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59
black smoke is concerned from factory chimneys, but from enquiries
made, very little progress has occurred in the prevention of atmospheric
pollution from the domestic chimney. Although in the larger
blocks of flats, which have recently been so extensively erected, in
and around London, central heating has been installed, the ordinary
house will still be heated mostly by means of an open coal grate.
Some smoke abatement enthusiasts think that coal grates should
be abolished by law, but with our moist climate, it is not likely that
the public will give up the comfort whuch is afforded by them.
Moreover, for continuous use, solid fuel is much cheaper for open
fires.
The extended use of gas, electricity and coke should be encouraged,
but for various reasons the coal grate will be with us for
some time, but it is possible to reduce the amount of smoke and yet
retain the coal grate. Doctor Margaret Fishenden, who is one of the
greatest authorities on the subject, read a paper at the Conference
on Smoke Abatement last autumn, and she was very emphatic on
the possibility of reducing emission of smoke from coal grates.
The kitchen range is probably the worst offender, although a rapid
increase in the use of independant boilers and gas cookers is taking
place. Large quantities of bituminous coal are also burned in open
grates of the sitting-room type. This is not necessary. Among
the natural smokeless fuels, anthracite, semi-anthracite and semibituminous
coal, and the manufactured smokeless fuels,—cokes,
and semi-cokes—a smokeless substitute can always be found at
little extra cost, and sometimes actually at a lower cost.
Anthracite or gas coke is usually too hard to light in open
grates of ordinary design, but grates of special design, which will
burn anthracite and gas coke, have recently been put on the market.
Semi-anthracite or semi-bituminous coal are quite suitable for open
tres, and cost no more than bituminous coal. Prevention of smoke
lies essentially in using the right fuel for the right purpose, but the
housewife does not always know what types of fuel are best for her
Particular purposes, and in any case, cannot be sure of getting uniform
supplies from her coal merchant. This objection does not apply
to large consumers, and yet, in offices, and even in rooms belanging
to local authorities, bituminous coals are used, producing
smoke and necessitating frequent chimney sweeping.
BIRTHS.
Table 7 is in the same form as in previous years. The total
Number of births is obtained from the Registrar General, and indudes
all the births which belong to the district wherever they may