Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-18

cold and heavy. Is thcre.a general am.
pcarancc of foES mess. I'm one dircr-
ZION the view Is not so clear as II
Is In others. and smoke may be- seen
10 issue from Il number of chimrevs
The boilers to which these chimuoy.
'r" connected are in some instances
one Il notable Observation-Disclosures with
mcchahicai StokcrS. In nearly all in
stances tho rhimncys are tall. and
discharge ;hc gases welt above Tie
ground level Inconvenience has been
experienced by office holders i'm som,,
OF the tail buildings. but only woen
the wind has blown from y certain
direction. There are also in the same
"iS!rict chmneys which are not TALL
ana which would reduce their smoke
offering If they could. at Il reasonable
cess hu, they cannot
DUST Is FAR WORSE
THAN SMOKE NUISANCE
Ihere is another element or combi-
n"'ioh OF elements. which occasionally
bcclouds our atmosphere dims the
brightness of our buildings and lines
an" irfitateS our nasal membranes md
lungs lar more than does coal smoke
and that is dust. On windy day thr
ar is hllcd with particles Of dust and
"'r'' oiowh up from the streets. and
particularly from those which are NOT
paved This may he observed from :,
nigh window whenever the weather is
windy ana dry. and ii may be seen that
III weather when the atmosphere i
just before the breaking OF n storm
which is usually hcralded by IA strong
wind. the Oncomng dust cloud is ort,u
SO dense as to obliterate the view
Dust in the air rrtatcs the nasal mem
brancS. starts inflammation and gives
he cold the head" germs the OMEN
ing for which they are always wait
ing moderate amount of smoke
iocs not have the same Injurious and
q. M ntfn
ieve. as injurious to the health as the
mir in poorly ventilated halls and places
OF amusement, and i'm some other places
where human beings con.rcEate.
My excuse for writing is that have
had considerable experience in boiler
rooms and smoky places and with some
OF the suggested cures here and else
where. and that | can perhaps offer
some remarks upon the conditions in
Richmond which may be helpful.
MANY CURES HAVE
BEEN SUGGESTED
Among the cures suggested for smoke
have been ordinances, inspectors. smoke
consumers" mechanical stokcrs. aban-
doninE steam power in favor of pur-
chased electric power. etc. Taking tho
last first: In the majority Of cases.
where little use is had for steam for
heating purposes or process work. and
where waste fuel is not available. and
in those cases where Il steam power
plant would be inconvenient OF unde-
sirablc. outside power may be pur-
chased to advantage. When exhaust
steam can be utilized, steam power can
be delivered 1T but a fraction of the
cost Of the same power without OPP
portunitics for the utilization of the
heat i'm The exhaust. The question Of
the most satisfactory and economical
power is largely one OF conditions.
,,hy fin riu1 An .rli
to be effective, must be based upon a
proper knowledge Of conditions. In
your issue of December :. 1919. Henry
= Beck is quoted as referring to AN
old ordinance. still upon the books.
and prohibiting the use Of soft coal.
AS Mr.. Beck pointed out. and as we
shall see lTtcr this ordinance cannot
well be observed.
Assuming that the air above Rich
moud is more smoky than it should be.
and that factories and producers OF
power are accountable for ~ part Of
this condition, is not their smoke rather
their misfortune than their fault--with
perhaps some exceptions? The coal
which is used in factory boiler fur
naccs in Richmond is OF the bituminouS
or scmibituininous kind. This Will he
the case until il is possible to deliver
anthracite coal in this section at
Price comparable with that of the
bituminous Goals. We need not do
more than mentitpl oil and gas as fuel
for steam boilers. The latter is not
on this market, and price and supply
of the former has been somewhat too
uncertain. Another fuel commonly used
is waste wood, shavings and sawduSt.
The following remarks on the use OF
coal apply in part TO the use OF this
waste fuel
IMPOSSIBLE To BURN
so ~ COAL. WITHOUT SMOKE:
The bituminous Goals are smoke pro-
duccrS. TO burn them without smoke
is practically impossible under ordinary
conditions. The best that can be done
is to reduce the smoke to its lowest
practicable limits. The question of the
proper and economical use of fuel is
large and important one, TOO large for
discussion in Il letter: but. avoiding
tcchnicaliticS and stating the matter
briefly. il may be said that smoke can
EnaIa XEsjsGt
20 g