SMOKELESS CITIES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2029, 5 April 1890, Page 1

SMOKELESS CITIES.

The season of mist and mellow fruitfulness means for the dwellers in towns the season of fog. Sulphurous particles, issuing from chimneys, mix themselves with the morning, vapours and form a compound of which we shall have more than enough a month hence. Whoever could deliver us from the fog-demon would (says the Hospital) deeply benefit us poor mortals, not to speak of the longer life and heightened beauty that would be afforded our statues and public buildings if they could be freed from tbeir coating of soot. If the experiments recently held at Willis’s Eooms, London, may be trusted, the thing can be done, and without any of the expensive and eladorate apparatus which frightens the British soul and makes us hesitate at evading the ids we have lest we fly to others in the way of danger and expense that as yet we know not of. The cost of rendering a ton of coal smokeless is sixpence, and this is more than compensated for by the fact that the coal thus treated burns as long as 25 cwt. left in its natural condition. A saving of 25 per cent, on the coal bill is not to be despised now that the winter is coming on. The process is simplicity itself A solution is made of a grey crystalline powder, and into this the coal is dipped, and allowed to remain till the powder, settles in a thin grey crust upon its surface. It is then fit to burn, which it does with a clear flame and a continual glow. When the coal is first put on there arises a slight grey vapour, which, however, is not smoke, as may be tested by anyone who will put his hand in the midst of it. He will withdraw it unsoiled, and will perceive only a pungent odour of burning wood hovering about it. The inventors claim that this solution fixes all the constituents of coal in such a fashion that all burn, and none ( are mischievously wasted in smoke, | Thence arise both the comfort and the economy we speak of. Certain it is that a fire made of their coal burns with great clearness and heat, with no smoke and very little ashes.