Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-18
SMOKE AND GARBAGE.
The Chamber of Commerce Discusses
These Nuisances.
IT MAKES A RECOMMENDATION
Municipal Authorities Scored for Their
Lack of Interest.
THE CREMATION OF REFUSE DEMANDED

/ The Chamber of Commerce yesterday had
the smoke and garbage nuisances up before
it. The Executive Committee made long
and interesting report on this subject with
a recommendation. It thinks the Building
Inspector should compel smoke preventive.
| put in all large buildings when they are
erected. The recommendation relative tc
garbage is that the city build furnaces large
enough to burn all the refuse of Pittsburg.
1t was shown that the smoke nuisance
caused great outlay of money annually
by the destruction of goods and the deface
ment of buildings. There is sanitary los,
also. Smoke was proven to be q great
creator of lung and throat trouble. There
is moral loss brought to those who are
compelled to live in its dirt and unwhole.
someness. The increase of the smoke nuis.
ance is said to be growing faster in Pitts
burg than the population is increasing.
The Chamber feels that it will take long
time to efface the trouble, but it thinks the
density of the smoke could at least be re.
duced.
The City's Duty to Gather Garbage.
The garbage question was thoroughly dis
cussed. 1t was the opinion of all that it
was the city's duty to gather all the offal
of Pit.sburg. The cremation plan was
| thought to be the best solution at the pres
ent time. Ghere was general condemna-
tion of the system Of dumping it in the
rivers The manufacturers present spoke
against this very strongly. They argued
that the city had no right to dump its
refuse in the river if those manufacturers
! having works along the river were prose-
cuted for placing cinders there. Then it
was attacked from pure water standpoint.
This report of the Executive Committee
was on "a communication to the Chamber
from the Women's Health Protective As
sociation of Allegheny county. John b.
jackson presented the report. 1t follows;
perfect combustion in the use of coal
does not seem to have been attained under
all conditions, it would seem harsh and even
unjust to enact an ordinance forbidd1ng
the emission of smoke from every power
boiler, no matter where situated. But the
question is one OF very grave importance to
the interests OF our two cities. Your COM
body to urge by every means in their power
the creation of public sentiment that will
in time demand the use of such means as
will abate the nuisance.
Compulsion Would Be just.
In view of the benefit that would accrue
to che whole community by at least par.
tial abatement of this nuisance, it cannot
be considered unjust to compel the use OF
approved methods where practicable, any
more than compelling a party erecting q
building to provide gangway over pave
ment during the time the vault is being dug
and tagged, nor even as much, for in one
case the obstruction is temporary, in the
other it is constant injury. 1he city has
seen fit to direct what kind OF pavement
may not be used, and this exercise of Its
powers is either to improve the condition OF
II it be right and proper to dictate in such
cases, it cannot be considered arbitrary in
the other case, within the limits suggested.
Awaiting the full report from the Society
of Engineers OF Western Pennsylvania as
to the wider application of smoke prevent
ers, we yet venture to suggest that steps
ought to be, taken to compel gradual
change to improved methods for office
buildings stores using steam for elevators
and such uses. Such changes should be
brought about by the Building Inspector
boiler room and sufficiently large smoke
stack. Having enjoyed the benefits from
the absence of smoke e'during the gas period,
our citizens will doubtless be willing to sub
nit to some such police regulation as here
indicated.
What St. Louis Has Done.
The city OF St. Louis has given the subject
very careful attention. and the committee
appointed to consider the subject has issued
pamphlet OF over 40 pages, stating the re.
suit of their laDors. While thi. COMMITTEES
is unable to say that the practical problem
of smo n . prevention, under st. Louis con.
ditions, is fully solved, we can say that sub
stantial progress in this direction has been
made. A number of meritorious devices are
on the market. We cannot recognize any OF
them as of unlimited or unconditioned ef-
fectiveness. What their practical Hmita-
tions are we are compelled to think that
neither those who have invented, sold or
used them, know.
The smoke nuisance affects the whole
community and all are interested in
getting rid Oft. All will admit that there
is great but uncalculated monev loss in
destruction of goods and furnishings in the
defacement of buildings, i'll labor and ma
terial vainly expended to keep clean, and
an increased necessity for artificial lighr IAN
aesthetic loss through the discOuragement of
the ornamentation of buildings, homes and
grounds, sanitary loss in impaired health
and prevalence Of lung and throat troubles;
O population loss in those who will not or
cannot or will not live in smoke begr1med
city, and last, but not least, the moral loss
on those who perforce must endure Its DIRT
and EMBELLISHMENTS Great Us the evil has
been and is, its increase If unchecked, will
be in a more rapid ratio than that OF popula-
tion. .e
City Officials Among the Offenders.
The time has come whom o decided step
should be taken. In that step it is appro-
pirate that the city, through its govern.
ment, should take tho lead. fo,' the city
authorities are themselves among the OF.
tenders. We would not advise any arbitrary
action, but sOme pressure should be brought
to bear on those who produce the great rart
OF our smoke cloud, for while some are alert
and willing to spend money to abate their
share OF the evil, the ajority may safely be
considered Us inert and unready, as they
have proved unwilling or careless about re-
spending to inquiries for facts. We do not
think the cloud can be removed in the i'm
mediate future, but We are sure that its
without COST but without hardship to any.
Yet all should be willing to exercise patience
and even make some concessions.
As to the collection and distribution OF
the garbage referred to in oths the 50. So
considers it an important subject ana
we'll worthy of consideration. The dam
ger to the health Of the community
lurking in decaying animal and vegetable
matter is but little known to the great mass
OF people, and it is therefore all the more in
cumbent upon the municipal authorities to
exercise an oversight upon this branch OF
the city's welfare. The great need for such
work has been shown in many cities, noG
only in this country. but in England and on
the continent and with the growth OF this city
and Allegheny the necessity for like action
becomes apparent to even the casual OBJ
server.
Refuse Should Be Burned.
From the TACT that the largo mass in our
midst have not the means to dispose OF their
garbage except to throw ID in II back alley,
or on an adjacent vacant lot would seem to
make it part OF the city's duty to gather
up the offal and dispose of it. In recon-
mending such n course, your committee
does not feel, that 1t is proposing an eAperl-
ment but the adoption OF plan OF acton
successfully carried out in many other
fnrtlar GOmmlEk6e