The morning times., 1897-01-23
AbOL|sH|NG BLACK SMOKE
Legislation Is Being Considered
by the Commissioners.
THEY HAVE DRAFTED A BILL
A Measure Proposed Which Applies
to Railway Locomotives, Station
airy Engines and Steam Boilers.
The Issuance of Dense Smoke
Declared to BE a Nuisance.

The District Commissioners have under
consideration the draft of bill fer the
| abatement of the smoke nuisance. 1t is
in its present shape q stringent measure,
ably be submitted To Congress with but
few, if any, notifications The measure
declares 10 be a public nuisance the
issuance OF dense smoke from any smoke
stack or chimney Used in connection with
any locomotive engine, stationary engine
or steam boiler within the District, and
provides that each corporation offending
shall be punishable by a fine, ranging i'll
amount from SO To 500 per day for
each nuisance maintained
a smoke inspector, to he employed under
the health department at a salary of
81 4, 500 per anuum, is provided for, whose
duty il is TO see that the law is complied
with.
The bill was prepared by ommittee of
three, consisting of Capt. Edward Burr,
assistant TO the Engineer Commissioner; W.
C " oodward, NJ. D., health officer, and
Building Inspector John Is. Brady, and i'll
their req ort to the Commissioners they say:
''Sm okeless combustion is merely Il
question of a properly designed furnace
and smokestack, and proper regulation
OF the supplies of fuel and air. OF COURSE,
TO install furnace which meets these
requirements means an mcrca sed first
cost over the installation OF a brick box
with n crate at the bottom, which often
passes as a furnace. 1t is a cost, how
ever, which the public is justified in de-
manding."
The committee recommends that smoke
ordinance be adopted, which shall pro-
vide for governmental examination and
testing OF smokeess furnaces, and also
suggests the addition OF a clause to the
building laws. fOrbidding the installation
of a furnace in any new building, or the
replacing OF one in an existing plant
unless il shall meet the approval OF the
health officer in respect to sinok eleSsnosS.
In fixing the liability for the violation
the proposed act holds responsible the
owner, lessee, tenant, or manager of tie
locomotive, engine, or building where the
smoke nuisance is shown to exist, since
il is the province OF one or the other
'
as TO make them smokeless. The general
manager, superintendent, yardmaster, or
other officer of any railroad company
having charge or control OF the operation
OF any locomotive, from the smokestack
OF which issues or is emitted dense or thick
black or gray smoke within the District
on and after January / 1898, ''shan be
deemed guilty of creating a public nuis-
ance." and OF violating the provisions
of the act.
The committee cites that appliances
readily obtainabic and improved construc-
I on Will render furnaces smokeleSs, and
that there is therefore no necessity for
Washington to endure the affliction com
planned OF, which IS recognized as grow
ing evil. 1t $ believed TO lie the duty of
the Go-crnm ent to take this step now, and
that adequate provision shall be made in
the law for enforcement of the penalties
prescribed
Any man in charge of All engine may be
subject to arrest for violation, because.
in the opinion Of the Committee, it S his
duty To see that his furnace is kept i'll
proper condition.
The subject has been under consideration
10y the committee for about year.