New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-06
BROOKLYN NEWS.
WILL BURN SOFT COAL
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PREPARING TO
VIOLATE A SANITARY CODE LAW.
WHAT OFFICIALS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE Az
RANGEMENTs FOR THE BIG BUILDING AT
WASHINGTON AND JOHNSON SITS.
ACTION AGAINST OTHER
OFFENDERS


The United States Government, doubtless throus"
ignorance OF the rights OF the public IN this pa
ticuIar instance. has made full preparations ~
violate the smoke nuisance law in BROOKLYN
New furnaces specially fitted for the burning 0,
soft coal have been set up IN the englhe-iooin "
the Federal Building. and within the next Few oas
unless prevented by the city authorities the Oo'
eminent employees will begin the burning o. nv
first ton o. 200 which they expect to use up oe'o
the end OF the next twelve months. The ou'Hl'e
OF this coal will be a clear violation o. the sam.
tary code laws and OF Section Of Chapter oz- u
the la VS. Of 1895 which provides as follows.
Section No factory engine-room or cesl for
station shall use what IS Kh n dc sensine-room
fuel IN the furnaces o. such ,araSSr ~ -Four miles
or or bs Gy Ha 0 the city Of BroOky9 or
ton OF this act shall subject the proprietors or cor
poration that shall violate II 10 me OF nor Io
Nv authorities md placed in the county treasury
and such authorities shall see that thls ID" = GU
Sec This act shall take effect Immediately
lust what Deputy Health Commissioner Robert
4 Black will do about this latest move OF feoe'a'
officials who seem 10 be going ahead with arTaht.
Tnents for befouling the atmosphere with soo'
could not he learned yesterday.
Internal Revenue Collector Frank r. Moore has
iust invited bids for supplying 200 tons o. sou
coal FOR the furnaces in the basement OF the ed
eral Building and when he seen yesterday ne
said that OF the soot-producing COMPOUND
would begin in a few days.
u am not 70 be blamed in this matter, said MI
Moore 10 Tribune reporter yesterday afternoon IN
the Federal Building Il did not take the Initiative
in the matter Il il a department order that forced
invite bids for the supply OF SOFT coal Inc
furnaces were installed by Superintendent Frye OF
the Department o. Repairs and Mr.. Hills. OF the
Department OF Architecture. They visited the FED
eral Building in Brooklyn and afterward ordered
the soft-coal furnaces in. I understand that soft
coal is used in Manhattan at considerable saving
compared with hard coal"
DO you know that you and your superiors are
violating the las in burning soft coal?' asked the
reporter
We'll. I have nothing to do with the matter
I understand there Will be the latest approved
smoke-consumers used. the as in Manhattan
and that there will be smoke from the coal that
will escape"
Collector Moore laid stress on the assertion that
the Federal authorities intended use smoke
consumers but that has nothing 10 do with the
case. The law. can be seen, says that soft coal
shall not be used in engine-rooms and this Is
where Collector Moore's subordinates are prepar-
Ing 10 it by the hundred tons.
In Justice 10 Commissioner Black II he
stated that he has made a start to prosecute vio-
lators OF the soft-coal-bu burning law. but whether
he will keep arrestng offenders or allow most
of them TO violate the law openly remains 10 be
seen one Of his inspectors Joseph b. Taylor. on
Wednesday arrested Thomas l. Jones. one Of the
proprietors % the Chrome Steel Works AT No.
$40 % 667 Kent-ave.. on the charge OF burning
soft coal without permit from the Health De,
partment. Yesterday the same Inspector arrested
Edward Biedorman superintendent OF the Water
bury Rope Company's works. AT No lol Classon-
ave for the same offence. These men were ar
raigned before Magistrate Bremen and their eX-
animation postponed until Monday next.
The dcplOrabln feature or the situation =
the lack OF earnestness on the part OF the Health
Department and the Corporation .Counsels office
They have other matters I'm hand OF course. ana
seem to look with indfereHee ON 60. the smoke
action was brought against the Nassau Railroad
Company for burning soft coal in one or It's power
houses. The case was fought through the lustlce
ureeent In that time the Nassau company mas
sent out enough black TO make mourning mantle
FOR the entire State of New-York and incidentally
saved lot % money on its coal Dill The com
pany can well AFFORD to pay its fine after the
Court OF Appeals gives decision against u Two
or three years hence. together with the costs OF
action. .
There is no good reason why notice should not
be served 70 every smoke law vioator day by
dav as often he violates the ordinance. Fol
lowing that. according TO Assistant Corporation
fectiv feasible 70 bring a and separate action
every day. and thus pile up the actions ana the
prospective fines r this were done. then the
company would pay some attention 10 The Health
Department but At present there Is not the shght-
est attention paid 10 what IL said.
The Thrd-aVe. pOwer-house OF the Nassau cor
poration goes right day by day burning soft
coal and sending out the black smoke. II burned
a lot ~ n on Thursday. and the spectators az the
ball game were witnesses 10 the fact
Dr. Black. when seen yesterday SAID that the
, prosecution Of the Federal Government would be
left entirely with Assistant Corporation Counsel
Walsh. When Mr. Walsh was seen he said that
he aid not know what would be done with the
smoke law violators He did not know whether
press no opinion the merits Of the case.