Omaha daily bee., 1891-02-01

Pluvius would refuse to recognize it. The
only water TO be had comes from the lake.
1t is much clearer than that furnished by the
turbid stream which flows past Omaha but
1t is so hard that the heart of Pharoah would
seem soft and yielding by comparison.
Yet everybody washes in it and not few
people drink it. To a skin unaccustomed TO
its use it is what the robe of Nessus was to
the back of Hercules. 1t roughens and
cracks it and causes it to ourn in most eX-
traordinary way. Into the epidermal cavi-
ties thus formed by its action the SCOT falls
and becomes Incorporated. Only the most
vigorous rubbing and the most lavish appli-
cation OF soap will remove it, But am told
that the same kind providence which tempers
the wiud to the Shorn lamb toughens the cpl
dermis to the hard water. A St. Louis or
New York man would probably say this fact
accounts for Chicago's proverbial cheek but
boing from city which admires Chicago en-
terprise and which has caught the Chicago
gait, refrain from comment.
Yet Chicago is full of women whose com
pleXions are beautiful, as any one who has
ever stood on State street for a half hour on
a pleasant afternoon will attest. How do
they do its
How was the most valuable portion of the
city built out of a swamp and the region now
adorned by such magnificent piles as the
Monon building, evolved from the nameless
roOkeries of "Biler'' avenuel
In Chicago all things are possible. Human
miraculous. The city has even undertaken
the gigantic task of abating the smoke nuis-
ance. An ordinance requiring owners of fac
tories, railroad companies and other insttu-
tions which contribute largely to the volume
OF smoke, to use smoke consumers or some
similar device An inspector has been placed
in the tower of the Auditorium. From that
lofty eminence his eagle eye sweeps over the
city and whenever he detects a chimney
which is belching forth more than its shan Q
pfn hn # hnil a t,I,
it is located is notified and compelled to take
steps TO abate it. A good deal of trouble is
said to be caused by careless tiremen.
The city is experimenting with a smokeless
furnace at the new electric light station at
Fourteenth and Indiana avenue. A great
deal is eX pected from these furnaces as upon
their success will depend, in large measure,
the selection of smoke burners for other pu b.
lie buildings, but also the action of many pri-
yate citizens.
Many property owners, and among them
some of the wealthiest citizens of Chicago,
seek immunity from the passage of the smoke
ordinance by claiming that there is no device
that will etfectually consume smoke. Those
who are carrying on the crusade of cleani-
ness and pure air, however, insist that there
are variety of devices in the market which
will accomplish the purpose There are brick
| arch arrangements which do the work with
| tolerabe completeness as long as they are
kept in repair, hut frequent repairs are nee
SoooiS' lucu lucio dIc Qullo IL NUM-
Der of systems which employ q
steam jet, Some of these give
| great satisfaction Others employ the process
of cooking the coal before it reaches the hot
| fire. Still others simply increase the supply
of oxygen by forcing in not air, and some
/ combine this principle with u process OF
! forcing the smoke through the fire after ii
! has Congealed.
The task which Chicago has undertaken is
mighty one, but her pathway is built up on
| either side with wonderful achievements,
| ana the city which rose like Phoenix from
her ashes may yet rise in triumph out of the
smoke nuisance and two years hence the
| glittering dome of the water palace may
! give back the SUMS rays under skies like the
skies Of italy. FRANR ATKINSON.