distraction.

_Organized society has recognized the hindering
effect of some distractions and has made
halting attempts to abolish them_.

Thus locomotives are prohibited from sounding
whistles within city limits, but power
plants are permitted by noise and smoke to
annoy every citizen in the vicinity. Street
cars are forbidden to use flat wheels, but are
still allowed to run on the surface or on a
resounding structure and thus become a public
nuisance. Steam calliopes, newsboys, street
venders, and other unnecessary sources of
noise are still tolerated.

In the design and construction of office

buildings, stores, and factories in noisy neighborhoods,
too little consideration is given to
existing means of excluding or deadening
outside sounds, though the newer office buildings
are examples of initiative in this direction;
not only are they of sound-proof construction,
but in many instances they have replaced the
noisy pavements of the streets with blocks
which reduce the clatter to a minimum. In
both improvements they have been emulated
by some of the great retail stores which have