352 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



his employer by interested colliery owners. But, better still, I 

 submit that our Chamber of Mines or other interested body, should 

 follow the example of the Prussian Government, who, in 1902, 

 arranged for a course of instruction for stokers, and ear-marked 

 ^2000 per annum for the purpose. The far-seeing and scientific 

 promoter of the measure declared that the Government was alive to the 

 fact that to compete successfully with other nations in certain 

 manufactures it was necessary to reduce the cost of production. He 

 proved conclusively that serious waste was taking place through 

 unscientific and careless stoking, and secured the sympathy, 

 confidence, and assistance of the Government, as I have stated 

 above. 



The Hamburg Smoke Abatement Society is a voluntary associa- 

 tion of steam-users, and has been in existence about three years. 

 The Society is controlled by a committee, and the technical work 

 is managed by a permanent expert staff. The working expenses 

 are obtained, firstly, from its members' subscriptions ; secondly, 

 from payment for special work done for its members; and, thirdly, 

 from payments by outsiders for research work or advice. The mem- 

 bership at present is about 150, with 420 Boilers under their 

 supervision. 



The declared objects of the Society, as set forth in its rules, are 

 the attainment of the highest possible efficiency from heating and 

 boiler plants with the least possible smoke. With this end in view, 

 regular examinations are made of the plants of members and their 

 methods of working. The education and control of firemen is 

 undertaken, and tests are made of fuel and appliances. Reports 

 and results are then circulated amongst members. With a view to 

 carrying out some special steam-raising trials, a central Model 

 Boiler installation was installed in Hamburg in 1904, and the 

 results of the research trials are circulated among members in due 

 course. Manufacturers and fuel users generally have been taught 

 that proper combustion of fuel produces economy, and they were 

 advised that the first step was to provide a body of trained stokers. 

 To do that they must be selected and taught in a uniform, practical, 

 and scientific manner by competent engineer instructors. Now, here 

 is an opportunity for us, as the leading scientific Society of South 

 Africa, to justify our existence by promoting this branch of science. 

 I am' sure a ready and liberal response would be made by our 

 Chamber of Mines, to any reasonable proposal that may be made 

 to them. Itinerant courses of instruction could be arranged at 

 different centres along the reef, and firemen instructors could be 

 appointed to give the necessary lessons at some fixed centre. 



A few furnaces of modern design might be provided to demon- 

 strate their capabilities, and competitions might be arranged between 

 boiler-makers and between firemen, which should place the directors 

 of companies in possession of statistics that should tend to reduce the 

 working costs of our mining, milling, and reduction generally, as 

 well as check a danger to the comfort and health of our community 

 that, in my opinion, is already being felt by those who think of 



