The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-12 00:00:00

THE GREAT CONSUMPTION OF SMOKE QUESTION.

Messrs. Paine and Company, of No. 102, Leadenhall-
street, exhibited and explained a model and drawings of
their newly-invented furnace for the consumption of

smoke.

The CHAIRMAN, after thanking the inventors for their
explanation, advised them to see the parties who were
in the daily habit of committing the nuisance of sending
forth large bodies of smoke from their mills and facto-
ries in the city, which he thought might have a beneficial
effect. As the law at present stood, the court could
only interfere to punish those who committed nuisances.
The court would feel obliged by the inventors' letting
them know when they had one of their furnaces in
operation.

Mr. H. L. TAYLOR thought that the court ought to
go to all those who bad offended against the law, for the
purpose of showing them that there was a mode of get-
ting rid of the smoke nuisance. (Hear.)
Mr. HAYWOOD (the surveyor to the commission) pre-
sented his report, of which the following is a copy :
" Guildhall, Oct. 11, 1853.
"Gentlemen,—ln pursuance of your instructions I
have caused observations to be made of the issue of
opaque smoke from the chimney shafts belonging to the
brewery of Messrs. Calvert, in Upper Thames-street. The
chimney shafts were watched for a period of seven days,
from about 4 o'clock a.m., until 7 or 8 p.m., an obser-
vation being registered every 10 minutes. The total
number of observations registered was 671, of which 7
record no smoke visible, 85 the smoke scarcely visible,
135 perfectly visible, 193 rather dense, 251 exceedingly
dense. Thus about 37 per cent. of the whole number
of observations record the issue of exceedingly dense
smoke, and 66 per cent, of the whole as dense and ex-
ceedingly dense.

" TEeduration of the period of the issue of exceed-
ingly dense smoke was from one to seven minutes, the
average appearing to be about three or three-and•a-half
minutes ; and it may therefore be said to be issuing
from Messrs. Calvert's premises for more than two hours
daily, and smoke of the two highest degrees of tensity
must have been issuing for nearly half of the busy hours
of the day.

"The smoke from the chimney shaft of the City
Flour-mills, situate in Upper Thames-street, having
occupied the attention of your late Court, I also directed
similar observations to be made there. These observa-
tions were continued for six days, between 4 o'clock
a.m., and 8 o'clock p.m., and the observations were
likewise at intervals of 10 minutes noted. The total
number registered was 377, of which 21 record the
smoke as not visible, 204 scarcely visible, 73 visible, 37
rather dense, 42 exceedingly dense. The duration of
the periods ef intense smoke was about 3i to 4 minutes.
"About 11 per cent., therefore, of the whole number
of observations record the issue of the smoke as exceed-
ingly dense, and 21 per cent, of the whole as of the two
highest degrees of density.
"The persons who took these observations made no
inquiry as to the time when the furnaces were lighted or
extinguished, nor was information conveyed to the own-
ers that the issue of smoke from the chimneys was being
watched.

"The general practicability of almost entirely pre-
venting the issue of opaque smoke from furnace shafts is
now so universally admitted, that I need scarcely here
re-assert that it can be accomplished ; yet as it appears
probable that before long it may be requisite for you to
enforce the abatement of the nuisance by the owners of
those furnaces within your jurisdiction who have not yet
complied with your notice, it may be useful to submit to
you a few points in connexion with the subject.
" From the earliest period of the usage of coal as a fuel
in the metropolis, the smoke caused by its imperfect
combustion appears to have been regarded as a great
evil ; and in 1819 a select committee of the House of
Commons, termed the Committee on Steam Engines
and Furnaces,' was appointed to inquire how far it may
be practicable to compel persons using steam-engines and
furnaces in their different works to erect them in a man-
ner less prejudicial to public health and public comfort.'
It was, in fact, to inquire into the practicability of pre-
venting the issue of opaque smoke ; and the committee,
having elicited the opinions of qualified judges, appear
to have arrived at the conclusion, that the nuisance
might at least be considerably diminished, if not alto-
gether avoided.
" In 1843 a select committee of the House, and, in
1845, another select committee, was appointed on smoke
prevention. From them the subject received the fullest
investigation ; a large amount of evidence being taken
from numbers of witnesses in every way competent,
from their scientific practical knowledge, to give informa-
tion, and it resulted in the most confident expression of
opinion from those committees on the practicability of
economically preventing the issue of opaque smoke from
furnaces and steam engines ; and the Health of Towns
Commission, in 1845, concurred in this opinion, and on
the propriety of an immediate legislative enactment
upon the subject.
" In the year 1846, Sir Henry de la Beche and Dr.
Lyon Playfair, who were officially charged by the Go-
vernment with inquiry into the question of smoke con-
gumption, reported its almost universal practicability,
appearing, indeed, to except only certain descriptions of
furnaces, where, from the nature of the manufactures,
combustion is effected under peculiar and special circum-
stances, hindering the application of those principles
upon which the effectual prevention of opaque smoke
depends.
" The whole of these commissions of inquiry may be
said then to have occurred in opinion as to the practica-
bility of smoke prevention, their opinions being formed
and matured after hearing evidence from the most com-
petent witnesses who could be found.

