Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-16
MIscELLANEons REcoRp.
The Smoke Nuisance.

The Smoke Nuisance.
It viii be a surprise to many people
who look upon any movement to suppress
She soft coal smoke nuisance as restric-
.ive OF manufacturing expansion, to learn
that such movements are general in their
tecope. So many cities, in fact, have
4 Anti-smoSe laws and special officers to
enforce them, that a convention OF
smoke inspectors has been called, TO be
held IN Detroit, Mich, on June 9th, 2Sth
and 20th. Il Is expected that a perma-
nent organization Of these important
municipal officials will be effected and
that out of this will grow uniformity and
effectiveness Of method IN dealing with
the smoke nuisance in American cities.
Preliminary plans for the convention have
been formulated and advanced to their
present stage by Charles Poethke, smoke
inspector Of Milwaukee Wis, who sub
mitted to inspectors throughout the
country the question Of holding a con-
vention and the best time and place. Tho
details Of the convention are in the hands
Of John Fairgrieve, smoke Inspector Of
Detroit, who is said 10 be arranging a very
interesting programme. As soon as It is
completed copies Of this programme viii
be sent TO smoke inspectors and to all
interested in the subject who have indi-
Gated an intention TO attend. A cordial
invitation is extended to all those inter
csted in the elimination Of atmospheric
pollution to attend, and to send their
names as soon as possible 20 Mr.. Fiar-
grieve, at Detroit, or to Mr. Poethke, at
Milwaukee. A special invitation Is OK
tended to the ladies, and a sightseeing
and entertainment programme Is being
planned for them by the committee and
the manufacturers OF the city.
One Of the features of the convention
will be exhibits Of stokers, mechanical
draft and other devices tending TO the
elimination of smoke and TO furnace
efficiency and fuel economy. The ex-
hibits will be explained in detail by their
designers of makers, and their working
efficiency thoroughly demonstrated.
Among the comparatively new devices
which probably will be offered for in
spection is the so-called Hydro-Carbon
system, under which It is claimed that
hydrogen gas is injected into the furnace
in conjunction with induced draft, adding
another element Of heat TO the coal and
multiplying the ratio Of evaporation. A
circular descriptive Of this device says:
"a suitably designed apparatus is sub
stitutod for the ordinary fire door. by
means Of which air is heated and passed
into tho fire chamber where it is distribu-
ted in proportions suited to the vary
ing conditions Of the fuel and to the re-
quirements upon the boiler. BY It's natu-
raj action this air produces highly eff
cient induced draft, and supplies to the
carbon Of the fuel the required amount
Of free oxygen TO transform the combus-
tihle gases from carbonic oxide to dioxide,
practically doubling the number Of heat
units obtained and notably decreasing the
temperature Of the chimney gases. BY
the more perfect combustion produced the
fuel is entirely consumed, leaving in
the ashpit only the clay residuum Of the
coal"
An evaporative test on the White Star
Steamship Co.'s pier at New York, with
a horizontal tubular boiler, 6xlS feet
S2x4-inch tubes, with ,S65 square feet OF
heating surface and CRATE surface 6xe
feet (ratio Of heating to CRATE surface
5l.s:D showed 9-06 pounds Of water
evaporated per pound actual coal con
ditions, with the Hydro-Carbon system
10 76l pounds without the device. and
1855 H. p. developed for five hours
against 1888 without the device. the
boiler being rated at $50 II. p; in one
case as excess Of 1s.5 H. P. or 1913 pei
cent and in the other a deficiency Of I'd. Z
or 1857 per cent.
The latest city to Join the ranks Of
those seeking an abatement Of the smol,
nuisance is Canton, O., where the Council
has instructed City Solicitor Day 10 look
up the matter Of proper legislation. tn,
resolution TO abate the nuisance wa.
offered by Councilman Hall, who ex.
planned that much complaint has beer
heard regarding the smoke emitted from
the stacks at the water works and also al
the powerhouse. The resolution was
adopted without dissenting vote.
Construction, a weekly journal Of archi
lecture, engineering, contracting and
building, from which the information
above printed was obtained, also give.
editorial attention to this important sub
iect. "The problem pressing for solution
Of the abolition Of the smoke nuisance.
It says, lis made complex only by reason
Of the diversity OF conditions contributin,
to the total effect. It is patent that--a