The Washington herald., 1910-07-03
Congress of City Officials
Discuss Subject.
HAS MET MANY DIFFICULTIES
Nine of These InsuperabIe When In
teIIigent Cooperation Exists Be-
tween Governing Bodies and the
PubIic-Much Progress Made To-
ward Solving Problem.

At the recent meeting Of the officials
OF cities in the Empire State, which con-
vened at Schenectady, a number Of in
teresting papers were read on the health
of cities. One Of these was by Frederick
L. Hoffman, of the Prudential Life In
surance Company. on the elimination OF
dust. He said in part:
The dust problem Of streets. pavements,
highways and speedways. steam and cleo
trio railways. subways or tunnels. pre-
sents not insurmcuntable difficulties. pro-
vided there is intelligent cooperation be-
tween governing bodies and the public
and the co-ordinated agencies established
for the advancement of the general good
The relation OF the automobile TO the dust
problem Of public highways requires spe-
eial consideration. with due regard 10
the fact that the automobile is on the
one hand tho direct cause OF the dust
nuisance and on the other the direct
cause of road destruction. The problem
OF dust prevention on streets and high
ways is in a fair way Of being solved BY
the use of water and salt solutions, the
use Of tar and oil binders, and the use
OF asphalt emulsions, and similar prep
arations, none Of which is ideal. but ali
of which contribute more or less toward
the diminution of the dust menace, with
consequential beneficial results to the
public health.
Dust I'm Building Operations.
The dust problem in building opera
tons. and particularly in the demolition
Of old buildings, is one OF serious sig
niicance. which has heretofore attracted
practically no public attention. Equally
important is the control of the dust
menace in public buildings. in post Of
fees. courthouses. schools. churches.
theaters. and Libraries. as well as on
Pullman parlor and sleeping cars, public
conveyances of all kinds. &c.
In practically all Of these suitable floor
! ing material. or floor dressing, viii con-
tribute materially toward a diminution
Of the dust nuisance, while the modern
process Of pneumatic cleaning is truly
effective, as one Of dust removal rather
than of dust disturbance.
The distinction between dust removal
and dust disturbance is particularly i'm
portant in the home. where the evils of
| dry sweeping and feather busting are so
well known that they do not require 10
be emphasized.
The advantages Of the vacuum cleaning
UlULSSS dlEs IllAgi Nlli1AtlAs AlilllLEa "
the expense Of this method, and as yet
no successful process of dust-laying floor
dressing has been perfected. suitable for
the average home.
Making Much Progress.
| While the entire elimination of dust IS
necessarily impossible vast quantity OF
atmospheric pollution by dust is abso-
i lutely needless and uncalled for in the
/ light of modern sanitary science and
preventive medicine.
The successful elimination OF dust on
/ the public highways, in public places, in
| factories. and workshops. and in the
| home will unquestiOnably. be followed
/ by a material reduction in the prevalence
/ of preventable sickness. which now en-
4 tails an enormous financial burden upen
/ the community. and in the reduction OF
the death rate from preyentable causes.
which now curtails the normal lifetime
/ By many years.
/ The whole problem may be summed up
! in a sentiment Of community RESPONSE
( bility for sound health in everyday life
/ and industry, and the reward viii be
/ increased efficiency, resulting from i'm
| provements in labor conditions. diminish-
/ ed sickness and invahdity, with a lesser
need of dependence upon public charity.
/ The problem of dust elimination is a
I feasible one and 1t Is primarily the duty
/ Of the municipality TO solve Il.