New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-17
TIE SMOKE rs THE NUISANCE.


The New-Yorl Steam-Hcating Company mas
applied for and will doubtless get nearing OH
the subject Of the soft coal smoke NUISANCE
which the Health Board has ordered 1t to apate
There Is no objection 10 presentation I'll the
comnany's views. provided ii Is promptly maze
md disposed Of; but the public will not cheer
fuIly tolerate a long and crafty process OF
avoidance Nor is there any likelihood 'hat
sensible citizens will be moved to sympathy Ior
the company by It's offer to prove that the com
nlaipt against soft coal smoke originated WIFI
hard coal monoposts. Suppose that 1t did. IN
that case and 10 that extent they nre pubic
henefactors. whatever their impulse may have
been. We hold no brief FOR the hand coal men,
but II selfish apprehension prompted them to
begin crusade against a detcstable nuisance
then some compensation for their rapacity has
been derived from their fears.
But the Steam-Hcating Companys explaha-
ton OF the Health Boards hostility Is ra'her
fantastic than pathetic. The people had before
,beir eyes the shocking spectacle Of n dense
cloud Of black smoke rising from the company
chimney TO warn them OF the miserable ih'c
which public Incidence and official neglect would
surely bring upon the community. Inc hc"'"
Boards hostility Is crcdfablc TO It's mehoerS'
and the quckncss with which 1t was enlisted
makes 1t especially meritorious. Moreover inc
comnauy knows we'll enough that there Is no
nopuar or official prejudice against soft coal IL
Is the smoke. not the coal; the product Of com
bustion. not the combustblc product against
which general protest has been made II the
Wicked hard coal men are dsingcnuo'is. inc
rest Of the population are honestly indignant
They are perfectly willing that everybody should
burn soft coal to his hearts content, but they
are strenuously opposed to anybodys burning II
in such n manner as to produce the results
which they have lately seen. For they are
familiar with the melancholy experience or chi
caso. Pittsburg, Cincinnati and many other
cities that were once fair as well as rich, ana
know well what a bad beginning leads to.
New-York has suffered much nj the hands or
sbiftless and INSCRIPTIONS rulers. Its citizens
have long been compelled, for example, 10
breathe an atmosphere contaminated by the
exhalations from filthy streets. but AZ least
they have been able TO tho sun and one
another through it on nn exceptionally large
number Of days In the year. Its clarity mas
been one Of their chief sources OF pride ana
10y. 1t was superb endowment which I'M
posed n corresponding obligation. Doubtless
they have thought rather more of the blessing
than the duty In the past. and for this reason
1t is gratifying to see with what promptncss
and energy they are rising to resist the IN
yadcrs who march under black banners. The
Steam Heating Company Is welcome 10 burn
all the soft coal il can find use for, provided II
stons burning il I'm such IL way AZ TO injurc
others. That Is the nuisance which the Health
Board is justly resolved to abatc And while
anybody Is at liberty 10 show, II he can, how
this may be accomplished, no official or private
person Is bound TO do so. 1t rests with the
company TO cease creating nuisance. One
way Of doing this is obvious. II the company
can find another way, so much the better for
tho cOmDany