The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-11
ALL KINDS OF SCHEMES
A Deep Interest Taken in the
Butte Smoke Problem.
TO UTILIZE THE SULPHUR
Prof. Fred R. Smith Replies to His Critics
c. w. Stickney Takes Exceptions to
the Professors Methods-"Con-
slant Readers Suggestion.

| The following interesting communica-
| tion anent the smoke problem of Butte,
| has been sent to the Standard by Prof.
| Fred r. Smith of the State university:
The half-serious manner in which the
! Standard and other papers have treated
| the matter leads one to doubt whether
| the people Of Butte are really in earnest
when they desire and expect to have
| the city ridded of the noxious smelter
| products. One day the question is
| treated as a side issue to the comic
| opera and next day in all seriousness
| the papers inject science into the dis
| cussion with all worthiness of intent.
| This much is certain-f the city is to be
ridded of these fumes the people must
| make serious attempt and demand
| for the same; and, secondly, science
only can solve the question.
Since the papers have seen the fitness
to treat the reading public with pro-
ducts of mind which, to say the least,
are decidedly weak on the scientific
side, ! claim the privilege of once pre-
senting a few more problems in pure
chemistry to the we'll meaning but
poorly informed parties who are treat
ing the choked people of Butte with in
sane ideas.
First--In regard to the final disposal
are Objectionable. 1t is not fitting that
one should sit still and allow the ash
nine statements to go to the public in
seriousness, that all that is needed to
settle the problem is to furnish some
means whereby the sulphur and car
bon of the smoke can be burned. One
of the first laws taught to the young
student beginning physics or chemistry,
is the indeStructibility of Natter
that to burn body does not by any
means cause its non-existence.
1t may seem idle to some to thus take
up so simple subject but when a
representative newspaper devotes coli
umns day after day in which state
ments are presented that one can re-
move the sulphur by burning it, it
certainly seems exeusable for a proper
presentation of the subject to be given.
The two products in the smoke that
are Objectionable are the uneonsumed
carbon and the sulphur. The former is
in the form of solid carbon as may be
seen in any room or closed hall in
which the smoke has entered and been
allowed to settle. The latter is princi-
pally as sulphur dioxide, the product of
the union OF the sulphur of the sulphde
in the ore with the oxygen of the air.
The sulphur dioxide is a gas, although
there may be some sulphur in the fumes
that is not consumed or combined and
has been volatilized as solid substance.
Every atom of sulphur that enters the
rooster or smelter IS sooner or later
sent out either in form of the dioxide
tgas) or as solid sulphur. Every atom
of carbon used in the form OF coke, coal
or wood must leave the furnace either
in form Of gaseous carbon dioxide or
monoXide, or as uncombined carbon,
the thick dense black part of the smoke,
or properly the SCOT. A smoke con-
sumner that takes this smoke back
through the fires obtains the complete
nn ri IjnT 3f II asla
certainly cause a saving in fuel, for
heat must result from this union as 1t
did when the major part of the fuel
was burned When this is done all of
the carbon is changed to the harmless
gaseous product carbon dioxide. and
everybody is happy.
Now, when one like the men engaged
in this process. dubbed by the Standard
The Smoke Messiahs.' a name suffi-
GENTLY irrelevant 10 make one doubt
the seriousness of the Standards inten-
tions, begin To talk that all that is nee
essary to remove the sulphur is to like
wise burn il. they begin to show their
lack of scientific knowledge. / realize
that some of the public in general and
some of the Montana men in particular,
are disposed to think of professor as
highly educated and impracticable ass,
and that a man of experience, no mat
ter in what. if he is an old man and
one of experience, is necessarily the
peer of any living man, especially
professor or school teacher. Be that
as it may. one can stand that. when one
can calmly sit by and watch the ash
nine struggles of men to pretend TO
solve these problems. For the scientific
man knows that in the end if the prob
lem is to reach its desired solution sci
ence and science alone will have to fur
nish the solution.
What can these men mean by burning
the sulphur fumes sulphur as we
have seen here, is either unconsumed
or. as combined, consumed or burned,
II it pleases the public to call it. In the
latter it is already combined with oxy-
gen to the extent that is possible with
out other chemical means. Il is now in
the form of the dioxide o. and to
combine it or burn it with any more
will be To form the only other oxide,
the sulphur trioxide, S o. This is i'm
possible without the aid of certain
chemical reactions made use of in the
chambers in which sulphuric acid is
manufactured, and all efforts of Mr.
Collins or Mr.. Mitchell to further burn
it to any other product will be Quixotic
or asnine. And even if they could,
they would be thrusting still greater
evil upon the Butte public for this lat
ter oxide instantly combines with water
yapor of the air or from any source
whatever and makes the highly corro-
sive sulphuric acid which. besides suf-
locating the public as the fumes do at
present would destroy every particle Of
fibre, whether 1t be wooden, cloth, or
metal within it's reach.
The talk of reducing the sulphur of
quixotic or idiotic Could these men do
this they would have the greatest Klon-
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