[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—On page 492 of
your issue of October 14th, commenting on a book by Mr. Simon, the Lord Mayor of Manchester, on The Smokeless City, you make a serious mistake, and we wish to draw your attention to the same. In the first column of your article you quote as follows :— " Coalite, to give its trade name—that is coal which has been treated by the low-temperature system of carbonization . . . is not only smokeless, but it is easily lit. It keeps in easily, gives out a pleasant glow as well as heat, and is not dirty. One of the great advantages of the solution by coalite . . . is that it requires no expensive constructional revolution in existing houses . . . will burn in any ordinary grate, in any kitchen range, or in any open hearth. In a word, it has all the advantages of coal and none of its disadvantages. But though it has no hygienic disadvantage, it has an economic drawback. It is at present a good deal more expensive than ordinary coal."
It is regarding the latter sentence that we wish to put you right. We have recently entered into a contract with an
important firm of coal merchants for the purchase of 250,000 tons of Coalite per annum over the next five years-1,250,000 tons in all—who undertake to distribute this quantity at the price of the best domestic coal, and. at the present.moment we are in close negotiation for the erection of plants at col- lieries, gasworks and electrical undertakings all over the country, and when we have sufficient of these plants erected we are quite satisfied that we shall be able to sell. Coalite much cheaper than coal. Coalite, weight for weight, is much more economical than coal and throws out greater heat and is an absolutely smokeless fuel. We shall be glad if you will kindly publish this letter in your next issue.—I am, Sir, &c.,
J. H. MACAULAY, Secretary.
Low Temperature Carbonization, Ltd., 14-16 Cockspur Street, London, S.W. 1.
Previous page
