The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-05
THE SMOKE NUISANCE MUST GO.

|
A reason exists now which did not
before for pressing the campaign
against the smoke nuisance in st. Paul
to an early and successful close. There
is plenty of law upon the subject. A
number of injunctions were obtained
some time ago, and are still IN torce,
against the election of black smoke in
volumes sufficient to constitute I: rui-
sance. Other injunctions can be Sc
cured whenever it is desired, and the
smoke nuisance in this town can be
remedied as swiftly and surely IS the
people desire. There has been COM
parative cessation of effort recently to
do away with the smoke nuisance, oW-
ing to popular Indifference and more
particularly to the cry of hard times.
1t was asserted that, if the law should
be vigorously enforced, a number of
concerns that could not afford to put
in expensive consumers, or to use an
thracite coal instead of bitumln ous
would be forced to g3 out of Gown or
close business altogether.
1t is doubtful if there is any basis
of fact for this plea, since several of
those who have been compelled by the
court to use different fuel have found
| themselves actually benefited thereby
| By substituting buckwheat coal OF the
anthracite variety for the soft coal
| formerly used, they have discovered
not only. that the smoke nuisance was
stopped, but that a large decrease was
made in their fuel bills If this be gen
orally true, and we knu- no :eason
why it should not be universal, then
the change desired can be made at a
gain instead of loss, and ought rot
! to require the bringing of suits or the
authority of the courts. In any case,
the plea of hard times will no longer
answer, and the campaign against the
belching chimneys ought to be taken
up again and carried to completion.
There are only 9aorfeW. offenders left,
but they; are old and incorrigible ones.
In addition to the inconvenience and
disgust which, they inf1ict' upon our
people and the injury to our business,
it is a clear case now that we cannot
permit the smoke nuisance to continue
after the superstructure of the new
capitol has been begun. The adoption
the building will give us a magnificent
structure, but it demands absolutely
the suppression of the circulation of
smoke particles through the atmo-
sphere of this city. Before the roof
is put on the new capitol, if the smoke
conditions were to remain as at pres
ent, the unfinished walls would be
streaked and stained with smut and
CRIME. The new capitol would be
sight to behold before it grew to COM
pletion; and, instead of the attractive
and splendid structure that the imagi-
nation beholds, we would have a mot
tied black and white building covered
with inky splotches and with rivulets
of varying shades of blackness chas-
ing one another from, the caves to the
foundation.
1t does not matter that the Georgia
marble does not retain or absorb ex-
traneous matter easily, and that de-
posts upon it's surface do not readily
discolor it, The trouble is that we can
not have a man with hose to wash
off the capitol daily, and the SCOT de-
posted upon the rough surface of this
white stone would stay there, to be
beaten in by rains and dried upon the
surface of the marble. We have but
to look at the city hall, or any other
building in ST. Paul, to see what abom-
Unable effects are produced by the
| smoke nuisance We have been too
tolerant and Indifferent about this, but
the decision of the capitol commission
makes it a matter of vital necessity
that We introduce a reform On pure
ly business grounds the smoke nui-
i sance should have been completely
abolished long ago. The work must
be done now before the new capitol be-
! gins to show it's glittering walls above
the granite st. Paul, which is to be
| ornamented by the addition of this
beautiful building, owes that much to
the people of the state.
| SERVICE PENSIONS.
The Grand Army national encamp-
ment recommended again the passa ge