Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-28
Is the Idea Mr.. Wilcox Would Like to
Bring Out by Placing Them
in Each Station.
LADIES ARE JUBILANT OVER THE MOVE
Opinion Of Chicago Expert on the Possibilities Of
These Devices.

TO coal, because the gas supply mas, become
loo fckie for the department to risk another
winter with no better promise of fuel than
was given during the one just past. Not
withstonding the return 10 coal the city is
not TO be troubled with black
clouds of smoke from any of, the
pumping stations. Superintendent Will
cox, of the Water Bureau, and Senator
William Finn are authority for the state
ment that in each station smoke consumers
will be used-not only as an economic meas
ure, but also as a great moral example to
the manufacturer and others who insist on
destroying homes and wrecking the happi-
ness of the. inmates by filling. the air with
poisonous vapors and covering everything
with robe of soot
How the Matter Was Evolved.
The matter was brought out by CONVEX
sation between Superintendent Wilcox and
Senator Finn in an elevator. Mr.. Wilcox
opened the matter by stating that bids were
in for fuel for the coming year and that coal
would have to be used. He closed with the
remark that it would make an awful lot of
smoke.
"But you, of course, intend to put in
smeke consumers, remarked the Senator.
''I am afraid it would cost too much. How
much would it cost?''
"About $50, 900, " replied Mr.. Wilcox.
at wouldn't take long to make that up
in the fuel that would be saved" returned
Mr. Finn. Then he added: ''You had bet
ter make arrangements to use consumers,
and we VIII see that they are put in. 1t
ought to be done, for we want an ordinance
against the smoke nuisance, and here would
be great chance for the city to pose as an
example"
The pair finally decided that such action
ought to be taken, although the ordinance
authorizing it may not be introduced until
the September meeting of Councils. When
Mr.. Finn was asked about the matter yes
terday he was deep in political affairs and
denied that he knew anything about smoke
consumers or the intentions of the Water
Bureau. However, he was not told where
the information had been CLEANED.
The Ladies Very Well Pleased.
The ladies who have been working SO
hard to lessen the nuisance caused by smoke
are jubilant over the idea that the city will
furnish an example of cleanliness. The
women are still cendus.ing their warfare,
and yesterday they received the following
able ideas on the smoke nuisance from
Andrew Young, of Chicago.
There are so many interests centering
in the subject of smoke abatement that the
least aid in the riddance ofsthis great nuis-
ance will be of value and prove a public
benefaction. The evils Of the smoke nuis-
ance touch life and the welfare of humanity
in every phase of existence and occupation.
The ills arising therefrom affect communities
in every condition in which life
is pursued. 1t poisons the atmosphere, con-
teammates food and drink, soils clothing
and furniture, makes the day dismal,
blackens cottages and mansions, depreciates
value, and lessons the attractiyeness of cities
to enterprises, the investor, and the So
journer Not only this, but in the abate-
ment of smoke there is an incidental good
which, while not the prime object sought, is
of much importance and value; that is the
economy in the consumption of fuel arising
from a more thorough and complete COM
bustion, and the greater utilization of the
heat force.
Worth While to Eradicate.
"The extent to which benificent reforms,
science, and inventive genius have been di-
rected in the abatement of these ills is evil
dence that great public evil has an every
day existence with us. and that SS is worth
our while to eSpend some means, time and
labor in its eradication.
at has been demonstrated in this country
and others that the smoke nuisance can be
abated. 1t is no longer question Of doubt
1t is an established fact, and there now re-
mains the development Of the most effective
and economic means in the accomplishment
of the object in view. This we do not be-
lieve lies in the invention of new fuel or
the manufacture of new, yet research and
experiment in this direction are to be en-
We believe the solution of the
problem lies in the perfection of devices for
the complete combustion of fuel. This is
NOT outside the bounds of possibility, and
is not dependent on the will-o' the
wisp of glittering theories or the changing
conditions Of seasons and place 1t is to be
in conformity with natural
laws, in supplying the means through which
these laws operate instead of placing OBJ
in their way defeating that which
nature attempts to accomplish. These de-
vices appear in varied forms of construc-
ton, but the object sought is the same, the
combustion of fuel. When We
shall have arrived at that period in which
perfect combustion is secured, or the results
then have solved one of the most important
and immediate problems of the present day.
Some of the Evidences of Progress.
"That progress has been made in this direc-
ton, there are recorded proofs in the public
press of the country. Our own city is not
without evidence, and it has established the
fact, through the material lcssening of this
evil, that it can be abated. The public are
so directly interested in this matter that
they should actively and continuously CO.
operate with the authorities in the abate-
ment of this nuisance. Not only this, but
should be given to inyesti-
cation, experiment, discovery and invcn-
ton. Mechanical skill which has thus far
so materially advanced the cause should re-
,eive proper inducements to pursue its
course in the greater perfection of its inven-
ions and devices.
"a device has recently been put in opera
ion in England which has for its purpose,
not the combustion of fuel, but the preven-
ion Of the results of incomplete combustion
rom escaping into the atmosphere. This is |
accomplished by means of chamber in |
which sprays of water wash down the sus- |
pended particles and retain them in a |
'ecepticle below. This is said to be very |
Elective IN srresting the evils of smoke,
,ut it fails in an economical sense as the |
leat force of perfect combustion is not
Utilized and results in waste of fuel and !
he energy necessary to operate the device.
"What may be developed in the future
,annot be conjeetured. History proves
hat there is practically no limit to the pos
abilities of invention and the utilization of
ne forces about us, but at present it seems
o have been established that the abatement
# the smoke nuisance lies in the perfection
,f f,rroo.s ,,b;z1 Ill L. u