The New York herald., 1921-05-29

Special Gable to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1891. by TIE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, May @S.
A bright day has dawned in Lon
don out Of the darkness Of the coal
strike. For three weeks 100000 per-
sons here have been astonished by the
remarkable improvement in the air
they breathe. For the first time In
their memory this is practically a
smokeless city, and meteorological eX-
perts can give no other reason for
this than the enforced cutting down
in the use of coal. 1t Is an absolute
fact-suspected for some time, but
now fully realized and appreciated
that London can see, breathe, smell,
touch and taste the benefits Of the
miners strike.
The great gray curtain that has al
ways been as much associated with
London as is the Thames has disap-
peared and the city is bathed in warm
sunshine, and is seeing the blue sky.
There has never been such thorough
spring cleaning In the memory Of liv-
ing man. The atmosphere is cleaner,
The people are happier and it is now
apparent that one of these Is contin-
gent on the other. Observers readily
say that it is reasonable to believe that
the coal miners strike is responsible
for all this.
Tests Show Improvement.
DR.. John Owens. superintendent OF
the Advisory Compittee on Atmos-
pheric Pollution to the Meteorological
office, said there had been gradual
Improvement in conditions since April
Is He insisted that the reduction in
the amount of coal consumed here had
had a remarkable effect and urged the
public to take steps to make the at
mospheric purity more or less perma-
nent For years he has been expert
rnenting by fltering air through paper
discs. and the density of ono period
compared with another was easily dis
cerEible. On the last day OF March,
the day before the beginning of the
strike, his discs showed deplorably
dirty state OF tho atmosphere. Three
weeks later Improvement was noticed,
rntit the last dav in April. when 1t was
almost clear. Since then the discs have
continued to improve, and now DR..
Owens Is forced TO use more delicate
discs In order 20 get finer results.
London air is always dirtiest in win
ter, when household fires are prn-
cipally TO blame. The last months In
the year bring the famous London
fogs, but since the miners strike be-
came serious the public have been un-
able to burn coal In their homes. DIR.
Owens said the London fogs were
caused by the hundreds of thousands
Of chhnneys which send forth smoke at
such rate that between Z and 9
o'clock In the morning more than 200
tons of SCOT have been sent over the
city. where it hangs like black
cloud. causing the fog. lie denied that
the chlmneys OF Industrial plants we're
mostly responsible for this
Has TonicIiIse Effect.
Now we have reached purity or
air greater than any yet attained In
London in modern conditions OF life"
ho said. This beneficent sunshine not
only destroys bacteria, but 1t has
toniclike effect on the people,
CTIe urged the adoption generally of
smokeless fuel, and called the fogs de-
purties.
The decreased use OF COAL made
necessary by the strike of the miners.
is inspiring a widespread agitation for
p change in fuel. The sunshine Is so
enjoyed here that the use OF gas and
electricity and. above all. oil, is being
advocated, instead Of coal. That is
acting as n boomerang on the miners.
hut 1t promises to brighten the days OF
London.