Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-27
,pprr.ryyG NOISES.

preat sufferers too, from noises Vi
r,o,s tinds. many OF which are easily
ayoldable, but against wnlch we ON,
utter feeble protests, and these only a'
long and irregular intervals
The steam whistle Is the king OF q"
ear-piercing instruments. This we near
dav and night. But 1t Is In the
night chiefly that 1t is most Cd
tectionable. And II Is not the whistle
only that oIends-locomotives are al
lowed to stand upon railway TRACKS !"
the dead OF night and blow OF steam
bv the half-hour at time! We know
OF localities that are sorely afflicted by
this particular nuisance, but II seems
impossible to get relief.
The rasplng and grating noise mace
by trolley-cars IS also the subject OF
COMPLAINT. The remedy for this. how
ever. is only to be expected In the per-
lection of the railway tracks and motors.
TO some extent 1t will always continue
but we may hope that it viii be les
sened as mechanical improvements are
made. The bell-rlnging on the cars.
too. IS a very harsh and unmusical sound.
but as it is done in the interest OF human
life. we cannot expect 10 be rid Of II.
And then there's the rolling Of spring
less wagons over our granite-spalled
streets. This IS noise that attacks
the nerves Of nearly every one. and
yet there are neighborhoods that have
to stand it year in and year out 1t is
bad all of the time. but it is worst in
warm weather, when people cannot close
their doors and windows TO shut it out.
In most great cities no vehicles but
those built upon springs are licensed. Not
so here. We allow very wide latitude.
TO the detriment of our streets and 10
the discomfort OF our people. Lately a
few carriages cabs, and buggies with
rubber tires have come into use here,
and 1t is JOY to see one of these so by
just after a "JeH. Davis piano" has
passed.
] all our streets were smooth and well
kept we might hope that the day would
soon come when the rubber tire would
be in general use. but. alas, It IS not
reasonable to expect that But It would
not be unreasonable for Richmond to set
a date after which none but spring vehl-
cles would be licensed. That would
work a great improvement, and would
make our city much pleasanter TO live In
than it Is now.
Then there are the dogs. or these,
Richmond is supposed to possess about
seven thousand. Most Of them are very
amiable animals. but others are intolcra-
bile nulsances. The dogs that sleep all
day and either moan or bark all night
are terrors to their neighborhoods but
are dearly loved by their owners. The
fercer the noise that a dog makes O.
nights the greater treasure he Is consi-
dered to be-judging from the tenacity
with which the owner holds to him, de-
spite all the protestations OF his
neighbors.
Ever since the death by hydrophobla
Of the four little Baltimore boys who
were bitten by a ST. Bernard dog, there
has been considerable popular fear Of
mad-dogs. But here in Richmond our
dread is not so much Of mad-dogs, but
of dogs that bark, howl, or moan through
the weary nights of summer We are
yet to have our first death here from
hydrophobia. but the dogs that break the
rest of sick people have thus hurried
many to untlmely graves.
Then consider the cats. Heavens, what
shrieks proceed from them. when other
noises have ceased. Sometimes they
initiate the mournful cries Of lost child +;
then they pierce the air with wolnsh
shreks-then they scamper and clatter
over porches and fences with a din
as great as might be expected from the
flight of a drove Of wild horses. Some
times the noise they make comes to you
as from some far away corner Of the
earth, then again. suddenly waking from
your fitful sleep. il seems to be in your
very room. What is wanted is a per-
sistent warfare upon dogs and cats alike.
A judicious thinning out of both species
would be greatly 10 the good OF this
community, and in this day. when so
much attention is given TO subjects
affecting the public health. this merits
far more consideration than it has yet
received.
For relief from all the noises Of which
we complain we can only look to public
opinion. They will be stopped, or stop
ped as far as possible, when the people
viii stand them no longer-but not sooner
So. all that we can do is 10 "kick," and
appeal to common sense and the con
sderate judgment Of the people, hopins
and trusting that a day will come wher
such a war win be made upon Irritating
noises as is now made upon epidemic dis
eases. and for the same reason-to pro-
tect the health and comfort of the people