Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-04-04
SMOKE
And How It MAY
be Abated.
Scientific Lecture by
Prof. Benjamin.
Eliminating Nuisance
From Cleveland.
Mr.. Shelton Replies That the
Abaters Aren't Practical.

An audience of 150 people heard
Prof. Benjamin's lecture at high
school hall Wednesday evening upon
Smoke Abatement and Economy in
Fuel" Introducing the speaker, Mr..
w. G. Parsons, chairman of the COM
mittee appointed by council to inves-
tigate the best methods of abating the
smoke nuisance, said: "While the SUBJ
ject is undoubtedly a hazy one, am
sure you will be interested in it,
Prof. G. H. Benjamin is an instructor
Mt the Case School of Applied Sciences
in Cleveland, and is also supervising
engineer for the City of Cleveland.
In beginning his address, Prof. Ben
jamin remarked that opposition to the
smoke nuisance began many years
ago-during the reign of Edward 1 of
| England, who issued royal edict MAX
ing the use of sea coal by any Of his
subjects punishable with death.
"In Cleveland" said the speaker,
''citizens awakened to the injurious
and unpleasant effects of the smoke
nuisance II years ago. 1t was found
that smoke and SCOT resultant from
the use of soft coal injured property.
household and store goods, and was
injurious to health. Accordingly, an
for punishment of persons who used
soft coal without any means OF abat-
ing the smoke. The result is very sat
isfactory."
The speaker explained the causes
that produce smoke and how smoke
may be abated
soft coal smoke" he said, sis due
to imperfect combustion, and all that
is necessary is to supply plenty of air
at the right temperature to complete
the combustion. This does away with
the smoke and at the same time ef-
fects economy in fuel. Letters from
users of improved furnaces in Cleve-
land show saving of from 10 to %
per cent. as a result of their use. The
slides shown illustrate in many cases
the condition of the chimneys before
and after applying the mechanical
stoker, or smoke preventer, and dem,
onstrate the practcability of smoke
abatement.
I'm Cleveland, at the present time,
out of over 1900 steam boilers more
than one-third are equipped with some
form Of stoker, or smoke preventing
furnace. Nearly all the large business
blocks are so equipped, and no business
man would think of putting up IA
modern office building without attend
ing to this important feature.
'The principle involved in the con
struction of every successful smoke
preventer is the supplying of proper
quantity of hot air to combine with
the gases distilled from the soft coal.
The mechanical stokers combine with
this the even and regular feeding of
the coal to the fire."
Prof. Benjamin said that experiments
upon a one-shovel system of firing rail.
road locomotives had proven success
full causing a saving in some Instances.
of 80 per cent. in fuel. BY throwing
one shovel of coal at time into the
fire box, and permitting the door to
remain partly open the above effect
was produced. A large number Of Ian
tern slides was shown, illustrating how
smoke abaters have succeeded in re.
ducing the nuisance in Cleveland. He
said that while smoke could not be en-.
tirely abated, the black clouds of
smoke could be reduced to such extent
that its injurious and unpleasant eff
fects would be removed. The speaker
said he was not advertising smoke
consumers or abaters, and therefore
would not recommend to Akron citi
zens any particular kind, but assured
them they would find their use very
satisfactory.
MR.. SHELTON REPLIES.
Mr.. II. w. Shelton, mechanical en-
gineer for the N. o. II. Co., was pres,
ent. He did not agree with some Of