"The result of these various investigations has been,
that local acts for suppressing the issue of opaque smoke
have been obtained by Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool,
Derby, Birmingham, and other provincial towns, at
some of which places the smoke has been prevented to a
very large extent. The first act for the prevention of
the nuisance within the metropolis was obtained, and
put into operation within the city of London, in 1852,
and up to the present time notices have been served by
this commission upon the owners of about 120 furnaces,
and the issue of smoke has been from the majority of
these considerably abated, although in all cases the
abatement has not yet been so perfect as may be practi-
cable, or as the act appears to require. These 120 fur-
naces comprise the whole of those within the City,
the chimneys of which formerly vomited forth the densest
volumes of opaque smoke.
"The practicability of consuming smoke is, therefore,
no longer a matter of speculation, and within your own
jurisdiction various successful instances may be appealed
to, and in some of the provincial towns named they are
both numerous and remarkable. There is, however, one
metropolitan example worthy of special reference, and
if any doubts still exist upon the point, I think that a
visit to the brewery of Messrs. Truman, Hanbury,
Buxton, and Co., Brick-lane, Spitalfields, would be most
convincing. I have myself visited the establishment,
and can personally testify to the almost perfection of
combustion and freedom from smoke which are attained
there.

" There are are 14 furnaces connecting with 12 chim-
ney-shafts upon that establishment, which are fitted up
with smoke-consuming apparatus. The first furnace
was fitted experimentally early in the year 1848, and
complete success caused the general introductionofthe
principle to the remaining furnaces. There are generally
13 furnaces at work daily, and the consumption of coals
is about 6,000 tons per annum. The total cost of
fitting
up the furnaces was about 3,0001., and the
te the furnaces
annuali
ex-
pense of repairs about the same as it was
e ob
before their alteration. These details
have b
ingly given to me by Mr. Frazer, the engineer to the
brewery.
no ono could have
"At the time of my visit (which
anticipated, as, until presenting myself at the office,
and
requiring permission to inspect the myself at the officel
found most of the
furnaces, I had not
signified my intention toalke was scarcely visible fromny ono
furnaces at work, but the
smoke
any one of the chimney shafts, and from some so slight
was the issue that it was not easily ascertainable whether
the furnaces connected with
etliseeml afterwardswereat \v
orkvoerrifineodt,,
although that such was the case
and
when I looked up through two shafts, which are
about 70 feet high from the door by the furnace mouths,
so free were they from smoke, that although one furnace
was consuming at the rate of three tons of coal per day,
and the other at the rate of 10 cwt. per day, the sky
was perfectly visible, and birds, had they been flying
over the tops, might have been distinctly seen.
" I was informed that this freedom from opaque smoko
was maintained throughout the day, with the exception
of two or three occasions, of about four minutes each,
when from processes in the brewing the fires required
temporarily suppressing, and the smoke was perfectly
consumed within a quarter of :in hour after the furnaces
were lighted in the morning. I think I can add nothing
more in verification of the practicability of consuming
opaque smoke, and the gratuitous and disinterested
public communication recently made by Messrs. Tru-
man, Hanbury, and Co., that this smoke-consumption
has enabled them to effect a saving of about 2,0001. per
annum, must place the economy of effecting a perfect
combustion beyond doubt, and most certainly so in the
case of establishments at all parallel in extent, and other
conditions.
" That there is no loss sustained by the adoption of

