New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-24
TIE STEAM WHISTLE NUISANCE.

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Some years ago the proprietor OF n factory
in Liverpool erected his building what was caleo
an American buzzer.' lie promptly Indicted
for maintaining a nuisance, aud the "buzzer' was
consigned TO the dusthoe. The American buzzer"
Is simply another name for the steam WHISTLE winch
is everywhere in this country. and which is used In
season and ont. at all times OF day ana nght, anu
generally without any reason whatever. Are we so
far beland our cousins across the water In enight
eminent, civilization and ordinary common sense, 70
saw nothing Of delicate nerve organization that We
must submit TO 10000 instances OF outrage, pro-
loDged after year, when the average Brtoh VIII
not tolerate one such Instance q single momentf Is
possible that factory propreors do not know "hcn
IL Is O'Clock in the morning, and noon. and @ In the
evening" without terrifying and annoying three or four
million people with a jargon that ought to be excu-
| sable only at "A Fourth OF July celebration? Church
bells are said be going out OF use IN some piaces'
ecase the plentifulness OF clocks and watches nave
| rendered the bell nuisance unnecessary But IL INC
factory whistle by day is a nuisance, how many umes
more Is that Of tue steamboat and tug NJ hightf
] have no complaint against the steam whistle curing
foggy weather or under any circumstances where II
Is necessary. Any unnecessary noise Is nuisance
Every Observing person VIII agree that thefe Is u"
period OF seconds during the long night that the
air IS not rent with the prolonged deaeDhg souho Ok
some steam whstle-near or distant. The quieter
| the neighb0rhod IN which he lives the keener ana
| sharper the affection. The ordinary steam whistle
at night may De heard ten miles, so that the amount
OF suffering inflicted upon the bedridden, and notably
those suffering from nervous disorders must IN tho
| aggregate be something appalling. Tile New-liaveh
steamboat {. II. NOrtham sigBalizes her arrival u
few miles before her deck Is reached by four long, uh
earthly screeches. This she has done every day az
the critical sleeping hour for and years wtnout
a single protest. 1 suppose. Many other captains nnu
this method the easiest way 10 wake up drowsy doch-
| hands 10 whom they can pass Il line when wanting
| 10 tie mp for the night jolly ferryboa pilots salute
each other in midstr"am as ,hey pass WI; me Only
means at hand-tlle steam whistle" Playful boys are
turned loose nj the whistle rope. who Initiate the
| rat tat tat OF the drum and In many Instances. 10
Judge OF results shippers have literally tied the ws'o
| down while they have gone below 10 sup or sleep.
| These are no eXaggeIatl0nS. A certain newspaper
near the Astor House put buzzer OF some hind
! In IFS hot stereOtypng-rOOm In the basement, 10
supply pure air to the wOrkmen. Though this was
for aidabe purpose the hotel protected It's sleeping
GUESTS and the bIzzer had to 60 Are people 10 10
permitted 10 make the night hdeous because there are
no bluecOais at hand There police boats In ex'
istence and they were Instituted expressly 10 pro-
| ect life, property and health. Here Is an oppor
tunity. NAtiCo |laioN'
| NeW-YOrk Dec. g. 1892.