The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-08
TO DO AWAY With SMOKE
Efforts of the District Commission
ers to Enforce the Law.
sntisfaction Expressed Over the
Progress Thus Ear Made-Estab-
lfshments That Have Consuming
Appiinuces-A Resume of, Letters
From Owners Of Steam Plants.

DR.. William c. Woodward, the Health
Officer yesterday submitted to the Com
missioners digest of The correspondence
received by him from individuals and firms
relative to compliance with the smoke
law. About ten days ago the Health Of
llcer wrote personal letters to forty-eight
parties, whose smokestacks or chimneys
had been complained of by people residing
in the vicinity of them. Up to yesterday
replies had been received from twenty
eight of those written to, and in all cases
they have either already introduced appa-
ratus for doing away with smoke or are
about to do SO.
The Commissioners yesterday expressed
satisfaction at the result of the CORE
spondence 1t is thought that there will
be still other replies and that the number
of cases in which it will be necessary to
proceed legally will be very few. The
Commissioners have desired to enforce the
law. but they did not feel like bringing
cases into court unnecessarily, and they
have followed course of waiting and
moral suasion in the hope that the owners
of steam plants in the District would as
soon as practicable adopt the devices neces-
sary for the abatement of the smoke nui-
sance. This correspondence satisfies them
that their hopes in the main are to be
realized
Commissioner mcfarland, in speaking
of the matter to a Times reporter said
that while it might appear to the public
that nothing was being done to put the law
in force a good deal had been done and
good deal accomplished. He pointed out
that 1t was one thing to cause the arrest
of the men owning the plants, to drag
them into Police Court and fine them, and
quite another to bring about the necessary
changes in machinery TO cause the smoke
to cease. He spoke of one case that had
come to his knowledge where the proprie-
tor informed him that it would cost $40, 900
to make the necessary changes in CRATES
and boilers for the change, and that after
the installation of the new device the cost
of anthracite coal would be $500 year
more than the fuel he had been using. The
said it was evident from the
received by the Health
officer that the addition of the appliances
necessary for the use Of hard coal or other
means TO rid the stacks OF smoke was not
a thing to be accomplished in day or
week
Mr. Macfarland said that 1t was the pur-
pose Of the Commissioners to wait rea-
sonable time for replies to the letter sent
out, and that those who ignored the re-
quest or otherwise showed no disposition
to meet the requirements OF the law would
be proceeded against in the courts. He
said that In the course of a reasonable
time the law would be enforced in every
steam plant in the District
As shown in the statement SUBMITTED to
the Commissioners by the Health Officer,
Abner & Drury, Twenty-fifth and Streets
northwest, have ordered new crate bars
for their furnace, so that they can burn
coal thar will not give, rise-to objection
able smoke.
Columbia Flats, Fifteenth ana-H Streets
northwest=7Propri states that he is
now operating a smoke consumer.
Colonial Hotel. Fifteenth and Streets
northwest-Proprietors states that only one
boiler has been in use. and that is pro-
rided with Sargent smoke consumer.
Corcoran Building. Fifteenth Street and
Pennsylvania Avenue northwest-Proprie-
tor states that he is doing all that is pos
sible to ger pianr IN shape TO comply with
the law. Had Standard smoke consumer
on the plant, but removed it, as it was not
a success.
Fendail Building, 344 Street north
'WGSI-GTOpIlELDT states mat ne Ids Hdu
CRATES for hard coal substituted Pressure
considerably diminished in summer, so
that during the winter hard coal may not
prove successful. Hopes the law will be
repealed. ri ~ s- -. -.a~r
Fleming Building. 1919 G Street north
west, proprietor states that the building is
repairs. and will be completed
in about Two months. VIII gladly try any
smoke consumer adopted by District au-
Franklin Steam Laundry, 5e4 Thirteenth
Street northwest, proprietor says that
smoke consumer has Been put on his estab-
and he invites inspection.
Glover building, 1919 F Street northwest,
reports that he is out Of tosn,
but is taking steps toward abating smoke
Heinrich Brewing Company, 25th, D, and
Water Streets northwest, proprietor says
that contract has bsen concluded with the
Automatic Smoke Preyenter
Company, and he. thinks the work of in
stalling the machinery will be undertaken
within few days.
C. II. Jarvis & Son state that they have
added smoke consumer, and will adopt any
that may be-made.
s. Kann. Sons & Co, Eighth Street and
Market Space, state that they are using the
Crawford smoke consumer.
Lansburgh & Bro, APO to 426 Seventh
Street northwest, say they have tried two