New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-09
HEALTH REFORMS IN PITTSBCRG.

THE WOMEN ENDEAVORING TO ABATE THE NUS
ANCEs OF SMOKE, GARBAGE AND TOBACCO.
Pittsburg. June s.-Some wealthy ladies' of this
city have begun crusade againet sofcoal smoke
They even engaged detectives get the numbers OF
locomotives upon which bitlmnous coal was used.
For several years, thanks to natural gas, the city
joyed comparatively clear Skies But now that there
is gradual return 70 the use OF COAL the Ladies'
Health Protective Association has determined to
lessen the evils OF smoke much as possible The
wealthy people stn natural gas, and do most
of the comfortably situated middle class, but among
the poorer tradespeople and mechanics It Is found
cheaper to use coal.
In the oden days soft coal smoke was endured and
light suits in Pttsburg were comparatively little
worn. The cleanliness accompanying natural gas has
opened the eyes OF the people and the possibilities OF
smoke consumers is favoritc topic Of conversation
The ladies Hcalth Protective Association first
turned its attention to the railroads. The war began
on the Junction Railroad, which occupies valley
running through the fashionable suburbs Of Oakland.
Belehed Shady side and Bcnvenuc. and connects the
Pttsburg and Western and Baltimore and Ohio rail
roads The falling SCOT created CONSERVATION among
washcrwomen and made house cleaning ex-
tremeiy burdensome. The ladies tried peaceful
arguments uPon the officials OF the Junction
Railroad Company and In less than month they had
convinced them that locomotives can be successfully
operated with coke without making smoke.
They then turned their attention TO the other rail
roads, and accidentally unearthed old law prohibit
ing railroad companies in Httsburg from burning
bituminous coal The law had been enforced
They found that back I'm the sixties ordinance was
passed by Councils governing the conduct Of trains
within the city limits section OF which reads:
No bitumnous coal wood shall be used in the
engine Of locomotive employed in conducting trains
upon any railroad.
The penalty clause provides fine Of $50 each on
the company, the conductor and the engineer. The
ladies employed detectives to "spot" engines using
soft COAL Five days devoted to the work, ana
the numbers OF nearly 400 locomotives were secured
follows rttsburg, Cincinnati and st. Louis (the
Pan Hande), 1877; Baltimore and OHIO 81; Pcnnsyl-
vania 75 and Allegheny Valley, 90. In some cases
the names OF conductors and engineers were secnrcd
The list has been presented to F. NJ Bgelow chief OK
the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The wife OF John NJ. Onkley, the grain broker.
resident Of Denvenue Is the secretary OF the Ladies'
Health Protective Association, and its most active
member. she said: "The Pennsylvania Railroad Is
one of the most fragrant violators OF the law. yet
every day they illustrate. by running smokclcss loco
motives Liberty In the heart Of the business sec
tion that II is possible to obey the law. These en-
gncs always burn coke
Mrs. Oakley is intensely interested In the present
crusade that she went Chicago her own response
bty and made "A personal investigation Of the smoke
question The inquiry included ride in the cab
of q locomotive. she visited large pork king
establishment, and was much pleased with the opera
lions OF the downdraft furnace a smoke enter
She found the chimney practically smokeess except
when the CRATES were rakcd. which done every
seven hours. The energetic Ptsbrg lady discovered
that every locomotive the Wabash Railroad is
equipped with a highly successful SMOKE preventer
Indcr the guidance Of a member of the Chicago
society for the Prevention OF Smoke and OF the master
mechanic Of the Wabash road, Mrs. Oakley was enabled
to study the actual workings Of the device. They
first rode in the cab OF express engine attached
TO heavy train Of passenger coaches. Frequent
stops were made, and each time the engine
resumed the journey without making more than
gray thread OF smoke, scarcely more noticeable
than the smoke Of coke. The engineer Informed
Mrs. Oakley that the same conditions prevailed at
then transferred to a freight locomotive, and
brought slowly back into the city. The almost com
plcte absence OF smoke was the rule The engineers
and fiemen delighted with II. We no
fonder OF smoke and dnders than any one else re-
marked Of them to Mrs. Oakley After riding
! for thScc hours In an engine cab she fonnd no en-
ders on her clothes. She Informed by j. W.
lrant, the master mechanic that hrenen are care
fully instructed how 10 stoke, and II an engine cmits
| more smoke than It should the fireman Is promptly
| suspended.
Association is Mrs William 4. IIcrr0I wife Of the
| OK pension agent and It's members are all wealthy
|
| The association has other crusades on hand. he.
| sides the ore against smoke. Ii has discovered
| that Pttsburg and Allegheny City are without
garbage law. and II has decided that the dump bont
| for garbage j. dangerous thing. The ladies' say
that garbage should be burned and not dumped INTO
| boats TO breed pesulcnce In towns down the Ohio
River.
extinction. The ladies say their dresses are not
only ruined but that they are compelled % breathe
| a foul atmosphere. They have Induced al The
| street companies 10 post strong prohibltory