New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-05
DEFIANT SMOKE MAKERS.

In reply to the criticism of citizens Inter-
ested In suppressing the growing smoke hui-
sance Commissioner Darlington points out that
| court decisions have interfered with the exer-
else of authority by Health Board subordlnates'
and says that there is need Of new ordinances
| which will make easy the abatement or the
| nuisance without serious harm to commercial
| interests At the same time the Commissioner
| admits the possession OF power which he does
| not exercise, because he does not wish to 1nJure
the business OF the offenders and inconvenience
| the public dependent upon them. He says that
if he should stop the OF soft coal 1T would
"mean the practical stoppage of the transit and
lighting facilities of the city," and declares:
It is undoubtedly true that if the great pow
ers of the Board of Health were enforced every
fire in New-York City could be quenched, and
then there would be smoke, but law ana
justice seem TO me to demand some oroiha inc
that can be enforced without injustice the
Health Department is trying to find such an
, ordinance The object of the law is to secure
compliance with 1t without hardship to the
citizens.
Certainly nobody would wish to stop cars
and put out lights unnecessarily. But is DR..
Darlington sure that such a catastrophe would
really follow the use Of his powers? Are not
the corporations adopting their familiar trick
Of threatening to go out of business when told
TO obey law? Public officials should not let
themselves be frightened by it The corpora
tons would not cease to operate II the worst Of
their smozestacks were forced to stop pouring
forth black smoke, however much they might
threaten beforehand. They would employ more
expert fremen and at least diminish their
nauseous cloud, and pursue their experiments
TO perfect smoke consumers with new zeal
Those who remember how the abolition of
dead mans curve" was to tie up the cable
cars, and how easily q new method was found
when the threat did not stop the enforcement
Of the law, may be excused for being skeptcal
about the unalterability of the determination of
the electric companies to go out Of business I'm
less they are allowed to obscure the sky with
smoke. With skilful firing to coke the coal
before actually trying to burn it soft coal
can be used with the production of little smoke
and more economically than in the usual fashion.
Moreover, the small sizes Of hard coal are not
so expensive but that the traction and lighting
companies would continue to operate under
their charters, even If forced TO the added eX-
pense. The fact is that these companies are
insolently taking advantage of leniency and de-
family persisting in violation of law, not be-
cause of mechanical difficulties, but because of
greed. A little less Of tender regard for their
convenience would probably have a salutary
effect.
Recalling the severe criticisms levelled at
Mayor Low when, at the time of the coal strike
with hard coal practically unattainable, officials
proposed to wink at smoke production by in
dustrial plants which could not otherwise ope-
rate we do not think that public opinion will
justify the continued liberation of the same
evil inflicted unnecessarily on the public chiefly
by a few great corporations, which always i'm
pose on the people just as far as officials Will
allow. The nuisance has grown greatly in the
last two years. and drastic measures should
be taken to stop it. DR.. Darlington need not be
afraid. The offenders will look after themselves
and their business.