The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-30

the buAilO lsill.
Some one signing himself "A Sufferer
has sent a communication to the Com
missioners relative to the smoke nui-
sance in connection with the powerhouse
OF the Metropolitan Railway Company on
= Street, near Rock Creek. He designates
the present conditions rs intolerable and
protests against its further continuance.
He hopes the Commissioners will not give
ear to any further excuses presented by
the corporation for not conforming with
the law in the management of their
plant.
"A law in force writes the sufferer,
'at least by enactment, prohibits abso-
lutely the use of soft coal, when such
use begcts consequent nuisance by rea-
son of the volumes of dense black smoke
composed of visible and distinct parti-
cles of carbon, that not only permeate
the residences, stores and offices of the
citizens. and changes the atmosphere of
this fair city from that of clearness and
beauty TO one befouled by this filth, so
dense at times as to render objects but
short distance away almost indistin-
guishabIe Not only does the smoke from
these chimneys do this, but it befouIs the
faces and hands. as well as the linen, of
the citizens coming within its influence.
The law above referred to went into
active operation. at least was so ordered,
July l. IsS). yet today, nearly two years
after that date, not only are the CHM
neys continuing this intolerable nuisance
and violation of the law, but no appar-
ent efforts are made TO enforce the law.
which, it seems to me. has been violated
sufficiently to subject the ViolatOrs 10
something more radical tha2 respectfully
listening to their complaints
Under preteXt of testing appliances to
consume this smoke, these violators of
the lHw have been permitted to continue
their annoyance of the citizens. and have
i'm these two years time done nothing
whatever toward obeying the law. This
period il would seem. is amply sufficient
tn enable a decision as to the probabili-
t. OF. or otherwise. obtaining the de-
sired system to he reached"
Sufferer discusses the subject at con-
siderable length. asserting that the ar
cuments made use Of by the railway COM
pany for delay are not sound, and at
tempting to show that the problem has
been practically solved in other cities.
The attitude of Commissioner Macfar-
land. VINO has supervision over the
Health Department., under which the con-
Sideration of the smoke nuisance comes,
is well known 10y frequent public state
nents. h, holds to the point that the
Commissioners have done all they could
TO force "A compliance with the law.
iFa' nave i'''i niitstSs nav
pceh many pants ntted OUT VITA app.i-
-, - - ,,,,,i,,, IH pti, W
adopted the r,se OF hard coal. which Mr..
Macfarand has intimated is the only
practical remedy Tor the trouble now IN
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VII 1870, ~ NJ III te
way Vi Lttils out tie iai sei I s, WIN t
ne siiIoht tvlntII ~. many the
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lne ptesfht llihS ullsel sPeciaI CoIsldSI-
aiiol anu 'ue otNlstoi ~ the cvHII,s-
sIo ii as 70 "lether tEes sha.l td an.
Iiulcdi aStion WIN reIerehce 10 tihs
coiii'a'S u Wiling m Ie.urh VI I'm I'M
hiissioltf TYsH 20 tnls CITY. wien tne
hutstioi VIII pe lniiiieuiateiy taken up
mn. -. = -, ,-,....
Inc iepoit VI Nhs boalu VI Euuc"tioh
upon the poor coal which is alleged to
be furnished to the schools of the Dis
,r,t bv tho n,.,.sept contractors has be,p
t',.5 =. -
hdiiieu ~ Inc commissioners Ai'ei s'al-
ing the facts ascertained by an investiga-
ton set on foot by a committee of the
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