Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-10

vigorously and left long trails of smoke and
gas in their wake.
Above Smoky Hollow was an atmos-
phere palled with the smoke of soft coal
Clouds of it drifted into the streets in, the
neighborhood. especially North Capitol
street through which the great white Capt.
toll building could be seen dimly as through
a darkenej glass. Some of the buildings
nearby are said to bear the perpetual odor
Of coal gas. while their walls and Interiors
have been darkened by the drifting smoke
clouds that are ever in evidence there
abouts.
Bridges Blackened.
An observer standing on the little bridge
that spans the tracks at North Capitol
street. or the one at Massachusetts ave-
nue. may readily imagine himself in the
steel manufacturing and foundry district
of smoky Pittsburg. The bridges in ques-
ton are blackened. timbers and all. by the
smoke of passing locomotives. While the
reporter was taking observations of the
foglike picture spread out in every drec-
ton he conversed with venerable colored
man, who had been picking cinders. Not
ing that the newsman was particularly in
terested in the blackened bridge. the old
fellow remarked:
Deed. boss. dat bridge dun look like it
war covered wild black whitewash."
1t was suggested that il there is any
doubt as to the color of the smoke given
volume. the doubling one should post him
self on either of the bridges close to the
Baltimore and Ohio depot or the one on
Sixth street. just south of the Pennsylvania
railroad station. and take observations for
a few minutes.
A picture presented yesterday included
the white walls of the new union station
standing in bold relief. surrounded by riffs
and clouds of the blacklist of black smoke
from the several locomotives in the vicin-
ny. One of the railroad men volunteered
the information that the snowy walls
would not long retain their wilderness with
soft varieties but that eventually they will
present a bestreaked and smudgy appear
ance. in striking contrast with their pres
ent immaculate aspect.
Electric Motors Remedy.
Being asked what remedy he would sug-
gest. the railroad man replied:
Electric motors such as are used in
some tunnels. They would solve the prob
lem. Let the railroad companies employ
smokeless and steamless electric motors to
haul their cars within the city limits, leav-
ing the smoke producing engines on the
outside. and the thing is done There will
be no smoke nor steam nor dirt, and what
is better, no complaint"
In the vacinity of the 9Th street depot
the picture was smoky one. indeed One
passenger train pulled out and another
ously 1t pushed pulled cars hitter
and thither. and the surrounding atmos-
phere was filled with smoke. There was
black smoke, dark gray smoke, white
smoke and variegated smoke. From point
at Maryland avenue and 9Th street it ap-
peared to the observer that there might
be a great confiagration in the vicinity of
the depot, located in the business center of
Washington. Beyond the station the sky
was comparatively clear only few curls
of smoke from the chimneys lazily ascend
ing.
AS one Of the Pennsylvania trains was
pulling out of the station the locomotive
began putting end straining as 1t went
along 9th street between Missouri avenue
and Maine avenue southwest and great
volumes Of smoke were emitted from the
funnel. The wind was contrary and play
full and the smoke masses were whirled
about, blotting out for the time the gray
building of the fish commission and the
view Of the museums beyond 7th street
Several residents along 9th street and
Maryland and Virginia avenues complained
that the smoke from the passing locomo-
tives ill their homes with grimy smoke,
cinders and ashes. and had resulted in a
marked depreciation In the value Of prop
erty along those thoroughfares, also max
ing 1t difficult to let the houses even at
greatly reduced rental.
Almost Constant Smudge.
AS a result of locomotives passing over
ern railroads in South Washington there
is an almost constant smudge of smoke over
that vicinity. and the structures notably
the fish commission building, all bear q
smoke-soiled appearance.
Several Of the officials of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company were asked why
the company uses soft coal in Its locomo-
tives. Some of them replied that 1t was
cheaper than hard coal and more easily
obtained. Others said the furnaces of the
engines had been constructed for soft coal.
and to make a change would cost the COM
pany many thousands of dollars, as It
would be necessary to practically recon-
Struct all the locomotives. One official re-
marked:
"As my reply to your question. I refer
you to the general superintendent in Phila-
Conditions in the suburban places along
the Pennsylvania railroad and the lines
that run south are said to be about the
timore and Ohio railroad. At Benning the
smoke nuisance Is said to be almost un-
bearable at times. and similar conditions
are reported from the vicinity OF the navy
ing Of petitioning Congress this winter to
pass q law which will give them at least a
measure OF relief.
Get It. Going and Coming.
I'VE get 1t going and coming-I mean
the smoke" q suburbanite who lives out
Rockville way said to q Star reporter. He
recounted the experience of the commuters.
most of them government employees. who
have homes along the Metropolitan branch
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, saying
he had heard Of the fastidiOus young man
who lived In Pittsburg and who found II
necessary to change his collars and cuffs
several times day In order to maintain
the standard Of neatness he had estab-
lished.