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Show SMOKE ABATEMEP1T SUBJECTDF REPORT Bureau of Mechanical In spection Says Conditions Are Improving. PUBLIC IS GIVING HELP Railroad Companies Also Are Assisting; General Outlook Brighter. Within reasonable limits smoke abatement abate-ment is no longer a doubtful problem, declares George W. Snow, chief of tho city bureau of mechanical inspection, in his annual report to the city commission filed vesterday. By means of modern equipment, education of firemen and proper use of fuels, smoke prevention is now not only possible, but ecoonmical, he observes. The report is the first to be made by the new bureau, which was created last Julv. Mr. Snow points out that because of "the lack of precedent on which to work the new institution has had to devote de-vote much time to observation and study to determine exact conditions before it was possible to inaugurate a consistent policv for smoke abatement. For this reason the results accomplished by the bureau during the seven months of its existence will show to greater advantage next winter than was possible this winter. win-ter. The chief explains that while the btt-I btt-I reau has not abated the smoke nuisance in any great degree, it has improved conditions and has laid the basis for a continued improvement that will ultimately- effect the desired end. Permanent Perma-nent results, he observes, are the aim of the bureau and these cannot be obtained without a consistent campaign extending over a long period. Education Is Needed. Education and co-operation rather than rigid enforcement of the provisions of the smoke ordinance have formed the policy of the bureau, according to the report. It is set out that the men of the bureau have sought in every possible pos-sible way to teach owners and operators of smoke-producing plants how to reduce the volume of smoke emitted from the stacks. In this way they have gained the co-operation of the owners of plants wifn the result that a noticeable reduction reduc-tion has been made in the amount of smoke afflicting the city. It is pointed out that most of ths smoke comes from private residences, which cannot fairly well be dealt with bv the bureau. It has been proven possible, pos-sible, however, by careful firing, use of smokeless fuels and installation of modern mod-ern equipment, to operate practically smokeless plants iu everything from power plants down to the larger residences, resi-dences, it is declared. The report shows that by the use of I camera and density charts an accurate record is kept of" all smoke-producing plants so as to be able to show the owners own-ers of the plants where and how they mav improve them and also in order to have co"nvir.ciDg evidence in ease it shor.id be necessarv to prosecute offenders offend-ers under the ordiLance. The department depart-ment has sought to avoid the friction that would arise from indiscriminate prosecution, however, and has avoided court proceedure almost entirely. Incline to Be Fair. Since the bureau was created only eight cases have been referred to the city prosecutor and all of these have been disposed of without the necessity of going into court, the operators having hav-ing met the provisions of the ordinance after the throat cf prosecution was made. It is shown that up to the first of the vear 135 heating plants had been clear-listed clear-listed by the bureau; that is, placed on the list" of plants which have complied with the terms of the ordinance and tie instructions of the bureau and have produced pro-duced results. It shews that SC5 s'uokc charts were made and 1177 inspections of plants were made by inspectors of the bureau. The railroads have co-operated with the bureau and are doing many thir.es tending to lessen the amount of smeko given off by locomotives, it is reported. Included in the report are photographs showing smoke stacus "before and after aft-er treatment. '' The bureau, though devoted chiefly to smoke abatement, iucludes building inspection, in-spection, electrical inspection and plumbing inspection. Many Permits Issued. I'nder the division of building inspection inspec-tion the report shows that in 114 lOoi1 permits were issued calling for construction construc-tion costing $2. OS 1,3-47. increase of s-S,-4S7 over tho building record for 1913. Consolidation of these various inspection inspec-tion departments has resulted iu maximum maxi-mum t'lliciencv and effectiveness, it is outlined. The' work of each department is more or less allied to tliat ot each et the others and by means of their consolidation consol-idation under olio bureau each is nbic to assist tht' oilier to a irrentor extent tlis;1 was possible under tno previous svstein. The cost of maintaining ti'O 1'iii't'li'i since its inception was $lt,oo7.Sc. -I'-'d its receipts from all sources in the sh.npo of fees for permits and inspections totaled to-taled :Mn,77.i.;:t, so that the actus', cos: to tho city of maintaining tho tieport -meat was only $.ViVJau1. |