New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-27
SMOKE NUISANCE AGAIN
Wards Island Officials Com plain of
Factories and Tugs.

The soft smoke nuisance which was successfully
combated largely through the crusade Of the
Anti-Smoke League last year, has made Its
appearance. The authorities OF Wards Island have
complained that the burning OF soft coal is still
being continued by boats and factories in the
vicinity of the island.
\ superintendent of one of the institutions when
yesterday very indignant about the mat
ter and said: THE tugboats, mostly of the New
York. New Haven & Hartford Railroad are the
chief offenders. In the early morning and late at
night, too, smoke may be pouring out of the
stacks of the Edison plant. at Seth street and the
East River, and from the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company's plant, at 96th street and the
East River. This pail of smoke covers the island
from end to end, and settles down in a dense fog
among the buildings. Up to six weeks ago the
smoke nuisance was not so noticeable. but since
that time it has become so bad that some ection
ought TO be taken. RandalPs Island gets a share
of it, The Joy Line boats using soft coal.
and have been using it before and since the cru
SADIE"
Superintendent Byers OF the House Of Refuge on
Randalrs Island. yesterday said that soft coal
was being used there. I'VE have been burning
soft coal for the last three weeks because con-
tractors were unable to furnish with hard COAL.
he said. They said the reason was that the
ket short. The soft coal that we have been
using the best grade. known smokeess
coal: The smoke from it could hardly be noticed
coming out OF the chimney"
John B. Coleman attorney for the Anti,snlok Smoke
street: "A meeting Of the league VIII be held at
the home of Charles r Barney, president of the
Knickerbocker Trust Company. who is also presi-
dent OF the league, for the purpose of telling the
members the result Of experiments which have
been undertaken at the Waterside station of the
New York Edison Company. The experiments
have demonstrated that the large public service
corporations burn soft coal without smoke, if
their furnaces are properly constructed. The New
York Edison Company is making series OF elabO
Professor De Kinder and Professor Jacobus, who
are i'm consultation with Professor Kent. of the
Syracuse University, employed sby the Anti-Smoke
League.
so far these experiments have been extremely
successful. They consisted in building brick arches
and battling walls IN the furnaces according to
designs agreed upon 10y the experts of the Anti
Smoke League. IL has been demonstrated beyond
doubt that furnaces constructed in this manner
burn soft coal without the least smoke. II is
the intention of the league relying upon the
suits thus obtained, to insist that public service
corporations comply strictly with the provisions OF
Section So Of the Sanitary Code 1t is the inten-
ton Of the league TO insist the of the
officials of these companies.
This is not local movement. but is ma toual
in scope It is not movement of tO-day. but has
to stay Many cities of the United States,
including Boston, Cleveland. Washington and
PittsbuTg. have recently taken up the question
and passed anti-smOke ordinances. In Paris
London. too. the matter has been agtated for
time with tho result that il has been noticed
that the soft coal nuisance and the smoke nuisance
In these cities have been greatly abat ed
Mr.. Barney said that many complaints had been
made TO tho league. and that they had been all
followed up. At the meeting at Mr.. Barneys house
plans for new work will be laid out.