means for consuming smoke, abundant testimony is to
be gathered from the provincial towns before-named.
"There are various causes 'for the production of
opaque smoke from furnaces ; irregular and careless
firing, over-stoking, want of draught, &c., may each
cause it, as well as the urging of the furnaces, and forc-
ing the boilers beyond their legitimate powers (one
which I apprehend would, upon inqui& ;he found to
have been a most fertile cause within yetir" jurisdic-
tion). The cures, therefore, will be more or less diffi-
cult and expensive, and must be sought in the,applica-
tion of one or other of those remedies of whigh there are
now many, and which must be applied according to the
exigencies of particular cases, but with 'the '`cause of
smoke, so wifh the modes of cure need not how de-
tain you, for, as the practicability of its prevention is
now an established fact, the business of the Commission
as regards smoke may be almost said to be with the tops
of the chimney-shafts alone, from which it is perfectly
manifest that with proper appliances and sufficient care
opaque smoke need issue but for a very few minutes
daily, the chimneys of those manufactories where the
combustion of fuel is made under peculiar circumstances
being alone exceptional

" I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
" Your most obedient servant,
" WILLIAM HAYWOOD,
,SllfffreyoY.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR said that to receive an able and
faithful report was one part of the duty of the Court,
but he conceived that a duty of equal importance was,
that they should come to some resolution with regard to
it. It was notorious that Messrs. Calvert, the brewers,
had been summoned respecting a nuisance which had
frequently been committed on their premises. They had
been allowed a certain time for the removal of the nui-
sance ; months had elapsed since the specified time had
expired ; yet the nuisance from their chimney was as
bad as ever. (Hear, hear.) He considered that the
Court ought immediately to take some steps against
Messrs. Calvert, or they would not be discharging their
duty ; at all events, that firm ought to be summoned,
in order that the Court might be able to judge whether
they were doing all that they possibly could for the pur-
pose of preventing a continuance of the nuisance. (Hear,
hear.) Doing less than this was an idle consumption
of time. (Hear, hear.) A most important fact was
communicated to the Court in the report which had
just been read, namely, that another brewery of an ex-
tensive character, and to the partners in which too much
credit could not be given, had, by mechanical con-
trivance succeeded in abating the nuisance so loudly
complained of in the case of Messrs. Calvert. (Hear,
hear.)
Waterlow said that Messrs. Calvert had been
summoned, and as the Court had then allowed them

time to remedy the evil complained of, he was desirous
of knowing whether the period of grace had really
expired
The Clerk replied that it had.

The CHAIMIAN said that the smoke from the chimney
of Messrs. Browning caused as great an annoyance to
the inhabitants of the City as that of Messrs. Calvert.
Deputy KEBBEL assured the Court that Messrs. Cal-
vert were most desirous of totally getting rid of the al-
leged nuisance, and that for this purpose they had con-
suited, and been in frequent communication with, Sir
R. Stephenson and Mr. Brunel. (Hear, hear.) He
believed that Messrs. Easton and Amos were at work
at the brewery, doing everything that ingenuity could
suggest with a view to the consumption of the smoke.
(Hear, hear.) It ought to be borne in mind that there
were difficulties with respect to projected improvements
to be encountered in the premises of Messrs. Calvert,
which were not to be met with at Messrs. Truman and
Hanbury's—the first-named firm not being able to abate
the nuisance without pulling down a very large portion
of their premises, whilst, with the latter, the task of im-
provement had been one of easy accomplishment.—
(Hear, hear.)

It was ordered that the above-named parties be sum-
moned before the court.

THE GREAT CENTRAL GAS CONSUMERS' COMPANY.
The Clerk read the following report from Professor
Letheby

" London Hospital, Aug. 9, 1853.
"Gentlemen,—l have the honour to report that I
have made 120 experiments during the last quarter on
the illuminating qualities of the gas supplied to the city
of London by the Central Gas Consumers' Company,
and the following are the results : First, when the gas
has been burnt from an argand of 15 holes, according to
the Act of Parliament directions, it has furnished a light
which, on the average, has been equal to 13.9 sperm
candles, or 15.9 wax, each consuming 120 grains of corn.
bustible matter per hour. Second, when the gas has
been burnt from a batswing jet, at the rate of 4 cubic
feet per hour, its light has been equal to that of 9.6
sperm candles, or 10.3 wax, and when consumed from
the same jet at the rate of 5 cubic feet per hour, its ave-
rage luminosity has been equal to that of 11.8 sperm, or
13.5 wax. These results show that the gas has been of
good illuminating power, in fact, they prove that it has
been rather more than 31 per cent, better than that re-
quired by the Act of Parliament. The chemical quality
of the gas has been of average description. —I have the
the honour to be, &c., (Signed) H. LETHEBY, M.D."