Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-19

''Eardrum protective associations
throughout the country are demanded
as a result of the report of the Noise
Abatement Commission in New York,
showing that health is seriously az
fected by unrestrained activities and in
difference in modem communities. II
is proposed that every city or town
have such commission for permanent
service, and that horn honking and
such sounds as are produced by ma
chinery and Official motor vehicles be
subdued.
Against many noises" concludes the
Cleveland Plain Dealer, "the only eff
fective weapon is public opinion ano
the slow process of improving public
taste and manners. All can help in
this campaign. They can avoid mis-
use OF auto horns, for one thing. re-
membering that all the honks from
here to the moon won't dissolve traf-
fic jam. They can turn the loud
open these July evenings. If they
stand well with their dogs they may
be able to induce them to- bark less
frequently. So let all help, forming a
great mutual eardrum protective as
ISOLATION. There's no initiation fee
and the dues are payable In good
"Scientific tests conducted at Bel
levue Hospital" which are made q
part Of the New York report, are cited
by the Richmond News Leader, and
especially the fact that 1.-The sudden
popping of a paper bag increased
brain pressure fourfold" That paper
conmends: 1T is altogether possible
that urban noise constitutes a large
factor in putting recurring high pres
sure on the brain and thereby con-
tributes to the hemorrhages that SO
often bring down men in later middle
life. Industrial efficiency is certainly
reduced by noise"
An explanation of the fact that
Americans who dwell in the country
live on the average longer than their
Evening News, which points out that
the indictment sis not peculiar to
Gotham" and adds that "all cities
merit it In a degree, and all city
dWelIerS suffer more or less from the
effects. These were recognized before
this commission undertook the research
which has demonstrated how noise
acts upon the human organism.
When noise is widely recognized as
part of urban health administrator
the strident shrek of the average busy
Serts the News.
"pesipte an accumulation of evil
dence," AYERS the Chicago Daily Tri-
bune. vast numbers of city dWeilers
seem to think that noise, like smoke.
Is an inevitable accompaniment OF
modern industrialism and that preVen-
ton is blow at economic progress;
The Tribune advises: Noise Is costly
to society because 1t dimlnlsnes pro-
I,,aG1&,. kakk ~ an,,a 1Odifiac and ideas.
The expense of noise abatement, on the
other hand, Is frequently not great.
. The trouble does not lie as much
in lack of knowledge as in indifference.
while they await further word from
the capital of noise" suggests the new
Orleans Morning Tribune, smaller
cities will be justified in clamping LIDS
or whatever is handy upon the mid
night radio and pbonograph. Inc
Tribune remarks: New YORK may not
get excited about fits health. But It's
'ef11ciencv' NAV interest it. II the COM
mission can persuade business men that
the continual pressure of strident SOUND
tends to produce impairment OF hear
ing, to introduce harmful strain upon
the nervous system leading TO loss OF
efficiency of workers and thinkers, then
the cause will be won."
y X X
Finding in the report evidence that
"the daily pandemonius" is not repre-
hensible for the sole reason that 1t dis
turbs the equanimity of certain num-
Der of nervous people" the Syracuse
Herald thinks ut is the prevalence OF
that nice theory that accounts more
than any other single influence for the
public liberation of city noises, even
though many of them are wanton and
mischievous and, in short, avoidable.
The Herald feels that 1.-The problem
must be tackled everywhere"
There ought to be general sympathy
with the movement to establish an anti
noise club" declares the Chattanooga
Times of efforts in its own city, recog-
MIXING that ''raucous, sudden, rasping
sharp and continuous noises have much
TO do with nervous and heart disorders