The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-28
TO RID HARBOR OF SMOKE.
PILOTS LEND A BhND IN LIEUT. FIRE.
MON7's CRUSADE
They Say Fog Is Not so Dangerous rs the
Dense and Deceptive Clouds from Jersey
Chimneys That Hang over These Waters
The Nuisance Daily becoming Grca alter.

They Say Fog IL Not so Dangerous ns this
Dense and Deceptive Clouds from Jersey
Chimneys That Hang over These Water,
The Nuisance Daily Becoming Greater.
The news that Lieut. John c. Fremont. tho SUI
pervisor Of tho Port. IL after the smoke-maksrs
OF Bayonne was hailed with great satisfaction
yeste rday by tho residents Of tho northwest
shore OF Staten Island. and by the harbor and
Sandy Hook pilots Lieut.. Fremont lived on
Staten Island and the people down thoro know
him well enough to believe that whom he goes
Into a fight the other side Is going TO
have hard time. They weren'ta bit surprised
last summer when they heard that he had
been fighting the big rifles OF the San Juan.
Porto Rico. Notifications with the ono Founders
OF the torpedo boat Porter. The people OF
Staten Island have been fighting the smoke
nuisance for years internationally. with their
trouble for their pains. They are in New York
and tho smoke-makinE factories are In New
Jersey and there is no National board OF health
that can act in the matter.
Lieut. Fremont's plan OF attacking the nuis-
ance through the War Department as menace
to navigation is regarded by those interested
as exactly the right way to go about the mat
ter The pilots. who are even more vitality in
terested In the abolition OF the nuisance than
arc the landhoders. arc most positive in their
assertions that Lieut.. Fremont Is not
straining the truth a hairs breadth when
he says that the Bayonne or rather the
Constable Hook smoke Is monaco to
navigation. Tho pilots association has been
preparing petitions at tho suggestion Of Lieut.
Fremont. for several months. Capt. Frank A.
Bralstsd. OF tho Staten Island ferrybou
Castleton. said yesterday that he had secured
the signatures Of sevsnty-flve pilots to petit
ton that had been handed to him for circu-
lation.
From pilot who did not want to be quoted
by name 1t was learned that the Sandy Hook
pilots are really tho worst sufferers from the
smoke blanket. They come up the bay with
ships with whose whims they are not IA
mliar. and whose compasses. nine times out
OF ten. arc out OF order The fog catches
them anywhere between the lightship
and the statue OF Liberty and makes them
practically helpless without moments warn
ing. They go laundering about In the track OF
tho ferryboats One of them. not ten years
ago." this man said with a grin. nearly ran
down the Constable Hook itself. on
day that except for the smoke
was perfectly clear. The Sandy Hook
pilots. however. take no part in the agitation.
They fear. THE SUNS informant said. that the
oil reGneries may be driven away from tho
harbor and that the pilots will lose the large
revenue which is gained from the plotting OF
oil steamers. They would rather take the
risks than lose the money.
The landsmen say that the smoke from the
oil rcflneries is the least OF their troubles. OIL
smoke isn't altogether pleasant to smell and 1t
isn't pretty to look at, but 1t is bearablc. The
smoke and fumes from the constantly in
creasing copper and chemical works. however.
10 not bearable.