The New York Social Hygiene Society, of 105 West Fortieth Street, New York City, formerly known as the Society of Sanitary and Moral Prophylaxis, maintained an exhibit at Coney Island last summer in connection with its campaign of education for the prevention of venereal diseases. This was especially designed to combat the evil influence of the "medical museums" and of the quack "specialists" to whom so many have fallen prey. A medical advisory service was conducted in connection with the educational exhibit and in cooperation with the New York City Health Department and the Brooklyn Hospital Dispensary, and thru it straightforward medical knowledge and honest advice was secured by many who needed it. No less than 19,390 people visited the exhibit between July 21 and September 20, and the Society is convinced that it proved to be a means of educating men of all grades and conditions of life.

A Smoke Abatement Week

An entire week-the week of October 23 to 28 just passed-was devoted to the subject of smoke abatement in Pittsburgh. The week was arranged for by the Smoke and Dust Abatement League, which is composed of twelve of Pittsburgh's most representative commercial, educational and civic organizations. This is believed to be the first instance in the United States of the holding of a smoke abatement week.

The definite objects at which the committee in charge aimed were:

I. To show that it is both possible and feasible to burn bituminous coal without smoke.

2. To demonstrate to industrialists that the introduction of methods to bring this about means greater efficiency in their boiler rooms, heating and metallurgical plants.

3. To bring to the attention of the citizens the remarkable work which has been accomplished during the past five years towards cleaning Pittsburgh's sky line.

4. In general, to urge all citizens to perse

vere in demanding that Pittsburgh be made a clean, sunny and efficient city in which to live and work.

Smoke abatement was the principal topic at the majority of the luncheon and evening meetings held during the week. A number of men prominently interested in the subject thruout the country gave talks, among whom was Mr. Osborn Monnett, formerly smoke inspector of Chicago and a distinguished combustion engineer. He gave an address before the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania, also at a noon-day luncheon of the Chamber of Commerce. Picture shows on the subject were given at a number of meetings, and many of the down-town business houses had appropriate exhibits in their store windows. Altho much time was given to reviewing the work and resultant progress already made in lessening the smoke nuisance in Pittsburgh, the possibility of even better conditions was emphasized, and every effort was made to make the week count mightily in achieving the ultimate object of relieving the city entirely of its old title of "the smoky city.” It will be remembered that Pittsburgh entered a contest with other cities early in 1916 to lose this title. The other competing cities were Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis.

The committee in charge of the week's activities was made up of O. P. Hood, chief mechanical engineer of the U. S. Bureau of Mines; Miss H. Marie Dermitt, secretary of the Civic Club of Allegheny County; and J. W. Henderson, chief of the city Bureau of Smoke Regulation.

The Smoke and Dust Abatement League is endeavoring to bring about more extensive cooperation, education and legislation for the abatement of smoke and dust in the city of Pittsburgh and its metropolitan district. Dr. A. A. Hamerschlag is its president.

A New Basis for Gas Bills

A new standard of value for gas has been created by a recent order of the Public Service Commission for the second district of New York State. Heat units have been substituted for candle-power as the standard, and all the companies in the state making more than 20,000,000 cubic feet of coal gas, water gas, or mixed coal and water gas a year will be obliged to adopt it before

January 1. The smaller companies need not do so unless they choose.

The product must average 585 British thermal units per cubic foot instead of 16, 18 or 20 candle-power as before. A British thermal unit is the scientific term for the amount of heat required to raise one pound of water one degree of temperature. The tendency toward a demand for a heating power standard by the consumer has made it more and more difficult for the companies to maintain gas at the old lighting power standard. The gas had to be enriched by oils now high-priced and scarce on account of their increasing use for gasoline and allied products for motors and other such purposes. It was also found that in transmitting gas over long distances the enriched element was lost, making long-distance transmission both difficult and expensive, and uniform distribution impossible.

The consumer will be benefited thru having a more uniform gas supply furnished to him and in having the life of his mantles and burners prolonged because they will be less subject to deposits of carbon and other foreign matter. The Commission also found that the methods of measuring heat units are more practicable than those of measuring candle-power.

A Modern Electric Franchise for a
Small Commission-Governed City

Lexington, Ky., has recently adopted a new electric light franchise embodied in an ordinance passed by unanimous vote of the Board of City Commissioners. This little southern city, with an estimated population of less than 40,000, has the distinction of having an electricity rate for its citizens less than prevails in many large cities. The maximum rate in the new franchise, for residences, as eompared with the previous maximum, represents a 40 per cent reduction. With a plant generating 5,000 kilowatts, Lexington will enjoy a rate as low or lower than Boston, with 100,000 kilowatts, or Philadelphia, with a 75,000-kilowatt plant.

The passage of the ordinance concluded the negotiations on the franchise proposition which were begun three months or more prior to its passage, when the Commissioners approved an ordinance providing for the employment of the Utilities Bureau to look after the interests of the city

and to prepare a franchise that would be fair alike to the city and to the utilities company. Dr. Milo R. Maltbie, of New York, took charge of the case for the Utilities Bureau, and represented the city thruout, with the assistance of Dr. Clyde L. King, of Philadelphia. Corporation Counsel Denny passed on the legal points for the city, and Mayor Rogers and other members. of the Commission Council took an active interest in the conferences. James M. Boyle, of Sanderson & Porter, of New York, acted for the Lexington Utilities Company, with the advice and counsel of F. W. Bacon, Vice-President, and other officials of the company.

The new franchise is for a term of twenty years. Under its provisions the maximum rate for residence lighting will be 9 cents. This, with a 10 per cent discount, makes the rate 8.1 cents, or a reduction of 40 per cent from the old rate. The new rates went into effect November 1. The commercial lighting and incidental power maximum is 81⁄2 cents, or 7.65 with the discount. The power rate is 8 cents, or 7.2 with the discount. These are the maximum rates, and form the basis of such graduated scale as the company may work out to meet the needs of large consumers. The minimum charge for residences is $1 per month.

Power is vested in the Commissioners to prescribe a method of keeping accounts and a form of annual report. They are also given absolute rate-making power at fouryear periods, but the rates may not be made higher than the maximum in the franchise. The company is protected by the right of appeal to the court if it believes rates adopted are unreasonable and unjust. None of the rights or privileges granted by this franchise is an exclusive right or privilege, and the Board expressly reserves the right to grant like franchises, rights and privileges to other persons or corporations.

The only question left to be settled is the street lighting matter. This is being worked out now. Dr. Maltbie has recommended a change in the lighting system employed in Lexington, and favors the elimination of all arcs and the substitution of the new nitrogen-filled tungsten.

Thruout the whole period of negotiation there was good feeling and a determination not only to serve the interests of the city, but to deal fairly and justly with the com