'SMOKE ABATEMENT [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In your
issue of May znst you published a paragraph entitled "Smoke in the Air," in which it was stated that "if domestic coal fires were given up, or smokeless fuel made cheap enough to be generally used, the air of England would be considerably purer."
There is, however, no need to abolish coal fires in order to deal with the problem of smoke pollution. The solution is to find some method of burning raw coal smokelessly in the domestic grate, and the Coal Utilisation Council has set aside a fund of some thousands of pounds for research for the purpose. This research is being carried on in collaboration with the Fuel Research Board at the Government Fuel Research Station at Greenwich, and substantial progress has already been made.
In the meantime, the Council, in collaboration with the Combustion Appliance Makers' Association,- has evolved a self-lighting, smoke-reducing fire which not only renders unnecessary the use of paper, wood, patent lighters and matches, but very considerably reduces the amount of smoke given off during "lighting-up." Whereas,. according to a report by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, it is during this lighting-up period that about 86 per cent. of the total volume of smoke from an open fire is given off, with the new fire this is reduced by from 25. to 50 per cent.
This fire is being demonstrated at our showrooms at the address below, and at 38 Deansgate, Manchester; and -any of your readers are cordially invited to visit the showrooms and witness such a demonstration.
With regard to the suggestion that smokeless fuel should be more generally used, I should like to point out that by no means all the coal produced in this country is suitable for carbonisation into coke or semi-coke, a fact that raises two questions : (n) What is to be done with the non-coking coal if it is not to be burned raw ? and (2) Where are the increased supplies of coke to come from if the burning of raw coal is prohibited ?—Yours faithfully, W. R. GORDON, Director.
The Coal Utilisation Council, British Industries Homse, Marble Arch, London, W. r.
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