The Washington herald., 1909-03-14

In response 10 a request from the Amer
ican Civic Federation. which has inter
ested Itself particularly in the so-called
smoke nuisance" in large cities. A. W.
Gibbs. general superintendent Of mo-
tive power OF the Pennsylvania Railroad.
has prepared a statement showing the
nature OF the problem. and the difieul-
ties confronting those attempting to deal
with it. together with a statement OF
what has actually been accomplished in
the direction Of progress.
Il is pointed out that by reason OF the
peculiar nature OF the locomotive large
amount OF smoke IS apt 10 be emitted al
railroad terminals. for II is there that old
fires are cleaned and new ones started.
making an entire absence OF smoke una
voldable.
Attention is called 10 the fact that IN
1907, twenty railways nearest the anthra-
cite coal mines used nearly 100000 tons
OF coal-mOre than half or the anthra-
cite coal mined. In this connection Mr..
Gibbs pertinently calls attention 20 the
fact that even granting that locomotives
should burn anthracite coal, a general use
Of this class Of fuel by the locomotives
would greatly hasten its disappearance.
enhance its price. and directly affect ev-
cry householder now dependent upon It.
Arguments are presented also 20 show
that coke and oil are not practical for To-
cOmotive burning in the East. and that
smOkeless briQuettes are also not yet
available. This brings Mr.. Gibbs 70 the
fuel generany available at the present
time. viz. bitumlnous coal. In discussing
the use o fthis fuel he says;
Devices Now in Use.
by what appliance or methods. with
out annoyance 10 the community. shall
We successfully burn bituminous coal.
which must be our reliance? There IS
probably no railroad Of Importance which
has not from time to time introduced ep-
pliances for this purpose.
'The constantly recurring attempt 70
bring back 10 the fire-box some OF the
smokeless gases, as well as the partly
burned c!nde-s there collected. has never
been developed 70 an extent 10 AFFORD
any promise. A great deal has been and
is being done IN the direction OF devel-
oping automatic stOkers. which viii do
the firing with a certain amount Of man
ual supervision. The demand FOR them
is so urgently recognized by The rail-
roads. not only from the mere smoke
question, but also on account Of the saw
Ing IN money and relief 70 labor, that
there is ground for hope that in the COM
paratively near future a satisfactory au-
tomato stoker win be developed.
The Ultimate Solution.
Let Us now consider what we believe
20 be the ultimate solution OF the prob
lem, namely. the education and super
vision Of the men running and firing To-
/ comotives.
The management OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad has prepared definite and uni
form instructions. which have been placed
in the hands OF all men responsible for
/ operating. firing. and attending 10 loco
motives on the road. and at terminals.
From these instructions We quote:
&c 'Enginemen and hremen must work To-
Eether so as 10 save coal and reduce
smoke
Smoke means waste OF coal and must
be avoided
Furthermore. this road Is recognizing
/ the necessity for greater supervision by
the appointment Of a greater number OF
supervising officers It must not be for
gotten IN this connection that the cost
OF the supervision Is a very serious bur
den on the cost OF operation. and while
the railroads would not provide such su-
pervision but for the belief that il would
yield adequate return. or from realization
Of the duties which the railroads owe 70
the public. there must be a limit 10 the
amount OF money which they can so ex-
pend
The cost OF fuel Is from s 20 Il Per
cent Of the total operating cost Of a rail-
road and. therefore. economy in the con-
sumption Of fuel is one OF the most OBJ
viOUs ways OF reducing operating ex-
/ penses. The railroads. therefore. have a
direct financial interest IN the elimina-
ton OF smoke 10 the lowest possible limit.
1T should be clearly understood that
/ there is no one remedy which can be gen
orally applied Each situation must be
! treated as a separate problem. giving at
tention 10 such points as the character
OF the roads as 70 grades. the loading,
and speed Of trains the distance which
must be run through thickly populated
districts. and whether we are considering
a terminal or a through station. For in
stance, the remedy which has so i'm
| proved the Washington situation viii not
apply 10 Baltimore. because the latter is
a through station. having adverse tunnel
grades on each side. The Chicago situa-
ton. With Illinois coal. is still another
problem.