New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-28
For CLEAN AER.

The last week may be gratefully remern-
hered as marking an important achievement In
The long campaign for pure air One Of the
great corporations which have been among the
most persistent, defiant and unnecessary offend
ers against the smoke law has at last. through
the public spirited zeal Of the Anti-Smoke
League been brought to book. and there is
promise that like fate viii soon overtake an
other such concern, perhaps the biggest of them
all In the case OF the company which was con-
yicted on Wednesday sentence was suspended for
two months. in which time complete and per-
manent abatement Of the nuisance is expected
Certainly no greater leniency than that could ha
asked, while much less would not have been
subject 10 even a suspicion Of harshness
concern which has for years been breaking the
law IN the presence Of a number OF well tried
ana quite satisfactory methods Of complying
with the law is not an imposing or persuasive
suppliant for mercy. Still, even in n fragrant
case II is perhaps better 70 err on the side NJ
mercy especially since the moral force OF the
conviction will not be impaired thereby. II the
nuisance is fully abated within the prescribed
ume' and il the other big offenders are SINH
larry dealt with. We shall have cause 70 ,bont
God and take courage
A current dispatch from Pittsburg about tha
presumptive- rather more than nresumnt
iVe-conoinon OF the lungs OF those who dwell
"a NE city OF the shadows Of great chimnevs
proTokes mirth by the portentous phraseoIogv
n winch that condition Is described Rut there
y an appalling reminder in il, all the same. A
man has only to examine the state OF his NOS
hfhs atOer spending an hour or less in smoke
or dust or TO note the condition OF q hit oe
CON used as an air screen in such circum
stances 10 realize how much OF CRIME Is car
rled III ne air. II only a small proportion az
i nnds us way through the air passages into
TIE lungs. the state Of those ORGANS rn,,st he
soul; ana il is scarcely conceivable that their
delicate membranes, probably the most delicate
ana sensitive in the whole body, can endure
such an innictiOn without at least much IRA.
fAuon' u not serious permanent harm. We
have been Fighting great fight for clean water
which now promises 90 be crowned with snc'
cess. The fight FOR clean air Is no less grnnor,
tant and IL is gratifying to see that IL also 4,
making progress toward as complete q meas
ure Of success as IS humanity possible
There VIII always we fear, be some consarns
nafiOn OF the air in great cities In New VOL
for q good while there has been much abomi
nable and needless contamination by means y
Che reek and the dust from streets which are a
about tie worst condition in the cIty's history
What man would drink glass OF water yvbIcl
had been exposed 20 the dust OF the street 70
an hOurg Yet why shrink from pouring IN
dust into the stomach II he does not hesitat
90 snhale Il into his lungs? Well the plight O
the streets is another story. 70 be othergis
dealt with. But at least 90 the filth which rise
from below we should not add other filth an
poison poured out from above in a perfectl
needless and wantOn manner The Antf-Smok
League has done good service Its work las