New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-04
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
p,-p~rxc; SOFT COAL WITHOUT SMOKE
AN EASY CHEMICAL PROBLEM WHICH MANU-
"a CT1-RERs SHOULD SOLVE


To the Edtm of The Tribune.
air. The Dc, ,unciation Of the nuisance caused by
..e smoke ar sing from the soft coal used In the
eorerat,on Of steam for manufacturing and other
purposes with which tho press OF the city Is hlled
together With nc action OF the Board 81 Heath IN
causing the arr est and prosecution OF persons VINO
PERSIST in usini this Kind OF coal. would seem to
indicate an int rfion prevent It's use The econ
onnv IN the fuel nlls OF large manufacturing IN
forests bout = per cent-e1ocied by the use OF
soft coal IN ph Of anthracite. and the WIDE
s-road ind.rnat! on against The eXtortons OF the
anthracite trust viii render futile every effort TO
crush out such vast Industry
The writer wp I'D suggest that instead Of per-
sis,ing I'm such quixotlc attempts the health or
fcials and the pro should unite In difusing among
the steam using uhhc knowledge OF the simple
principles % chsn1 stry by the application or "'h
perfect combustion Is attained
The theory Of CO mb'istion IL well known 20 the
scientific world r. ie vericst tyro in chemical sci
ence knows that carbon as well as carouret''d ny
droecn and other gaseous compounds Of carbon
requires given quarii Of oxygen TO effect com
buston: the, this oxygen forms 20 per cent Of at
r1oeph,ric afr. thai tn lrnammahle gases are
conhuetihle only I'm proportion TO the degree OF
mixture which is effected between them and the
oxygen contained L The atmosphere Int the
practical application % this knowledge Tor indus-
trial purposes is ignorsd or neglected.
Combustion as applied 10 the production OF light,
boat or power Is the II txture with the combustiole
of atmospheric afr. nc certain temperature ana
I'm proper proportion--r e.;hor more nor less than
snflcioncy-fho result 'of such process u properly
perrornod being The most intense heat and the
production OF clrbonic ACID and water which TO-
.e,h.r with The 50 per cent Of nitrogen contained
~ the afr and remaining otter the oxygen Is CON
suned pass on through ne chimney az coiorless
vapor instead q the dark smoke which IS an owl
i.rcc - the iinperfecipn - the process ana coSe
ouenf waste. Though millions Of dollars are lost
...9 3 ,c al NO
ing cities IS polluted liz his imperfect application
Of scientific principles. correct and well demon
s,rated as those OF mathematics. no means are
taken 10 ascertain the quantity Of air supplied as
if It's proportion 20 the amount Of oombustibie con
S" "oaI Sens composer Of carbon and xas-chieny
substances which are lrqimporant in their effect on
combustion. the quantity 9i ar Ic4ulI'I tua ~
,er ca. contained I'm IN, Goa, this being readily
asceftainod from the analysis furnished by every
Chemistry being an exact science ,he principles ss
governing combustion aIc as ",So.nnlr a. o C,'r
MI rrr a anni,catton The writer having de-
has acquired some knowledge Of the best methods
Of applying these principles which knowledge he
oils ana the press in any efforts TO preserve The
public health by educating ne owners of steam
plants $50 that they convince themselves that
the s.isht expense necessary 10 alter NOR nolrr
a triH, ln comparison with the great economy a.
tanned iy preventing that great waste or fuel, tAe
evidence Of which is commonly n 1fslE5lp9tlc,H,
smoke nuisance ID. d. NkhMf-N-
New-York. OCt 2S lSe
We have no doubt that it Is quite possible
T. consume soft coal in an entirely inonensive
manner But We cannot regard It as the PROV
ince - the police and health officers 10 instruct
chemists in chemistry and engineers in eng-
neering any more than 20 teach motormen how
10 run trolley cars II manufacturers want 70
oft
coal they ought. at their trouble and OK
penso. 10 find out how 10 do 50 without break
INK the laws and without offence to the public
The duty of the police and health officers Is
simply TO see that the laws are not broken and
the public not oanded by intolerable nut
sances such as black smoke unquestionahly Is
Ed