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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, November 21, 1968
Foul fumes dirty once-clean skies
Industry and the automobile, which have brought jobs and the convenience of modern life to Douglas County, have also brought an unwanted companion. Air pollution
Despite the insistence of local industrialists that Douglas County factories are not an air pollution hazard, Douglas County has the third worst air pollution problem in the state, said J. Lee Mays, chief engineer and director of the Kansas Environmental Health Services.
Mays said Douglas County's air, which is surpassed in pollution only by the Kansas City and Wichita areas in Kansas, is being polluted by air blown in from the Kansas City area, as well as by factories and automobiles locally.
A. J. Winfrey, an environmental engineer for Midwest Research Institute, seemed to believe Douglas County's polluted air might contain more than floating fragments of somebody's imagination.
Dr. Dale Clinton, Douglas County health office, said, however, "We have no sign of air pollution that I know of". It's a figment of somebody's imagination if you have statements to the contrary."
He said automobiles, power plants and open fires are the major source of air pollution in Kansas.
"The worst air pollution problem in Kansas would have to be automobiles, and the pollutant of course would be carbon monoxide." Winfrey said.
At the Co-operative Farm
Photo by Alan Hansberry
Chemical Co. plant east of Lawrence, some pollution combative techniques have been employed, plant director John Anderson said.
And the 'steam' pours forth.
He described the process as combining nitric oxide with methane to form water, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
"We used to have a lot of yellow vapors (nitric oxide). We've been trying to improve it for a long time. There just-wasn't any technology for it up to several years ago." Anderson said.
Anderson said the improvements came at an original cost of $500,000 and annually run up to $100,000.
Residents of the plant vicinity, while not hostile to the plant's location there, indicated that they smell something in the air besides pure steam.
Anderson said the clouds which now rise from his plant are harmless. "It is steam which comes from our cooking towers," he said.
Dr. Clinton, who said he had studied the plant, said he believes the nitric oxide now is actually being converted into electric power, a secondary source of revenue for the plant.
Winfrey, who said he also studied the plant, contends the cloud cannot be completely steam. He explained that steam will remain visible only a few feet from the stack.
"I doubt they could do this completely. If they had perfect operating conditions, they could," he said, "but I don't think they do."
One woman agreed that the plant did smell, but said, "I just live with it. They've brought a lot of industry and a lot of work for people in the valley."
"It smells like Purex," said one woman who lives east of the plant.
When science brought her industries to Kansas, it was apparent she meant to stay, and the fast growth of industry in Kansas has caused several Kansans to become concerned about this unwanted by-product—air pollution.
Howard Saiger, director of the
"Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing"
No kidding. That's what Frank has titled his newest Budweiser TV special. (Would an Old Scout tell you a falsehood?)
And Sinatra's thing, as always, is excitement. See him. Hear him. Tune in . . .
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25
CBS-TV 9-10 p.m. EST
(but check your local listing just to be sure.)
DIAHANN CARROLL and THE FIFTH DIMENSION will also be on hand to do their things, which happen to be some very nice forms of communication.
Meanwhile, back at the brewery, we'll be doing our thing . . . with the King of Beers. (But you know that.)
Budweiser
ROCK, FOLK, JAZZ GROUPS! Enter the '69 Intercollegiate Music Festival, co-sponsored by the brewers of Budweiser. Write: I.M.F., BOX 1275, Leesburg, Florida 32748.
ANHEUSER-BUSCH, INC. • ST. LOUIS • NEWARK • LOS ANGELES • TAMPA • HOUSTON • COLUMBUS
newly formed Air Quality Conservation Commission, said his committee will try to determine exactly how and where Kansas air is polluted.
However, Saiger explained the commission is only in the formation stage and sampling of air will not begin for 12 to 18 months. At that time, Douglas County will be tested too, he said.
Midwest's Winfrey said most of the polluted air in Kansas contains particulate matter, tiny bits of debris floating in suspension.
Until sampling begins, all scientific data on Kansas air pollution must come from private firms such as Midwest Research of Kansas City.
Before recent state legislation empowered the Air Quality Conservation Commission to set
standards and to take statewide samples, the air pollution fight had been waged on a local basis.
Dr Clinton said county health commissions have had "pretty broad powers under just general laws governing public health."
Saiger, who is building a staff he hopes will be able to combat air pollution effectively, said, "The idea of air pollution is being recognized all over the country by more and more people. This is certainly going to continue.
TONY'S 66 SERVICE
Be prepared—
not attaching service
get ontifreeze—starting service
2434 Iowa VI 2-1008
Lawrence, Kansas 66044
LITERARY ANNOUNCEMENT
Introducing a new novel, from the pen of a veteran author of popular fiction.
FOR EACH A WOMAN By Duane Randolph Hopkins
The dramatic but humorous story of an international adventures adjusting to life in a small prairie town. For a first-edition volume, personally autographed to you by the author, send $4.95 (bookstore price) to Dorothy Hopkins, Box 19281, Denver, Colo. 80219.
FOLLOW THE ORANGE BOWL BOUND HAWKS TO MIZZOU!!
BUT forget the hazards of fighting
traffic and other headaches (?) which interfere with fully enjoying the oldest football rivalry west of the Mississippi.
HOW? A staunch KU alum has chartered a bus for the game.
For only $17.50
you can enjoy a worry free afternoon which includes . . .
★ Transportation to and from the game.
★ One general admission ticket. If you already have a ticket, the trip is only $14.50.
★ One delicious meal.
★ Reservations at Columbia's finest night club.
★ The jovial companionship of fellow KU students and alums.
The bus leaves Lawrence Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m.
and returns Sunday morning at ??? Here is your last chance to practice for the Orange Bowl trip. Only 17 spaces available. Hurry and contact Ace Johnson at . . .
THE STABLES VI 3-9644