The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-19
PROPER METHOD TO FOLLOW
STRICT LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL
DRIVE AWAY BUSINESS.
Many Manufacturers Cannot Afford to
Use Hard COaI-An Inter-
esting Address.

room OF the Commercial Club last night TO
hear a discussion Of Goal as a Factor in
the Industrial Progress of the City" and
Smoke. How 1T May Best be Prevented"
BY Nj. G. Huyette, one Of the leading sta
tionary engineers Of the country, gained
some valuable information and received
the benefit Of a number Of exceedingly
plain statements From the volume Of his
clear, scientific. exhaustive studies of the
questions OF power from coal and econom-
ical combustion of fuel. Mr.. Huyette
proceeded impartially and without malice
TO contrafute a number OF popular ideas
on the matter Of smoke and smoke con-
sumers.
Stripped OF elaboration, his address de-
clared that such so-called mechanical ap-
planes as smoke consumers do not
exist; that stOkers are practicable within
certain limits; that upon the man with
the shovel depends largely how much
smoke will issue from the chimneys of a
building; that present ordinances dealing
with the smoke question are loosely drawn,
unjust, and a possible basis for Iegalized
blackmail; that ii is impossible to prevent
smoke altogether when bituminous coal is
used by consumers; that or account of the
cost Of power it is impossible for factories
- any OiHCI KIM OF COdls ana that II
unwise municipal regulations insist on total
elimination of smoke, and enforce the use
of hard coal indianapolis and other cities
depending upon factories for future in
creases in population. and industrial up
building, Will drive away every important
manufacturing institution to towns where
Just treatment may be had.
THE SMOKE CONSUMER.
Mr.. Huyette disposed Of the Smoke con-
- l.
a single case" he said, where one of these
appliances remained in use for six months.
They invariably end in the alley or the
scrap heap. Such a thing as total con-
sumption of smoke is an impossibility." He
said. however. that smoke prevention
within limits is sure and reasonable to ex-
pect, and he proceeded to name the essen
tials which will succeed in obtaining relief
from the smoke nuisance.
The essentials. he declared, 'are high
furnace temperaturo so that proper COM
bustion shall take place, continuous auto
matte feeding Of the fuel, self-stoking, self
cleaning in so far as possible, proper pro-
portion of air at the right place and con-
tinuously, and in smaller plants. where a
comparatively limited amount of coal is
burned daily and ii is unnecessary TO put
In costly stocking appliances, a fireman who
knows his business.
In my contact with the business men of
indianapolis 1 have seen no disposition on
the part of any one to evade the terms OF
the ordinance against smoke. Some of you
may think they are slow to act, but in re-
gard to the lack of knowledge OF the condi-
lions pertaining TO these boiler plants
which have been criticised 1 shall make
some plain statements"
After reading Section 1 of the local ordi-
nance in which the emission of smoke con-
taini-S SCOT or the emission of dense smoke
is made a nuisance and a fine provided for
violations. which may be assessed daily
against vtOlatOrs, Mr.. Huyette said: II
have no disposition TO criticise the wisdom
OF the men who drew the ordinance, but 1
will say that its enforcement means the
driving away from the city OF all its manu-
featuring interests because there is not a
stOker furnace that will not smoke suf1-
GENTLY TO bring its owners under the power
OF the law"
LOCALIZED BLACKMAIL.
Mr.. Huyette declared he is familiar with
instances where such an ordinance as the
local smoke law furnished ground for le-
galized blackmail, He related the nature
of a suit filed in Chicago where $1,5o was
obtained in judgment against a property
owner. The judgment was paid. he said,
but the inability of the defendant to COM
ply with such u rigid law as the Chicago
smoke ordinance made the judgment abso-
Iutely unfair. He ridiculed the suit filed
recently by Charles l.. Jones. leading tenor
of the SOuthwell Opera Company, against
the city OF st. Louis on the ground of in
jury TO vocal chords by clouds of smoke
with which he says he came in contact.
In indianapolis. MIR. Huyette said. bus
mess men and property-owners should be
treated with consideration by the law as
we'll as by individuals. A reasonable po-
sition should be taken by the smoke in
spector. He should not demand absolute
smoke prevention, but should require
that the owner of a plant shall have shown
his intention to comply with the law and
shall have placed contracts for mechanical
furnaces of standard make. approved by
engineers, and then IL the prOperty-owner
exercised reasonable carefulness in using
his device. he should be exempted from
prOsecu ion and persecution.
In dealing with the smoke nuisance the
public and the officers of the law should
take into consideration the size of the
plant. IL is unfair TO business men who
own large plants and who must burn
many tons of soft coal daily 10 set up as
examples to them small plants where the
total daily coal consumption is less than
one ton daily. and where on account of
the relative smallness of consumption, or
the size OF the pocketbook OF the owner,
hard coal can be used which naturally
produces less CRIME than bituminous. He
$ instanced the local postofice building as an
illustration of his point.
UNFAIR CONDITIONS.
1T is unfair 10 set up conditions at the
postoffce as a standard" he said. 'since
little coal is used there daily. and the
United states treasury is much better able
TO purchase anthracite coal han private
persons are" A comparison of the two
conditions, he said. is like comparing Thin
blefuls OF coal 10 bushels.
Mr.. Huyette said he had personally in
vestigated furnaces OF a number of bust
ness houses in the city where the size of
the plant hardly justifes extensive ex-
penditures for stocking appliances, and he
advised Mr.. III. Il. WATSON, in one instance,
that he would not be justified in buying
stOker equipment, but that with certain
inexpensive changes in his furnaces. and
the keeping in mind the Idea that nrs-
men. not coal sbovelers, are needed, he
could comply with the law and not be ha-
raised. There are many other small plants,
he said. where like conditions obtain.
An article printed In the Journal several
weeks ago. in an Interview with Mr.. &. G.
Perry. on the smoke problem. was quoted
In part by the engineer as expressing his
views on the matter. IL serves TO sum up
the general address OF Mr.. Huyette him
self:
Il have found In the course OF my bust
ness that an absolute avoidance OF smoke
Is impossible" he quoted. 1T Is possible,
however. TO do away with dense black
smoke The ordinance provides. however,
that all smoke shall be suppressed. an
impossible proposition. What We should
try to do f. 20 go nationally 20 work 20
= avoid all the smoke that can be avoided. {"
60 a.