all other locomotives
will be similarly equipped. As for other
smoke consumers the association has
pamphlets showing the working and records
of six of the best consumers. which can be
had DIV dDplN1ng TO the secretary the
association. Regarding the work of smoke
consumers in general, Andrew Young, an
authority on the subject, yesterday said:
NO EXCUSE FOR FILTH.
THE friends of cleanliness, healthfulness
and comfort should recognize the important
fact that city is smoky and grimy because
1t is suffered to be SO without any excuse for
1t. Chicago's streets and walks would be in
state of filth and uncomliness did not
some one enforce the ordinances designed
to prevent it. Our own persons would soon
become obnoxious to decency did we neg
lect the proper care of ourselves. 1t is the
general rule that the tendency OF all things
is to ruin, disorder and dissolution. It is
only by the strict regard of the rules of
cleanliness and healthfulneSs that we are
enabled to keep ourselves and surroundings
in a condition befitting the common sense
of enlightened humanity and civilization.
Our atmosphere is no exception to the gen.
eral rule. The laws adopted to keep it pure
and heslthful must be enforced, II these be
natural laws, they must be permitted to
operate bv the removal OF unnatural OBJ
structions. If they be civil laws, they must
be made operative through the courts es-
tablished to execute them. No one can re-
tire from the contest and say that the laws
cannot be enforced. This is confession of
weakness and cowardice that no man would
own.
IAN laws can be enforced. The whole civil
moral and military powers of this country
are behind every law on our statute books
to enforce every law in them. More than
this, every citizen in the United States is an
officer and can proceed through the proper
channels to have the laws enforced and
their violation punished. Certain officials
are elected or appointed for the perform
ance of certain duties in the enforcement of
laws in special departments, but they are
but servants of the people, and back of and
beyond them are the prerogatives and power
of the people who are the makers of all laws
and the final counsel, judge and jury. The
enactments governing the smoke nuisance
stand on a level with other statutes and
their enforcement is no more difficult The
same channels are open to them as to Others,
and the prevention of smoke is to
be found through the same agencies.
The proposed ordinances are reasonable.
Ther do not ask men to do impossible
Things, and it is too late day now for man
10 fail back and presume on the ignorance
Of the people by saying that smoke cannot
be prevented or the nuisance abated.
at is expected that smoke producers will
oppose prevention. The man who would
throw ashes and garbage into the streets is
not 10 do it. Every violator of the law is an
enemy to the law he violates.
FORCE MUST BE USED.
I'VE cannot rely on the producers of
smoke to prevent it of their own free will.
They must be induced or forced to do it, and
the way to do this is to take steps direct to
the end in view. The fact has been estab-
lshed that smoke can be prevented, and
the next step is to prevent it. Science and
mechanical ingenuity have solved the first
problem, and it but remains for the people
10 solve the second by the enforcement of
laws enacted to that end.
About the weakest and most silly excuse
ever made regarding the prevention of
smoke is that neglectful and careless fire
men will not attend to the devices for the
consumption of smoke and they will not be
used, get out of order and become inefficient.
If this is a laudable excuse, then there is an
excuse for about all the ills that we could
be made to suffer. Besides, if this be true,
that same carelessness and negligence will
destroy the usefulness of boilers and en-
gines, and the men who make these excuses
should not use boilers and engines at all.
That same carelessness and negligence will
soon put dwelling in such disorder and
discomfort that 1t would not be fit to live in;
therefore no one should have dwellings.
Furthermore it is as much a mans duty to
employ a fireman who will obey the law in
the performance of his labors as it is for
him to employ driver who will not wilfully
run down people in the streets. This excuse
Is so foolish that 1t would not be worth an
answer were it not SO general. The fact
is these devices are simple of construction
and easy to operate. Ordinary care and in
telligence with the industry necessary for
the accomplishment OF all labor are all that
they require. The claim that they are COM
pleX and difficult to operate is all nonsense.
They are an aid to firemen and an economic
1actOr IN the consumption OF 1uel Every
thing farors their use. Their first cost may
be a drawback to some but their use for a
short time will repay that and leave good
profit on the investment. These facts
Should all be taken into account by the ten
der-hearted who hesitate to discharge their
duties for fear Of placing burden on fur
mace owners; their burden is quite light
compared with the burden the people have
TO bear who must suffer smoke-defled at
mosphere. There is but one side to this
question and that is the one favoring smoke