From The Indianapolis News, Monday, April 23, 1923: Fred S. Beck, city smoke inspector, is preparing charges against engineers and superintendents of fifteen public and industrial buildings for violation of the city smoke ordinance. The individuals to be charged are allegedly responsible for clouds of smoke from the stacks of some of the city’s larger buildings. Warnings were given for smoke consuming devices to be placed in these buildings, but the warnings have gone unheeded. These charges are the first definite action by authorities in an attempt to abate the smoke nuisance in Indianapolis. Since early winter, committees have been appointed and conferences held to address the smoke problem, but the daily cloud of smoke hanging over the city failed to decrease in size or volume. Mayor Lew Shank suggested the arrests under the state law against maintaining a nuisance.