# new york steam **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 10, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-steam/279054 "2004-12-10T02:02:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-steam/279054/21 "2004-12-10T20:44:14Z")
We want to communicate with eachother, which is what language is all about. To do that effectively, we refer to it as steam because it **is** steam, it is accepted common usage, and various dictionaries include the popuar usage. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-steam/279054/22 "2004-12-10T21:15:58Z")
I’m just curious. On googling “Alumni Hall” and “New York City”, I find that it’s a sort of stadium or arena, but when I read your OP I thought it was some sort of residential hotel or apartment house. Or is Alumni Hall also the name of a university dorm in the neighborhood? Can you explain this, if you don’t mind? ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-steam/279054/23 "2004-12-11T13:16:42Z")
I just want to point out that the steam billowing from manholes produces an interesting side effect: orange and white-striped [street chimneys!](http://souvlakitour2004.downwindmedia.com/gallery10/gallery10-Pages/Image24.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-steam/279054.md?page=1)