The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-15
INVESTIGATE AND ABATE,


what is very fairly and properly
called the smoke nuisance in this city
and valley, There have been pro-
testations that the smoke nuisance
must be abated, and ON the other hand
offers of means for abating it. None
of these, however, have afforded any
relief, either on the one hand or on the
other, and all of them have proceeded
upon the wrong basis as start,
Now is a good time to obtain the CO.
operation Of all the forces that can be
brought to bear upon this question.
The weather bureau has made report
as thorough as possible from its stand
point ON this question, but something
more is desired. What is necessary
above all is exact facts. There should
be an investigation by all the forces
making for good in this city, and it
should be backed by legislative au-
thority. The Commercial Club should
be represented, the city as city should
be represented, the county should be
represented, and the State should be
represented. and all proceedings should
be thorough and based upon statute
law. Then there would be mono to resist.
none to plead exemption, and none to
deny the authority of the inquiry.
First of all, we should find out pre-
cisely where the trouble lies. There
should be an inquiry into all of the
smoke producing furnaces. chimneys
and locomotives in the city. There
should be in connection with this, an
inquiry into all the chimueys, furnaces,
and smeters in the county outside of
the city, with a view TO ascertain to
what extent the agreements to destroy
all noxious fumes have been complied
with, and to ascertain to what greater
extent, if possible, the actual smoke
itself can be reduced or possibly elimi.
mated.
What is wanted above everything
else is thorough knowledge of the sit
uation. 1t is useless 10 beat the air
and raise a burrah about what is to
be done, without first finding out pre-
cisely what ought to be done. IL you
ask one person what the trouble is, he
will say the smokestaclss in the city
and the locomotives in the railroad
yards; another will say the smclters
are chiefly at fault; another will say
that there is no reason for any of these
agencies to be at fault, since il is per
fectly easy to stop the emission of the
vast clouds Of black smoke. Aud 80 ii
goes.
There is no question about the evil
of the smoke bank that rests like a
pail over this city and valley. That
smoke is destructive TO property; il
destroys the fair fame of the city; il
causes great damage in households, III
stores, everywhere; it Injuries the health
of the people, and is something that is
all sorts Of a nuisance. One hears in
trips abroad about what a splendid
place Salt Lake City is, what fine ac
commodations there are here for tho
travelling public, and what Inviting
Ibusiness opportunities there are IN thi:
city and valley, But there is Away:
the smoke drawback. There is in the
came breath the objection, "What {
lpity it is that there is such black
Idense bank of smoke generally ovel
salt Lake City and valley,
And so our great and manifest ad
vantages are Handicapped by this blacl
bank of smoke. People do not want tc
live always in smudge which con
ltains deleterious substances and noxi
ous fumes.
But spasmodic efforts and even ener
getic action at times. will not afford
the remedy that is required, What II
needed is a thorough inquiry into the
cause of the trouble, with cautious
skillful, thorough analysis of the situa
ton, showing precisely what th'
trouble is, where it comes from, ant
what could probably be done toward
affording a permanent and thorough
remedy.
AS we have said. all of the bes
agencies for good in the city, county
and State should be employed in thi
Investigation. and in the movement t.
abate the trouble The delegation il
the Legislature from Salt Lake Cit.
and county should cooperate with tn
, City Commission. the Commercial Club
and other good agencies for settin
on foot this inquiry, with power t.
remedy the abuses where abuses ar
found.
We commend the whole subject t
, the active agencies that are so power
, full in building up this city, in advel
' ltising its advantages, and in holdin
out to business men and settlers tn
notice of opportunities, offered her
!. for new citizenship, new money, an
n new enterprises. The time has com
1 when this evident handicap should b
C removed. Let the agencies for good j
Y this city take hold of the question wit
+ energy, promptness, and determine