San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-05-28
MR.. WEISS EXPLAINS
The Smoke Nuisance and Says Every
thing Will be Done Possible
IN Ston II


to Stop 1t.
A LIGHT reporter called on Mr.. Weiss,
of the San Antonio Street Railway COM
pany, for information relative to the
complaints spoken Of in our yesterday s
issue, on account Of the smoke from their
power house on Tenth street Mr.. Weiss
stated: "0ur power plant was first
steamed up In 1899, and has been operated
continuously since then, burning different
kinds Of fuel, and as nearly as can recol-
lect only two parties have complained
during that period, one on account
Of the noise and the other
stance the complainants we're made
satisfied that they had no real cause for
complaint. On the 5th instant, we began
running on q test Of coal that Is used by
number OF the steam plants In the city;
this has given out more smoke than any
fuel we have heretofore used, but not
more smoke and cinders come from our
stack than can be seen daily coming out
Of the stacks Of almost any steam plant;
and as portion Of all smoke is carbon, Il
Is always the aim Of the steam producers
to utilize the smoke as far as possible,
but the question Of consuming the same
has puzzled the brightest engineering
miEds OF the world; to degree this
has been accomplished, and as far as
we are able to abate the smoke
from our stack, IL Is our inten-
ton to do, provided we conclude to
continue the fuel we are at present ex-
perimenting with. But each class OF fuel
requires different treatment in respect to
burning, as we'll as the controlling OF the
smoke, and this cannot be done at mo-
ment's notice; experiment after expert
ment Is necessary, and while at times the
desired result can be accomplished In o
week, IL more often takes very much
longer period Before any complaints
had beer lodged we were investigat-
ing and experimenting for the pur-
pose Of consuming such Of the
smoke as was possible, and these
get such relief as can be secured under
known practice, but we may tell you that
not more smoke comes out Of our stacks
than out OF the most OF those In the city
The gentleman who Informed you that a
petition ON this matter had been present.
ed to me, but that so far IL had not been
needed, 10 evidently not informed Of the
facts, or he could not have made the
statement. The only petition that
scented on the 23rd by Mr.. Hank
Ing that the height Of the stack be in
creased. This suggestion was discussed
with Mr.. Small, and he was informed that
this would not remedy the trouble; that
while 1t might reduce the quantity Of
smoke precipitsted Immediately adjacent
to the station, 1t would deposit the smoke
further of and Inconvenience even q
greater number Of people. Mr.. Small
was assured that the matter was reeeiv-
a. nd H.
remedied as far as Is within our power,
md as early as possible, he being told at
the same time that our company had no
wish to Inconvenience the people liy-
ing in the vicinity Of the plant any more
than II could not help, nor did we blame
them for complaining, IN the smoke was
an Inconvenience. But, At the same
time, compliments should be reasonable In
their demands and not expect impossible
ties, such as no Inconvenience Whatever
from the smoke, for, IL serious objection
of a city. In the vicinity of manufacturing
plants, II would tend to drive away
rather than encourage the establishment
and maintenance of such plants, which
contribute so much to q city's we'll
fare. am sure that II the resi-
dents OF Plttsburg, st. Louis, Chicago
and other manufacturing centres, where
IL Is Impossible TO wear WHITE Snlrt Tor
even an hour without having 1t covered
with SCOT, had jumped on each and every
manufacturing plant installed there be-
cause, forsooth, the smoke from their
stacks inconvenienced the people living
in the vicinity thereof, they would not be
tie cities Of the size and enterprise they
"This is merely spoken in q suggestive
way, understand, and not objecting to the
residents In the vicinity Of our plant try
ing to secure whatever relief Is possible,
for we are not inclined to disregard their
rights, but, indeed, are inclined to respect
them and to do everything we can to
satisfy them, and this shall be done, as
stated. -.............s...-.
1--WE invite the establishment Of manu-
featuring plants through our different
organizations, as we'll rs through our
newspapers,-for we all realize that IL we
wish to progress TO city Of Importance
we need manufactories,-an these ell
use steam and make smoke In producing
lt,-and IL we expect to secure such man
ufactories we must be liberal In encour-
aging them, not alone to establish, but,
also, to stay here. II we had hundred,
or even two or three hundred, such smoke
stacks 1t would mean more prosperity and
progress for the city than anything else. !"
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