New-York tribune., 1907-07-28
QUIET CITIES COMING
Science Working to Banish Need
less Noises.
BY George Ethelbert Walsh.

The city Of the future promises to be quiet
place. with the changing Of bells. the footing OF
engines and the rUTnDling Of carts and totally
eliminated. The public has demanded 1t, and sci
ence has taken up the subject seriously. The
sade against all unnecessary city noises has extend
ed from the metropolis 10 half dozen other large
cities, and before il ceases / It's efforts may
exrect to live in towns where sensitive nerves
will no longer he irrtated by ear-splitting sounds
10 disturb the sIumber OF the peaceful seven days
In the week. In q recent classification Of twenty
different kinds Of city noises leading physician
reported that fifteen were totally unnecessary and
the other five Of such nature that they could
be greatly modified.
This is not the first crusade In this direction Sew
eral times IN the history Of New York spasmodic
attempts have teen made 10 suppress noises. espe-
cIaIly those which begin early In the morning to
disturb the sleep OF the just and the unjust alike
In London as far back l79l a city ordinance was
rassed 70 suppress the early morning cries Of the
street hucksters. This law severe that
person arrested twice for the same offence could
be imprisoned for ten years. There Is one record
og a man lingering in prison for years When
his time wes up he asked what his crime was
For selling chickens that squawked'" was the
reply.
In the confusion Of the trial the fact was not
brought out that the chickens ana not the man
were responsible for the din that aroused sthe
wrath Of the disturbed citizens.
Science proposes to eliminate city noises by a
number OF improvements. some OF Whlch are pecu
liar In the first place, the ruDDer lie mas pio'eu
the greatest single factor in forwarding the move
rnent The automobile and the bicycle nave rtVolu-
tfonized conditions in our cities and opened the
way for further important gains. Several InliLioh
tons of rubber annually converted into tires IN
tbs country and their growing use for all sorts OF
vehicles is slowly reducing the noise OF CITY lalc
THE present crusade for the suppression OF uH-
necessary noises proposes 10 have laws passed
reouir!ng rubber tires on every class OF VelcIeS.
rrrncks eouipued with fiat, hard rubber tires make
lively no noise they roll across asphalt
,oaradam and wood paved streets. Even Wnch
passing over rough cobblestone pavemehts the
noise is reduced to minimum
The wear and tear OF rubber ures on 'rucKS ana
similar heavy vehicles is not so costly as one would
sInnose A good pair OF rubber tires VIII last
esr as long as iron tires II the streets are prop
- o-,a1 The change in the pavement Of our
e+reets is thus an essential part OF the movement
Aenbalt makes the smoothest and easiest pave
ment but il is not suited 10 heaVy ualLe- "a SUI u
stitute for this has been found in recent years IN
the wood block pavement The lower part OF
broadway and many side streets In New YORK nave
heen payed with wooden blocks and the ellInlna-
- - tic noise Of traffic is of the most
powerful factors in favor Of this pavement WOOD
On blocks have been used In Parls TOT huIhoet
of years. and some OF the most liIPot'ail Sti"etS
aud boulevards thus paved. Inc pIoChs ar
Iaid on a cement foundation, with the gram run
Ming perpendicuar TO the traffic overhead ana the
hIocks are wedged close together that they
t srlIt or crrrnbIe So far the wearing quail
ties of tie wooden blocks have proved satisfactory
10 all concerned s ,.,.
odnn blocks and residential streets with asphalt.
- -. ,f traffic can be reduced more than 30 per
art The new street pavement Is thus the iofe-
- of the rubber tire for trucks and heaVy
fuIIis ti, Prhher tires used on such pavements
Iii Ias: longer than steel tires used on cohbie-
,n,as and vice versa the wood blocks or the
aeuhalt pavements have their years 9l use! !uiiies
tioaeed % per cent by the universal adoption OF
me-, M ~ The elimination Of traffic noise thus
., double blessing, saving our ears and
reryes and prolonging the llie oi usefulness oi
| ottc,,Ier tires and street paVefnehts.
Fehlcu,I1t - is still one old offender left-one OF
~, most hardened of criminals IN this lne' Inc