Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-04-06
sALEM's EXPENSIVE NOISE.
Massachusetts, City is Losing All Its
Desirable Residents.


Boston Herald: 1t is stated that Sa,
lem in the past year has lost half q
million dollars In taxable persona
property simply because the intolerabls
noise of steam whistles on the railroad
and from factories has made the place
residentially undesirable. Several Lead
ing citizens have thus been driven to
live elsewhere. Strong efforts havS
been made to secure abatement of the
nuisance, but without avail and other
prominent residents announce their in
tention Of going to live in other parts
One gentleman say that in order to
sleep nights ne has to go over to Mar
blehead. there is such continuous
footing of locomotive whistles in his
neighborhood. Indulgence In the noise
nuisance is therefore proving an ex
penslve luxury for Salem. Not only
is there a loss of personal property
but in giving an undesirable character
to tirst-class residential property IL
must tend to depress real estate values.
and thus cause the city the loss of
much revenue. 1t is so easy to effect
a reform In this regard that 1t seems
strange that 1T should not be done.
All that is necessary is for the city
government to adopt an ordinance reg
ulating the matter, just as every civily
tied community should do. The blown
ing of locomotive whistles within th4
municipal limits. except in case OF
emergency. has long been forbidden in
Maiden. Waltham and other places
where they had become a public null
sance. and no inconvenience in the OPP
Grafton of trains has ensued
1t might. therefore. be thought that
the railroad company would voluntarily
discontinue a practice that is making
one of the most Important places on its
5H ia jroh Ao IN
factory whistles. there is no excuse fos
using them. In order to call the hands
to work there is no reason why thu
peace of whole community should bs
disturbed. 1t is simply the persist
ence of an old habit that in more prim-
tive times may have had its justitica-
tion. But in these days of cheap
watches and alarm clocks every en-
ploye has the means of knowing when
working hours begin.
1t is remarkable that Salem. of all
places. should choose to endure in
tictions contrary to all the traditions
OF one OF the Oldest and most cultivated
communities In the United States. Sa-
lem has long been considered one OF
the pleasantest places of residence in
New England. Many persons have
been drawn to live there by its beau
tiful location. its pleasant streets. ita
fine old houses, Its historic traditions,
its scientific and literary institutions
and the charming social conditions that
these things imply. TO have these adj
vantages sacrificed simply because in-
competent local authorities fail to real
ize the desirability of retaining them
would be Il loss felt far outside the
community directly concerned. Salem
is one of the most attractive features
of historic New England and all New
England is concerned in having it re-
main 50. But under rumpus- toleratins
conditions an Indifference to every
thing distinctive that has characters
lied the place is likely to grow. In
necessary noise is one of the greatest
banes of our civilization. 1t is as det-
limental to health as to peace and
comfort.