Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-04

ana clnderS nave Deen efltteC from the
tunnels of locomotives passing through
the streets of Washington and it's suburbs,
but it is not recalled that there have been
any prosecutions therefor. Hence the
query.
asked by a Star reporter yesterday after
noon if there had been any cases of al
legged violation of the smoke law taken
into court to determine whether or not
the law applies to the railroad companies.
replied in the negative. The impression
seems to prevail among Police Court Off
Gals that the law does not so apply.
Never Intended to Apply.
The impression also prevails among other
citizens that the law was never intended to
apply to railroad corporations and that
those who watch legislation in the halls of
Congress in the interest of the railroad
companies were careful to see that it did
not so apply. But the law bears down with
a heavy hand on those District business
men VINO have SaloSe9taCkS or chlmneyS
which occasionally emit the dense black or
gray smoke of the unlawful variety, and
those who have felt this pressure OF po-
lice prosecution are anxious that test
case against the railroads should be made
before Congress begins its sessions next
month. The reason of tbs anxiety was ex-
planned by merchant yesterday, who said
that if the law does not reach the puff
x,
then, an act of simple justice, Congress
should either see that it does reach them
or else repeal the act.
The statement was made by a citizen
who resides in one of the suburban places
along the line of one of the railroads that
those men who have been fined, and fined
heavily and repeatedly, for permitting
smoke to arise from stacks high in the air,
and in one certain fixed locality, are natu-
rally indignant when they observe the i'm
munity of the railroads. whose locomotives,
with stacks lower than the second story Of
average dwelling, are permitted to move
along the streets and dash through the at
tractive villages in the suburbs putting out
great clouds of black smoke, which dis
tributes itself through the neighborhood.
blackening the houses inside and out and
filling them and the surrounding atmos-
phere with the odor of coal gas.
Statement by Suburbanite.
One suburbanite said the railroads were
permitted with impunity and immunity to
violate the law on the fy-to fill our eyes
and homes with smoke. gas and cinders."
The question as to whether the railroads
are or are not amenable to the law is being
debated in business circles, and it may be
that Congress will be asked to take some
action In the premises this winter. The
smoke law, which may be very much in
the public eye In the near future pro-
vides:
THAT on and after six months from the
passage of this act the emission of dense
or thick black or gray smoke or cinders
from any smokestack or chimney used in
connection with any stationary engine,
steam boiler or furnace Of any description
within the District of Columbia shall be
deemed. and is hereby declared. to be a
public nuisance: Provided, That nothing in
this act shall be construed as applied to
chimneys of buildings used exclusively for
private residences.
Sec. 2. That the owner, agent. lessee OF
occupant of any building of any descrip-
ton. from the smokestack or chimneys of
which there shall issue or be emitted thick
or dense black or gray smoke or cinderS
within the District of Columbia on or after
the day above named Shall be deemed and
held guilty of creating a public nuisance
and of violating the provisions of this act.
Sec. B. That any person or persons vio-
lating the provisions of this act shall upon
conviction thereof before the Police Court
| of the District of Columbia be punished
| by fine of not less than $40 nor more than
| 800 for each and every offense; and each
and every day wherein the provisions of
| this act shall be violated shall constitute a
| separate offense.'
Observations and COMPARISONS.
For the purpose of making observations
| and comparisons as to the emission of
smoke of the prescribed kind a Star re-
/ porter armed with camera made an in
cursion into the suburban places about
the city. and through some of the streets
in the city proper over which the railroad
| trains travel As he approached the set
| Element known Trinidad, on the out
| skirts OF Northeast Washington, he OBJ
| served great pail of black and gray smoke
| overhanging the place. 1t was suggestive
| of confaSration, and he inquired of a
| half-grown colored boy the cause of the
| smoky condition.
| Dat smoke Gums frum de engins," was
| the reply. You'll find ober yonder de
ensin' house whar de runners am kept"
| Along Montello avenue the smoke drifted
| close 10 the ground. and more than one
/ of the residents said at times it became
| necessary to keep their windows closed to
keep out the grimy clouds and the almost
| suffocating gas. Extending alongside the
| roundhouse was a sort of road-a houSeless
| thoroug hfare-which a sign on lamp post
| informed the passerby was Penn street.
| This so-called street extended from the
| tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
! eastward up barren decline. 1t was
| devoid of dwellings and soon lost itself in
| a field of autumn dried grass and weeds
| Many locomotives were at the Trinidad
| roundhouse. and from the tunnels of nearly
| all of them dense masses of smoke poured
! out. Some of 1T almost jet black and
| some of dark gray color. In other in
stances the smoke was of n light color
Hike steam. But all the engines were smok-
| ing, and above Trinidad hung the pail OF
| smoke which had been seen in the distance.
| The wind was variable and contrary and
! distributed the smoke in all directions.