THE NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE SOCIETY
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] -R may be of interest to record that the aim of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Society, which was founded in 1924, is " the improvement of the city by making it more beautiful and healthy, revealing its historical interest, preserving its ancient monuments, increasing its facilities for trade and industry and by the employment of any other means to add to the amenities of the city and its neighbourhood."
It is evidence of the confidence that has already been estab- lished between this Society and the city authorities that both the late Lord Mayor and the present Lord Mayor have accepted and held the office of President of the Society. The Society proposes to work largely through the medium of sub- committees, appointed by the Executive Committee, each dealing with a special subject or group of subjects. Sub- committees are already in existence dealing with the following : Smoke Abatement, Town Planning, Ancient Monuments and Arts and Amenities.
The problem of Smoke Abatement divides itself roughly into industrial smoke and domestic smoke. One cf the Con- mittee's endeavours will be to secure the wider adoption of electric transmission of power.. The.. problem of domestic smoke is to. be solved, partly by. the substitution of gas or . electric heating for coal, partly by the use of coke or " semi- coke " of the " Coalite " type in domestic grates. Coke can be used much more successfully than is usually supposed ; and the difficulties to be overcome here are, first the pre- judice of the . consumer against coke, and secondly the want of. thought and enterprise on the part of the supplier, who should furnish a screened and graded coke of size suitable for consumption in an ordinary grate.
This is beginning to be done here now, and the Committee hopes by actual demonstration and by the publishing of figures of consumption and cost to make some progress in this direction.—I am, Sir, &c., J. DOUGLAS MITCHELL.
Hon. Secretary, the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Society.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne. •
[We congratulate the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Society. Every town in the land would be the better for such a society.— En. Spectator.]
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