THE DUST NUISANCE

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14523, 27 November 1912, Page 3

THE DUST NUISANCE

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir, —As far as 1 am aware nothing has been tried to stop the horrihlo dust nuisance in Christchurch, save the common or garden variety of water-can, which is practically useless, as everyone knows that the dust is often blowing in this : city within a few hours of the cessation of heavy rain. In some parts of America oil sprinkling of the streets has been tried with very considerable success, and I would like to ask the City Engineer to kindly supply the following information:—'First: What is the present cost per annum of watering the streets of Christchurch? Second: What is the approximate volume of water used therefore? Third: Would it be practicable to import crude petroleum oil from Taranaki at a reasonable cost? Fourth: Could the present sprinklers be adapted to the use of oil? And if so (fifth) what would be the approximate cost, supposing that about half as much oil would be required as water, to sprinkle as an experiment half a mile, or less, of the tint rammed portion of Manchester street .at per chain?

I presume such experiment would havo to bo carried out in the small hours of the morning; though I cannot see that thero would be any greater menace to human clothing than under the present tarring system, and tho smell would bo as harmless, and would as quickly pass away. In America ono sprinkling of oil is said to suffice for several months, which would materially reduco the cost, and any method that would effectually stamp o»t the constant damage to property and health would be chean at four times the present outlay.—Yours, etc., DUSTICUS.