The Detroit times., 1911-08-22
(BAN IS LIFTED
FROM GRAY smoke
Draft of Revised Ordinance Prepared
By Board of Commerce Less Drastic
Than Present Measure.

The Board of Commerce committee
appointed to take steps to revise the
smoke ordinance reported to the so
manufacturers who were recently
hailed into court for violations of the
smoke law, at luncheon in the board
rooms, Tuesday noon. The revision
was made after a careful considera-
ton of the needs of the various manu-
facturers of the city, and compari-
son with the ordinances Of other man
ufacturing cities. The ordinance as
revised was submitted to Health Of
ficer Kefer and was approved by
him. The members of the board OF
health are out of the city, however,
and IL will be impossible TO take for
NAL action until they return. In the
meantime, DIR. Kiefer has recommend
ed that the cases against the manu-
facturers be continued until the ordi-
nance can be laid before the council.
and the court has done this, setting
them for Sept. 27.
, The principal change In the ordi-
nance is the striking out OF the word
gray" wherever the phrase dense
black or gray smoke" occurs In the
present ordinance. This will permit
factories to emit gray smoke at any
time during the day, placing the pro
hibition only on black smoke.
Another important change is the
permission to emit black smoke for
not more than ten minutes OF any one
hour. According to the present law
no gray or black smoke can be emit
ted, but it is generally recognized that
most factories in Detroit could not
run at all IL compelled to live up to
the letter of the ordinance. II Is
claimed, however. that the emission
of black smoke can be stopped except
for short periods during the day, even
In foundries and other plants Of that
nature.
There Is also change In the quail
flcations for the position of smoke In
speeteF. is provided that the man
who is to be appointed by the health
board, must be a mechanical engi-
neer, qualified by technical training
and exerience in the theory and prac-
tice of the construction and operation
OF steam boilers and furnaces, ar
also in the theory and practice or
smoke treatment and prevention. Z
salary is fixed at $500 per annum.
Another new section provides that
IL shall be the duty of the smoke in
spector to cooperate with the own
ers of furnaces using bituminous coal
and make recommendations for the
improvement of the condition OF the
furnace or chimney or the operation
of II. The offender against the ordi-
nance is to be notified and allowed 80
days to correct his furnace, and IL he
starts improvements within that pc
riod he shall be allowed so days
more to complete them before becom-
ing liable to prosecution. He also may
appear before the board OF health TO
explain the causes which may miti-
gate or excuse his violation of the
ordinance.
The penalty for the violation Of the
ordinance is reduced from maximum
of $500 to a maximum OF 800, and
the term of Imprisonment in default
of the fine is reduced from six months
to two months.
The nature of the offence commit
ted in violating the ordinance Is
changed from public nuisance" &c
mere nuisance, by striking out the
word public" wherever 1t occurs In
that phrase in the present ordinance.
There is no legal significance In this
change, says Corporation Counsel
Hally.