Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-26
Editor The Georgian:

w HEN DR.. Duncan, the dis
NV tinguished smoke expert
from Pittsburg, was in our
city recently he gave out an in
terview which was full of sug-
gestions. He said if we could be
cut open we would find cupful
of SCOT in our lungs-one- half
cup to the lung. That is not very
pleasant reading, but to get right
down to the bottom of the mat
ter, who that has a pocket hand
kerchief can doubt it?
DR.. Duncan suggested remedy
the same prescription we had
already been given by our own
smoke inspector, DIR. Poole. They
both said the only remedy was a
twelve minute limit for stocking.
DIR. Poole had already urged that,
but it was cut in two and changed
to six minutes, which is not the
same thing at all. Besides, 1t
was shown that to change to six
and then to twelve would work a
great hardship and necessitate
two adjustments of machinery
which would be two expenses in
stead of one. Why not do it right
and have it done with?
While this might appear TO
work to the disadvantage of own
ers of large stacks, in reality it
would not. Even if it did, what
right have they to maintain a
nuisance damaging to the life and
property of a whole city? That
looks like class legislation to pro-
tect a few at the expense of the
many. What they really need is
protection against themselves, for
if they were made to consume
their own smoke they would add
greatly to their fuel.
But rot alone the big stacks.
but private houses as well, could
perhaps do better We all know
that our chimneys smoke and in
jure our property and that of our
neighbors, but have we ever tried
to find remedy? Even after the
big stacks have been eliminated
and they must be-there will still
remain a great deal of SCOT and
smoke from the private residences.
What can be done about this?
Everybody knows that there is
no more astute citizen anywhere
than Hon. Frank P. Rice. Some
time ago he put in a new furnace,
and told the man he wanted it
fixed so that he would consume
his own smoke and get the worth
of his money. He was told it
would cost $500 extra, but ne paid
it, and now he says: Il consume
all my fuel; there is no waste,
and my chimney produces a thin
white Vapor that Is no trouble to
me or my neighbors."
What a paradise Atlanta would
be if we all had smoke like that.
WE COULD THEN READ THE
STREET NUMBERS,
DIR, Poole has been very con-
sentative. He has made valuable
suggestions all along the line,
without using any drastic meas
ures But that can not go on
forever. What child's play to
send for a doctor and then not
take his medicine; yet that is
just what our city fathers have
done. That reminds me. One of
the best stories told by the Won
derful teacher of Helen Keller
was about taking the little girl
out and telling her about the
birds and the trees and the flow
ers and all the beautiful work of
Mother Nature.
Now" said Helen what has
Father Nature done?"
In a way, perhaps, our city
fathers might be likened to t'a-
Their Nature, and if they don't do
something about smoke and other
things the city Mothers will rise
and ask them why.
The Women Are Rising.
Years ago on the big panta-
would go around: The negroes
are rising" ! don't think they