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53
During the year, at the New Power Station, experiments have been successful in trapping
the residual dust in the flue gases passed through the gas washer. A method of chemical
precipitation is used, and the dust particles, on examination, appear to be amorphous carbon and
organic matter, not easily wetted. In size they are of the order of four microns, and in quantity
about 0.205 grains per cubic foot.
The continuous recording apparatus has shown that on occasions the amount of residual
sulphur is only 0.0002 grains per cubic foot of flue gas. When it is realised that the highest
recorded sulphur content of the atmosphere in a London fog within the same period was, at the
County Hall, 0.00046, and at Chelsea, 0.00024, this achievement can be fully appreciated.
The above results indicate that the overall efficiency of elimination of both dust and sulphur
is approaching the maximum practically possible.
One of the largest commercial users of coal in the Borough has recently carried out extensive
plant reconstruction. A range of three modern Sterling Tridrum boilers, with a total evaporative
capacity of 99,000 lbs. per hour, has been installed ; these are capable of being worked in a smokeless
condition. In the past, some trouble from smoke has been experienced by this firm, and it is
hoped that the entire steam demand will be raised smokelessly.
RAG FLOCK
The sale and use of Rag Flock is regulated by Section 136 of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936, and the Regulations made by the Ministry of Health in 1912.
These Regulations prohibit the sale or use of unclean flock manufactured from rags in making
any article of upholstery, cushions, bedding, etc., and provide that when not less than 40 grams
of flock are thoroughly washed with distilled water at a temperature below 25°C. the chlorine must
not exceed 30 parts per 100,000 of flock. This standard ensures a certain degree of cleanliness.

It will be observed that sample No. 5 exceeded the legal maximum for chlorine. The dealer
from whom the sample was obtained was warned by letter and sample No. 6 taken subsequently
from the same person complied with the Regulations.