The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1906-11-23
Tina SCOT Problem

Seattle is rapidly becoming dirty city,
The enormous increase in the consumption OF soft
coal of inferior producing character is the respon
sibie cause.
Unless steps speedily taken eurtal the output
of SCOT Queen City OF Sound country win become
griuy Pittsburg of old.
The complaints from the residence sections of the
growing and SCOT fills the air
in the cracks around windows spos curtains and
carpets and makes clean homes impossible.
Newly painted houses become dark and dingy within
q few meuhs' time
White clothing is quickly soled and faces and
hands show the effects OF the grmy smoke and dirt
The is easily found when begins looking into
the kinds fuel generally used Threefourths If not more
of the stuff is owgade soft coal from nearby mines which
is notable for its incomplete combustion and the throwing
off of quantities of smoke and SCOT II phenomenaly
dirty coal far than the soft coal products of Pennsy
vania.
People use I, because IL is cheaper than British Co
iurnba coal which makes less dirt and far cheaper
anthracite which occasionally brought to this mar
ket in ships from the Atlantic ssaboard.
With almost everybody using dirty. low-grade coal
but result pOssibe-he one that everybody is now
complaining Of.
years ago Seattle. being then much smaller and
using large quantities wood fuel comparatively
clean city
Wood then didn't cost nearly much as it does now
OF the old inhabitants In the habit OF using IT,
But with the advent OF so many Eastern people
and the gradually increasing price of wood partly due TO
dealers exorons and partly the increase IN wages OF
woodchoppers coal came and into while
wood dropped into dsuse great extent
So today the strange sooty spectacle OF city
standing midst of the greatest forests earth with
rottng the ground in all directions burning nasty
soft coal
II there saving in cost the thing would not
strange the fact the coal costs fully as much
as wood ofttimes Al present prices wood is the
cheaper fuel.
Many persons would probably abandon coal for wood.
they eognizant of it's IL is just good for
house furnaces as the coal and costs less to
1, adapted in ranges well For either heat
ing cooking purposes the fir sold in tho woodyards here
Is the desirable fuel obtainable
The more general gas for fuel would also tend
TO reduce smoky conditions in Seattle AT present prices
gas is cheaper kitchen than either wood coal Gas
ranges can operated OF exceeding Ssso TO
ssoo per month"; than the price OF ton OF coal
As partial relief the city authorities should
enforce to the present ordinances relating TO the
smoke nuisance far the big chmneys OF factories and
power-producing plants concerned
But there will be radical improvement IN conditions
in this city people themselves decide to abandon
the use of the cheap soft coal possible and return
to the Of wood for fuel. try gas.
Let Improvement clubs OF Seattle take this matter
up and do so vigorously Nothing could be OF more I'M
portance What Of talking up expensive schemes
for identifying town. while deliberately besnreh
ing il all and making public buildings stores and houses
dngy and uncouth with soot'