The Express.
London, England, 1849-07-12 00:00:00

Alderman COPELAND seronded the amendment.

Sir G. STRICKLAND suggested the withdrawal of the
lemurs for the present.

Mr. BANKES supportcd the bill.

Sir C. BUItRELL mentioned an instance of a manufac-
tory on Lord Greavenor's estate, in which the measures
taken in order te cousume the smoke had been success:lth
Mr. BRIGHT slid that there were two or three reasons
why he objected to this bill. In the first place, the first
clause was one which was worded in a manner which would
prevent the bill being of any use except to annoy those with
whom it would interfere ; and he asked the Attorney-Ge-
neral to express his opinion on this point. If the hon.
member would tura his attention to the last three lines of
the first clause, he would find the word opaque " men-
tioned, about which there was the greatest difference of
opinion. He was not sure whethersmoke being oraqueer not
might not depend on the colour of the sky beyond it, on the
dill •rent cirewns'auces of temperature, and on the different
positions in which it wee seen by an informer. The clause
said of that opaque smoke shall not be permitted to issue
from any chimney of a furnace for any longer pried of time
than is bona fide necenary for the kindling of the fire of
such furnace." With regard to the greater proportion of
furnaces to which this bill would apply, this
did not meet the case ; the smoke was not
caused by any process of kindling the fire, because, in the
manufacturing districts, fires were not allow, d to gee out ex-
cept once in two or three weeks, when the boiler and flues
were being enlisted. It was necessary, even when a steam
engine wee not at work, and during the night, that than
should be steam in the boiler to heat the manufactory end
premises. The smoke was not made when the fire was being
kindled ; that so rarely happened that it was not with
thinkieg of ; it was when the fire was being stirred up ; whtn
fresh coals were being placed upon it—and there were a
multitude of cases in which, from the overloading of steam
engine', from the defective ratan of the draught, and from
the mew *luny of what is termed WI- r roo n for rais'ng a
sufficient steam easily, it wee absolutely necessary to roke up
the male; and smoke would be caused under all pos.
Bible circumstances. He defied any two men to come
to any settled opinion as to what time was necessary.
He believed that extravagant statement at the openirg of the
bill, as to its being expedient to take measures to prevent this
injury to the health and comfort of the people which was ow
sinned by the smoke issuing from certain chimneys and fur-
naces, was a gross exaggeration. It was not stated that the
health of towns was any the worse in consequence of the
existence of manufactories and the prevalence of that smoke
which manufactories produced. The hon. member for
Lymington was an anxious to pass the bill that he was not
very particular whether he included any body or nobody.
He excluded theconstituents of the hon. member for Sheffield,
and he (Hr. Bright) was not sure that if he set on the other
side of the house, lie should not be excluded slam If it were
true that smoke could be prevented at a moderate esteems,,
awl that it would be an actual saving to the pr, prieten of
these furnaces, he was quite sure that such was the competi-
tion amongst the itehmecturers of this country, such the
anxiety t 3 save money, and such the anxiety also to purify
the atmosphere and benefit the public, that these projects, If
feasible would have spread throughout the who,e of the
trade; but when there were fily different methods of doing
this, teed not ore of these had been found applicaVe to the
great variety of furnaces that existed, be thought it might be
fairly taken that hitherto eciecce had not discovered a mode
of putting an end to the smoke nuisance, except such se
mule it almost impossible for manufacturers to submit to it ,•
and he could give several cases in which the bill would
be unable to be worked, because it was impossible
for the most ingenious magistrate, or the greatest num-
ber of witnesses to prove who was the guilty party.
He was acquainted with a case which would bet this bill at
defi ince. He knew a mill in which there was no chimney,
but the smoke parsed through underground tunnels into
another chimney, and issued with the smoke belonging to
quite a different firm, How would it ho pos4file to
say who was resooneible for this:smcke ? He knew a case in
which 12 or 16 boilers and furnaces connected with three
different wills were brought by different flues into a large
chimney. If a 1111106 had nothing to do but watch the CMS
cern, it would be impossible to discover who made the smoke,
and who was responsible under the clauses of this bill. He
thought the house would cot consult its dignity by legis-
lating on matters of this kind.
Mr. CUBITT said that be was desirous of getting rid of
this nuisance, but although he felt strongly on the subject,
he had found that he could not consume the smoke generated
in the process of hie works. Science was making great strides,
and he hoped to see the day when it would be accomplished.
Mr. LABOUC HERE said that if the hon. gentleman the
member for Lymingten should think it expedient, in the
face of the oppontion which had been made to the bill to
go into committee, he should also feel it his duty to go into
the committee.
Mr. THORNELY repeated the suggestion which he bad
made on a former °melon, that these regulations should
be left to the municipal corporations, and the gem rnment of
the bOroughs and towns. It would be infinitely better that
local authorities should compel the consumption of smoke
where it could be done, than thee the house should pass a
general bill to affect the whole country.
Mr. SPOONER coincided in this proposition. There was
not a single process of manufacture which might net come
before the house, and claim exemption, making this a bill
nominelly prot ibiting, but really exempting, everything.
Mr PARKER said, that after what had taken place, it
could not be expected that the bill in its present state would
become law. Before the house meddled with this subject,
they ought to he perfectly cert dn what they could do, and
whit of ry veld not do. He rather took the opinions of gen-
,flemen in trade than the gentlemen to whom his right hen.
friend had referred, and he understood from those who were '
connected with the town which he represented, that in deal-
ing with metals, the regularity of the plans was such that it
wee next to impassible to dr. et what was desired, without
putting a stop to all manufacture.
Mr. SANDARS referred to the opinion of an engineer of
great eminence, that ft was praetictble, without any serious
anuoyance te the owners of steam boilers, to reduce the quan-
tity of am lee to such a point as no longer to annoy the
public. He therefore considered it desirable to go into com-
mittee.
Mr. H. CARTER said that this was peculiarly a case for
keel legislation. He thought it would be arbitrary to apply
• isolated engines, se elcularly in agricul-