A writer in "Engineering" has been paying attention to what is, after all, a very important subject, the loss in efficiency which noise causes. His interest lies in the workshop or a place such as the engine room of a steamer, but we should imagine that if his deductions are correct for places such as these, they must be equally applica able to towns and cities. The hum of smoothly running machinery is not a disturbing influence upon the personnel in attendance, nor the steady throb of a reciprocating engine; they should be a sheer delight to the senses of the engineer. But where efficiency must be lowered is when the human being is subjected to the scream and-racket of other machines. not working in harmony, together with the presence of appliances of the varied nature which human ingenuity has evolved, with their discordant cries and noises. We can well accept the argument put forward in "Engineering," and, seeing reason why it should not be equally applicable to wider spheres, conclude that a place such as Shanghai must suffer from an appalling drain upon its natural efficiency. Others have complained of our multitudinous noises, motor horns steam sirens, and the like, on the ground of inconvenience and discomfort, but when it comes to a proved reduction in efficiency the ease becomes much stronger. not the steady rumble of traffic which impairs efficiency but the raucous irruptions beloved of laodah and chauffeurs—and many others to boot. It would be rather fine to sce one of these offenders sned for damages for causing loss of efficiency, and we could readily
the plaintiff. imagine a tribunal sympathetic
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.