THE INFLUENCE OF URBAN AND RURAL ENVIRONMENT 363 



Most of the large cities have ordinances designed to prevent 

 the smoke nuisance, but strict enforcement has generally 

 been tempered by a knowledge of the difficulties involved, 

 especially in the combustion of soft coal. The railroads 

 are among the worst offenders and a recent survey 

 in New York has indicated that the harbor boats are fre- 

 quent and serious offenders. 



In certain of the larger mid-western cities, determined 

 efforts have been made to abate what was rapidly becoming 

 a most serious nuisance. In Pittsburgh, in particular, it 

 was decided to clean up the atmosphere, for the nickname 

 of the "smoky city" was not one to be proud of, nor did it 

 confer commercial advantage. Quantitative measures of 

 the actual pollution of the atmosphere have indicated a 

 very great improvement since the active campaign of 

 abatement was begun, and the improvement is obvious 

 to the regular visitor. Many other of the great industrial 

 cities of the Middle West have had similar experiences, 

 although present conditions in most of them are still bad 

 according to the standards of the eastern cities, where 

 soft coal is not used to so great an extent. 



In New York, on the other hand, the tendency has been 

 in the opposite direction during recent years. Labor troubles 

 in the anthracite coal regions have led to a relaxing of the 

 rules against bituminous coal and the taxpayers are becoming 

 accustomed to a gradually increasing load of atmospheric 

 pollution. The efforts of the health department to prevent 

 the growing evil have so far had little or no result apparent 

 to the dwellers in certain sections, although it cannot be 

 denied that the strong presence of attempted law enforce- 

 ment has partially stemmed the tide of growing disregard 

 of the sanitary code. A most suggestive aspect of the situation 

 has recently been recorded in a report of the Committee of 

 the Merchants' Association of New York. They show a 

 definite and very large economic injury to merchants, 

 manufacturers and others, due to the increasingly smoky 

 atmosphere. As soon as we begin a scientific evaluation of 

 the economic losses resulting from the unrestricted use of 

 soft coal, probably conservatively expressed at $20.00 

 per capita per annum, it will no longer be necessary to 



