Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-19
ABATING THE SMOKE.
The Chamber of Commerce Confer
ring With City officials.
NEED FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION.
Magnificent Buildings Reing Ruined by
Black Clouds
IRON MEN ARE NOT WHOLLY TO BLAME

Colonel 7. P. Roberts, of the Chamber of
Commerce Executive Committee, to which
was recently referred the task of reporting
on ways and means for the prevention, con-
sumption or suppression of smoke, called
on Chief Bigelow yesterday for short con-
ference on that grimy subject.
Mr.. Roberts said the committee had pre-
pared report, with numeruos suggestions
and recommendations, but they wished
to have an understanding with the
city officials so that they will
be able to state intelligently what the city
can and win do in the matter. As the next
meeting of the chamber will be the last be-
fore the summer vacation. Colonel Roberts
desires to have the report submitted at that
time so that no time will be lost Chief
Blgelow was not in position to state what
could be done bv the city but promised to
give the matter earnest consideration at
once that the report may 60 in as Colonel
Roberts desires After the conference the
latter said some very interesting things in
connection with the smoke nuisance.
Urgent Noed for Immediate Action.
'There is urgent necessity for immediate
action by the authorities of this city to
abate the smoke nuisance" said Colonel
Roberts SIT is running many Of the hand
some buildings that natural gas caused to
be erected here, and is doing thousands of
dollars Of damage in the stores, Offices and
dwellings, I refer particularly to the busi-
ness portion Of the city, where the smoke is
the greatest nuisance and where it does the
most damage.
''Our committee has gathered some facts
from St. Louis and Chicago which show the
entire feasibility and economy of smoke pre-
vention. At st. Louis the business part of
the city has been wonderfully benefited by
the regulations enforced. The coal they use
there is a very dirty kind, and before the
smoke preventive 8 were used there was
continual falling of SCOT and CRIME as we
have here. We know the movement Is
practicable from the results attained there.
Soon Be Making from without Smoke.
'1t is not our intention to ask tor inter-
ference with the manufacturer interests in
this matter William Metcalfs statement
that iron cannot be made without smoke
when coal is used will be respected until we
find that iron can be made without smoke
and with economy. I think it only a ques-
tion of q short time until this will be ac-
complished, but the smoke from the iron
works, situated, as they generally are, in
the outlying districts, is not the cause of
the most trouble. It is the bake shops,
candy factories, coffee roasters and various
other establishments in the business section
that should first be compelled to protect them
selves and their neighbers by the adoption
of smoke-preventing devices. j know of
an office building on one of the best corners
in the city that would be the best building
of the kind in the city were it not for the
smoke that pours into the windows from
two candy factories and coffee roaster
nearby, no matter which way the wind
blows. Occupants of the building lose
money as we'll as suffer great annoyance. but
can get no redress, simply because their
neighbors are not compelled to do what is
right and what they should do.
Perhaps the Gas Will Not Play Out.
Speaking of natural gas, - continued the
Colonel, "owneD of some of cur new build
ings will be confronted with as serious con-
dition when they are compelled to return to
the gas supply was unlimited, would last |
for all time, and some of our architects, act |
ing on that principle, built houses with |
cnimneys calculated only for gas The |
smoke fumes, unconsumed parts of a natural |
gas fire, will pass entirely through a very |
small aperture, but with = coal it is
different. Coal smoke is bulky, re-
luires much stronger draft and larger
circulating space than gas, and in some Of
he fine, large buildings erected within the
past three or four years the expense for
altering them for coal will be great and en-
all great Inconvenience. where it can be
lone at all. Persons building now should
bear this in mind. I 1t will cost little more,
+ any, to be on the safe side