Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-17
mo STREET NOISES
THEIR ABSENCE IN THIS CITY
COMMENTED ON.
A New Yorker Finds Washington
Greatly Different in That Respect
From His Home.

There Is one thing noticed about Wash.
ington almost at once upon my arrival and
which was pleasantly emphasized each
succeeding day of my VISIT" remarked a
gentleman from New York this morning, "a
he was about to board train for that
bowling wilderness OF humanity clrcum-
scrfbed by the North and East rivers and
the Battery which he called home" when
he grew absent minded under the soothing
influences of the capitals Incompatible
mint 5uieps. "and that is the absence Of
annoying, temper-spliting. nerve-racking
pc destroying, sleep-banishing, youth
annihilating and old age-producfng street
noises.
yet l was surprised TO note the large
amount Of traffic in the thoroughfares Of
the capital. The business streets are
CROWDED and the uptown avenues well filed
with carriages and vehicles. but the rumble
or the wheels and the patter of the horses
hoofs are subdued on the smooth asphalt
pavements. With every external evidence
or mercantile activity. there are no distract
ing noises. With well-filled, clean and
spruce-appearing underground trolley cars
upon the principal streets following one an.
other rapidly and on close leeway, there
Is no confusion. With crowds of pedes-
TRANS hurrying along the wide sidewalks
and gazing into the windows OF the large
stores, there Is no hustle and .rrmpling un.
DER root In Z mad rush to go somewhere
Inc problem OF street noises so vexa-
tlous and serious elsewhere, seems to have
been pretty well and favorable settled In
washing on. The junk man with his cart
huns with strings OF variously assorted
pei!s, with their fiendish jingle and jolt, and
Wnicn the driver rulls with a string with
dlabolicai giee. not satisfied with the din the
bells produce without his aid is not to be-
seen nor heard.
Few Street Noises in the Capital.
The rag-and-bottle man who peramu-
iates upon foot, so Familiarity known and
cordially hated in New York. who twists his
mouth to one side when he yells ragsan-
olebottles.' and who Invariably places his
hand on one side of his twisted Jaw to
megaphone his cracked voice into the rear
WINDOWS on the blocks, up and down which
ne tramps from am. until Pm, speaks
In whisper, IL he speaks at ALL and walks
at midnight. II he walks at all, In WASH
lngton, for have yet to be annoyed by one
Even the vegetable hucksters fruit
vendors and fishmongers, who are such a
nuisance in other cities, because of their
never-Geasing yells are not In evidence
with their voices. though they are with
their wares, and are not. understand, per-
mitted by the police to call out In loud
tones.
And SO on down along the whole lengthy
category OF disturbing street noises. The
men who make the day hideous in other
cities are under control in the capital and
are so kept, a very important point In the
determination of the problem, as ordi-
nances are without avail where they go
unenforced.
And L also understand that the fendIsh
green parrot, who can raise more sQuawks
and arouse more profanity on the part Of
the neighbors when hung out OF rear
window in the center of a block than a
ba ttlefield. can be made to raise the roof
inside and not outside of his owners house,
or the latter may be required to cough up
a fine in the police court. Old maids with
ol' che urfxr 81
capital wide berth, though 1 believe the
modest tabby cat and the sleek old tommy
feline are yet without the reach of the
watchful. housekeeping eye Of the police.
The Milkman's "Yep" Also Missing.
Even the milkman's yep as dear to
New Workers his unearthly howl is de-
structive Of early morning slumber, sings
not his shrill song as he pours out three
quarters of quart for full measure. and
yells parting sarcastic salute as he
leaps blithely upon his wagon. Milk is
served quietly in Washington, think of it,
oh, We suffering, long-enduring residents of
Gotham.
'In fact, 1 find that the street noises COM
monty heard in other less-up-to-date cities
in this respect are suppressed, and those
who indulge therein may be speedily reach
ed in the police court, where wholesome
fines are imposed to the unspeakable bene-
fit Of the entire community.
while certain of the street noises In
large cities are beyond human control. there
are others which are not, and that they
are allowed to continue is largely the fault
Of the residents of these cities who refuse
to follow the plans Of WaShingtons city
fathers, pass ordinances and require Of the
police that they be strictly enforced
1.-The absence of street noises is con-
tributing reason why Washington is such a
pleasant place of residence all Of the year
around. The press Of the country discusses
this question constantly, and it Is now as
serted that street noises shorten life. In
fact, 1t was but a few days ago in New
York that a citizen committed suicide be-
cause of the noise made by the blasting or
rock in the new underground tunnel. He
might have moved to Brooklyn, but he
didn't, and it is a matter of official record
that the cause of his Self-destruction is as
1 have stated.
''If life is shortened by street noises that
cause cannot be charged up against the
capital. 1t is great point in urban matters
that such is the case, and WashingtonianS
should not be backward in claiming all OF
the credit which attaches to this important
fact in the problem of life in cities
The New Yorker had appeared happy as
he referred to the rest his nerves had had
during his brief stay in the capital AS
the train pulled out and he said goodbye
to The Star reporter he was observed to
slyly take from his pocket pair of patent
ear drums guaranteed to be absolutely
and sound-proof. and sadly
place them in position. He was going back
to New York and needed them in his busi-
ness