The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-30

70 Speuu. 10 question iAoil o0ileA'"A
Gauinger. he said the Pennsylvania had
spent S50,O0a000 for betterments In New
York and would spend $i00o0,00O more
there. and was spending $Z5O0o,0o0 in
Washington.
J. f. Mulvel. the superintendent Of mo-
tive power for the Baltimore and Ohio.
made a statement showing what work
was under Roadway TO reduce the smoke
evil on that road He said smoke might
be controlled but the Cinders with forced
draft presented the hardest problem.
Senator Burkett asked if his efforts 10
reduce smoke were not confronted by
the necessity for economy. Mr.. Mulvel
said the first thing aimed at in making
power was efficiency and not economy.
A certain amount Of coal must be con-
sumed TO a certain square surface of
CRATES and boilers TO produce power and
draft was necessary.
A. w Gibbs, the superintendent of mo-
tive power for the Pennsylvania, spoke
very. interestingly OF the experiments
now going on, with the aid Of the Geo
logical Survey. In "a plant az Altoona, He
said coal was being crushed and made
into briquettes for use in city engines.
These briquettes held together. and did
not blow over the CRATES and produce
cinders. In some drafts as much as Is
per cent of the coal went over in cinders
on ordinary engines. The experiments at
Altoona had been under Roadway but
two months, he said, but were very
promising.
Mr.. Rea said that the briquettes were
being used generally in Europe with sat
isfaction
Difficulties Suggested.
". H White, president of the Wash
ington Southern. made an interesting APP
peal for consideration Of all the practical
problems involved He said the roads
had tried to comply with all that Congress
and the District Commissioners had asked
OF them. The idea Of electricity lad not
been proposed to them in the start and
he did not think If should be now. To
people travelling To and from Washington,
the eIcctriication Of the terminal system
would mean many inconvenience by
causing delays TO trains that would be
necessitated in changing from steam to
electric power. Il would make i'm
possible the four-hour schedule TO
New York. 70 which the Penn
sylvania Railroad had been work
ing. 1t would mean great loss 10 the pub
railroad companies. occasioned by the de
lay of AT least two years in the opening
of the station and improvements. Car
charges for freight would come heavily on
consumers in the District.
'The railroads are constantly testing, ~
said Mr.. White 'and Will be glad 10 adopt
any successfully operated appliance to
abolish smoke, and they are willing TO
DO all I'm their power TO relieve the sltua-
ton They respectfully request that they
be given q reasonable period after the
opening Of the station 70 accurately OBJ
tain the results of operation and test the
different grades of fuel before being COM
PEELED to abandon. 10 the detriment of all
interests. a large part Of the present out
fit for steam and install electricity.
THE railroads have not been uncOm-
promising in their attitude, but have
shown a willingness to exert every effort
10 abate the smoke nuisance in The city
of Washington. This morning they offered
to require all yard engines used eXclu-
SiVely within the limits of the city 20 burn
coke, and that If that is not satisfactory
anthracite coal. or other equally smoke
less fuel; 10 require all road engines
hauling trains I'm or out OF the city to
use selected coal of the best grade, to
reduce smoke to a minimum. and to in
sist upon the exercise by enginemen and
firemen Of additional care in firing loco
motives in the District limits.
This is practically the plan which was
followed in that part of the city OF
Greater New York comprising the Dor
oughs of Brooklyn and Queens. and which
has proven satisfactory to the munich
pality, the residents, and fairly so to the
railroads"
Commissioner mcfarland closed the
hearing by insisting that the law should
be passed 10 bind the railroads and put
them on the same footing with private
plants. He appealed To the pride uf
the railroad men present I'm the national
Capital, which he said. was not merely
the pride Of the 100000 people who hap
pened TO live here. but also Of the g0m0.-
coo Americans who feel that It is their
national city.