Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-30
AN UNBEATABLE NUISANCE

AN UNBEATABLE NJloANIE'
A meeting has been called Of the
farmers and others interested, to pro-
test against the nuisance and damages
resulting from the fumes OF the smelt-
ers which nre lnjurlng the crops ana
fruits and trees In the central part OF
Salt lake county. The extent OF the
trouble cannot be understood nor the
losses arising be estimated except by
personal examination OF the fields and
foliage IN the nelghborhood OF those
smelters and the path Of the smoke
emitted from their chlmneys. They are
something surprising and deporable,
At recent visit 70 Murray we came
To sharp sense OF the eyll complained
OF. by breathing and tasting the att.
mosphere there, strongly impregnated
with sulphurous acid that affects the
throat and nostris peroeptlbly and In
deed powerfully. Inspection OF the
grass and foliage In the vicinity, and
further northward to a considerable dis
lance within the city limits, demon
s,rated the injurious effects OF the vap-
ors emitted from the smoke-staoks
Leaves and grass-biades turn yellow
from lts effects, and blight settles upon
them to their distinctions
This Is particularly the case when
rain. or moisture from dew or other
causes renders the plants or crops or
leaves more susceptible than ordinarily
Ia the effects OF the acid conveyed IN
the vapors Damages result that are
erevous to be borne by the tillers OF
the soil. whose labors are 90 great
extent rendered void and their property
Is thus largely deprecated IN value.
No wonder they cry out In vigorous
protest and call for organization to
bring about compensation and remedy
we hope they will be able To formulate
some definite plan Of proceedings
which win have the desired effect.
1t must not be lost sight OF, however,
that there Is great and valuable In
dustry established. the interests Of
which should be taken into account
when the matter Is considered, The
smelters furnish employment to a large
number Of workmen, and they render
possible the conduct Of mining opera
tons that would probably anguish or
die, If ores had to be transported for
reduction to places at long distances
We do not believe there is any dispo-
si,on TO break down the smelling IN
dustry, but simply determination to
protect II possible, the rights and prop
erty OF the farming and fruitgrowing
industries, and this is only fair and
reasonable
II appears to as that with q real dis
position to DE just the smelling mana
gers might take a course to remove the
cause Of the complaints which are now
revived and which have boen heard for
many years. Surely there can be con
triyed some method Of consuming or
neutrallzng the fumes from the metals
treated at those establishments THAT
they are detrimental 20 human health
and injurious to vegetation is beyond
question or doubt THAT the wrong done
Is no small grievance can be proved, by
going a short distance westward and
viewing the trend Of the shelters
smoke, and how It hugs the ground
along the lines where It Is carried by
the breeze And then when its ravages
are beheld and It's acid taste ia expert.
enced, with It's effects on the lungs
when breathed mwardly there can be
left no dublety about rs actual injuri-
Gus effects. So It liz Of no use to at
tempt to pooh pooh the nuisance II Is
demonstrated eNl and II must be
suppressed The Laws OF Utah of 1899
page Sc, provide mat
Whatever Is dangerous TO human
life or health and whatever renders
soil. air, water or food impure or un-
wholesome are declared 10 be nuisances
and Illegal and every person, either
owner agent or occupant having aid
ID In creating or contributing TO the
same, or who may support, continue or
retain any OF them, shall De deemed
guilty Of a msdemeanor'
It Is made obligatory ON the Board
" Health 10y the same statute when
complaint Of a nuisance Is made I'm
writing to investigate the matter and
II necessary order and direct the abate.
ment Of the nuisance, ana on failure OF
compliance to employ all the force nec-
assary TO abate and remove Il. But un-
der the Compiled Laws, Sec. 1906 amy
person whose property is iniuriously
Affected or whose persona enjoyment
s lessened by the nuisance" may bring
action and recover damages therefor
As well as secure It's abatement
Now, we are Of the opinion that ths
ilhiculty may he met without recourse
o litigation, either civil or criminal
Let the aggrleyed people appoint an