Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-11

While there Is still some argument
as to whether the world is growing bet
Ter or not, there is apparently no doubt
that America is growing noisier. The
action of New York's civic organizations
in trying to make the populace pipe
down" awakes sympathetic comment
from the rest of the country. Hope for
weary ears lies, most people seem to
feel, in moral suasion, scientific study
and invention, though some feel the
law must take a hand.
Studying the developments, the New
York Evening World states: Health
Commissioner Wynne has taken notice
Of the imperative necessity for some
regulatory action for the abatement
OF unnecessary noises that are threat
ening to make the people of New York
a race of neurotics within a generation.
He has hired board of IL men who
are experts in neurology, GEOLOGY and
engineering to study the immediate
needs of the city and to recommend
such legislative action as may be neces-
sary. There is no question about the
necessity. The health of no community
is properly safeguarded by authority
where sleep until the early hours of
the morning becomes almost impos-
sible, or in which any one is at liberty
to make unnecessary, nerve-racking
noises in the streets. The
court has decided that under existing
law, while the beating of a tin can
outside ones sleeping room is
nuisance, neighbours loud speaker may
be turned into the room at am.
with perfect legal propriety This can
be changed without difficulty, and no
reasonable citizen with any regard for
the rights of his neighbors will object"
1T begins to look as though noise
were really in for showdown" con-
cluoes the Dayton Daily News. New
York has been especially haraSsed be-
cause OF the construction, requiring
both day and night shifts, which per-
petrates the din at all hours. The
drive will concern itself first with night
noises; when relief has been won there
the more difficult daylight racket will
be tackled. The possibility of electric
welding to supplant riveting in sky
scraper construction is one hope. The
same problems face all cities to a
greater or less extent, and the country
VIII watch the campaign with interest"
Reports from New York, which are
quoted by the New Orleans Times
Picayune, include the statement that
associations representing seven bill
lions OF property interests in New York
have joined to form permanent COM
mittee to fight the noise evil and
that paper adds: Suppression of un-
necessary noises is by way of becoming
an international business, and those
pioneers who, in years agone, contrib
uted to the gayety of their neighbors
by demanding protection against the
ans that murdered sleep at night and
shattered nerves by day no longer are
without honor in theii own countries,
The campaign against I'M
necessary noises will be a long one. for
IL must be in considerable part edu-
catlonal. But some of the worst of |
the noise abuses can be dealt with
whenever and wherever the authorities |
are willing to attack them"
THE movement will arouse interest |
in most cities in the land" declares the
Youngstown indicator. over In Eng |
land they have what are known as the |
motor cars regulations, which aim at |
noises. The regulations went |
into force recently and the first two
causes of violation brought fines" The
refreshing directness" of the action In
England. where personal rights are
protected at least as jealousy as they
are in any other country" is commend
ed by the New York Sun. The Sun
feels sure that these reports will be
read by New Workers with something
approaching envy
Americans maintain the quaint idea
that noise Is sign of progress" ac-
cording to the Rochester Times Union,
which says of the need of reform: 1.-THE
city dweller's supposed immunity to the
racket around him must be credited to
his mental control. The harassing eff
feet does not change" The Star Lake
Deseret News comments: Speaking for
The Nation. 1t is quite safe to say that
our locomotives have the loudest whis-
Ties, our autos the most shrieking horns
and brakes, our street cars the most
rattle to be found In any
country on earth Our we'll known me-
ingenuity and efficiency seem
10 have devoted themselves to the task
Of making noise In superlative degree.
Some day there will be ordinances
70 restrict street noises"
THE slightest investigation Of the
natter L Ell tfAt Is needed to show