New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-09
AFTER RIVER SMOKE.
LE1GUES NEW CRUSADE.
Craft Burning Soft Coal WHl Be
Stopped and Commanders arrested.

Since the smoke nuisance on land has been
successfully combated. largely through the cru
sades Of the Anti-Smoke League, plans are now
under way to get after the craft which ply on
the East and North rivers. officers of the
league said yesterday that all the minor Offend
ers and several of the larger corporations had
been made TO comply with the smoke ordinance
The Interborough Rapid Transit Company would
soon be put on the rack. The league has spent
all of its time fighting the land offenders. and
now finds that the tugboats, ferryboats and
other steam vessels have been menacing the
health OF the public by the use of soft coal.
John B. Coleman, attorney for the league. said
that the smoke from the boats settles the city
often in a dense fog. Arrangements are being
made with the Health Department which will
patrol the waters about the city and arrest all
offenders.
There was an amendment made to the ordi-
nance" said Mr.. Coleman. which gives the
Health Department power to hold up a boat in
midstream. Heretofore they were compelled TO
wait until the boat had landed before an arrest
could be made. While we were busy with the
violators on land the boats have been having a
high old time and had no regard for the law"
A tuGboat will be chartered and a repre-
sentative Of the league, with a sanitary in
spector of the Health Department, who will
have squad of health officers on board. will
hold up every boat that let's out soft coal smoke.
A health officer Will climb aboard and arrest the
commander. 1t is planned 10 keep the boat out
for several days until the rivers, too are free
of smoke. The principal offenders are the tug
boats, according to the league which tow the
freight car floats and canal boats. Few ferry
boats are using soft coal. Among those who
are expected to be on the boat are Charles T.
Barney, president OF the Knickerbocker Trust
Company, also president OF the Anti-Smoke
League: Mr.. Coleman and a sanitary officer OF
the Health Department. DIR. Walter Bensel,
sanitary superintendent OF the Health Depart
ment, was to represent the department, but
ing to his appointment yesterday as Street
Cleaning Commissioner It Is expected that his
successor will represent the Health Department.
The government has written TO the league,
asking for the plans OF the new equipments
just completed by the New York Edison Com
pany, which has solved the problem of abating
the smoke nuisance. The letter. which was re-
ceived by Mr.. Barney, was as follows
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
Washington.
Hon. Charles 7. Barney President Knckerbocker
Trust Company. New York City.
Sir: Seeing article in The New York Tribune
commenting upon the experiments Of the New York
Anti-Smoke League, Of which you are president
have TO request that you be good enough to direct
that there be supplied TO the Geological Survey
copies OF reports tests experiments which
may have been conducted by the league The
technologic branch OF this survey is conducting
series Of Investigations throughout the country
looking 10 abatement Of smoke and desires TO Sc
the assistance OF the various anti-smoke
leagues. particularly the benefit which may have
resulted from experiments with certain apparatus
I may add also that it has been noticed that
equipment COR the keeping down OF the cinders In
the stacks has been successfully installed.
should Ne very pleased TO receive drawings and
descriptions Of such equipment Your courtesy in
regard this matter Will be very highly appre-
ciated. H c. RISER
Acting Director.
Mr.. Barney said yesterday that since the
New York Edison Company had been able TO
burn soft coal without making smoke or cln-
ders. the marlborough Rapid Transit Company
no doubt would adopt the same means.