New-York tribune., 1912-04-05
SEES DANGER IN SMOKE
Pittsburgh Now Regards Its
Nuisance with Alarm.
CIVIC CAMPAIGN IS BEGUN
Experts Probing Every Phase of
the Question and the City
Is Aroused.

Or. c. W. A. VeditZ professor Of soci-
ology in George Washington University
is in charge Of the investigation being
made into the cost Of Pittsburghs super
abundant smoke. Pittsburgh, like a good
many other cities, has been rather COM
placent about its smoke nuisance, ap-
parently under the impression that II was
a good advertisement OF manufacturing
activity Not much attention was paid to
the beauty loving folk who objected from
aesthetic considerations. Even the doctor
who pointed out the danger to the public
health OF loading the air with carbon par
ucles, to lodge eventually in peoples lungs
did not succeed in getting Pittsburgh to
take the matter very seriously.
But Pittsburgh was finally persuaded TO
take notice when the economists and
statistcians began 10 estimate the actual
money loss from smoke in other cities
First, from London came the statement
that in 1903 the direct and indirect cost Of
the luxury Of smoke was about $4,000, 0oo
Then, in 1909, Cleveland sQuandered IN the
same way 100000, as much as the pre-
vlOus years taxes. Cincinnati wasted S.
r1000, or $4,000 more than the years
taxes When all this was brought to the
attention Of the Smoky City" in Penn
sylyania, some active steps were taken TO
see if Pittsburgh couldn't save a lot Of
money that has been going up in smoke.
One of the City's financiers backed the
investigation, which is being conducted by
the University of Pittsburgh. Twenty-Five
scientists are now studying the subject
from every possible point Of view. Two
chemists are finding out all about the
chemical nature Of smoke and SCOT In gen
eral and the Pittsburgh varieties in par
ticular A botanist is studying the effect
Of smoke in various sorts OF plant life. and
will announce later what kinds OF vegeta-
ton thrive and what kinds cannot exist
at all around smoky cities like Pittsburgh.
This information viii be Of practical value
to the managers Of city parks.
Several physicians are making a carefui
study Of the physical effects, not only
from breathing the SCOT and the smoke
but from the loss Of sunshine, the damage
to eyesight from working by artificial hSht'
the nervous depression caused by the con-
stant gloom. and the results or poor Nehu-
lation in the homes Of housewives VINO
shut the windows TO keep out as much olrt
as they can.
A meteorologist is tracing the relation
Of smoke and SCOT to fog, rains wind ana
weather conditions generally. Architects
and builders are preparing report on the
effect of smoke and SCOT on building ma
terials. paint and exterior and interior
decorations A physicist and TWO ehsi,
neers. who may be called Smoke ooctors
are making a diagnosis or smoke lh'entoi5
Of the district They will ma out no"
MANY smokcstacks Pittsburgh mas winch
nroduce smoke; how much, when and why
They will tell what modification OF eHlsuhs
,Iar,s will he necessary TO prevent smoke
production entirely or to lessen It. i"e'
will demonstrate the fact thai the manu-
t.cturer who doesn't burn up his smoke Il
rcaI1y throwing away a part OF DIS lue''
,,r,cl, ebould be converted into addiuoha'
power. .,o ,,,o,l,
concerning his own share IN the worn
Or. Veditz says.
The economists are seeking, 10 6ine nt
greater accuracy TO the Items "a of this
0f financial loss. But some 3i gif ulif
a. a. tor,nratiou does not admit OF Iisn
statistiCal treatment. The quesll0nS nc,
rise under this head are some"hat ~ To-
Artau NdlO DlOpOSth NN''H'
< rn you married. and, II 30 nov ~ in
liie it?" Nevertheless, II Is poSSSip!e w. 80
vestirate this aspect or the propIelIt III ~ In
defuitclv than has yet oeen dtteInp. t,oi,i
other American cities. An lllpoI eatio - 80
"f loss from smoke is the Damage uT'iv ,,ony ~
Cnn6s i'm stores, the running OF speC.aI -
s;istino devices not needed in cleaner SiIII' ifS'
he freolent cleaning Of light coioLeu md
;nSe and the extra use or eiectr IoitS ~. a. Gns
sgs In private houses Wlhoo" Eo4 an raa,',
eearrets and so forth have 10 MAKE n'""'
trips TO the cleaners.
Dr yeditz calls attention with touCh
of porsonal sadness 70 the TACT 'i"t -
p,+tshurgh his laundry bills are twice -
oraat as when he is tidily teachins 30
TioIogy in George Washington University,
.1aundries and clothes cleaning estaD
,,shn,ents" he adds, do larger business
nor capita in Pittsburgh than IN any amer Amer.
ir,r ritv OF similar social consutuencS,
p.ir,os tbat sell vacuum cleaners DO iahu
ae,co business. A vacuum cleaner that
D,iII do its work in Pittsburgh is oouho 10
s,u we'll throughout the country, 2! tot! "o-
SCI a,n "'t ran ii be more severely tested,
"T!;ILe I~gal expert OF the lnVesus ssaoo1s sn,oLs
~ II = legislative cure or the slllohGg gog
sian, ,rosre desirable. will draft a lnodeI
smoke ordinance ana susseS'