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32
delivering a lecture on "The Smoke Nuisance" during the early
part of the year, stated that the "dense fogs with which we
were familiar in the Metropolis and its immediate neighbourhood
were due to coal smoke preventing the sun dissipating the
vapour which arose in the morning. It was well known that
cities burning wood or anthracite coal were comparatively free
from all fogs. London would assume an entirely different
aspect if the use of bituminous coal were prohibited. Fog not
only caused misery, disease, and death, and was the cause of
frightful waste and destruction, but it also spoilt the very
pleasures of life. The lecturer next gave some notes of his
observations, showing how the direction of the wind affected
the transparency of the air in the country districts round
London.
He pointed out that "London thus had just half the sunshine
of inland towns, and about a third of towns on the
South coast. Fogs were conducive to the spread of infectious
diseases, because during foggy weather windows had to be kept
closed, thus preventing that proper ventilation of rooms which
is so necessary in dispersing the germs of disease. Arriving at
the consideration of remedies against fogs, the lecturer recommended
improvement in our fireplaces and the more general
adoption of gas firing. The air of London could be made
almost transparent by the abolition of bituminous coal as a
domestic fuel."
Factories and Workshops.
The workshops and factories in the district have been kept
under supervision, and the limewhiting of walls and ceilings
has been carried out.
In some cases extra w.c.'s have been provided, bat the
sanitary arrangements generally were found to be in a satisfactory
condition.
The London Water Supply.
The final report of the Royal Commission appointed to
inquire into the Metropolitan water supply was issued re
cently. The Commissioners are unanimous in their conclusion
that it is desirable that the undertakings of the water companies
should be acquired and managed by public authority.
They come to the conclusion, also, that it is not desirable that
the London County Council should be the purchaser, but that
the companies' undertakings should be transferred to a