THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS RAMSAY. 195 



pounds; by creating the power at the pit mouth, and distributing it 

 electrically, as is already done in the Tyne district. Economy can 

 also be effected in replacing beehive coke ovens by recovery ovens; 

 this is rapidly being done; and Dr. Beilby calculates that in 1909 

 nearly 6 million tons of coal, out of a total of 16 to 18 millions, were 

 coked in recovery ovens, thus effecting a saving of 2 to 3 million tons 

 of fuel annually. Progress is also being made in substituting gas for 

 coal or coke in metallurgical, chemical, and other works. But it must 

 be remembered that for economic use, gaseous fuel must not .be 

 charged with the heavy costs of piping and distribution. 



The domestic fire problem is also one which claims our instant 

 attention. It is best grappled with from the point of view of smoke. 

 Although the actual loss of thermal energy in the form of smoke is 

 small — at most less than a half per cent of the fuel consumed — still the 

 presence of smoke is a sign of waste of fuel and careless stoking. In 

 works mechanical stokers which insure regularity of firing and com- 

 plete combustion of fuel are more and more widely replacing hand- 

 firing. But we are still utterly wasteful in our consumption of fuel 

 in domestic fires. There is probably no single remedy applicable; 

 but the introduction of central heating, of gas fires, and of grates which 

 permit of better utilization of fuel will all play a part in economizing 

 our coal. It is open to argument whether it might not be wise to 

 hasten the time when smoke is no more by imposing a 6-penny fine 

 for each offense ; an instantaneous photograph could easily prove the 

 offense to have been committed ; and the imposition of the fine might 

 be delayed until three warnings had been given by the police. 



Now, I think that what I wish to convey will be best expressed by 

 an allegory. A man of mature years who has surmounted the troubles 

 of childhood and adolescence without much disturbance to his physical 

 and mental state gradually becomes aware that he is suffereng from 

 loss of blood; his system is being drained of this essential to life and 

 strength. What does he do ? If he is sensible, he calls in a doctor, or 

 perhaps several, in consultation; they ascertain the seat of the disease, 

 and diagnose the cause. They point out that while consumption of 

 blood is necessary for healthy life, it will lead to a permature end if 

 the constantly increasing drain is not stopped. They suggest certain 

 precautionary measures; and if he adopts them, he has a good chance 

 of living at least as long as his contemporaries; if he neglects them, his 

 days are numbered. 



That is our condition as a nation. We have had our consultation in 

 1903; the doctors were the members of the coal commission. They 

 showed the gravity of our case, but we have turned a deaf ear. 



It is true that the self-interest of coal consumers is slowly leading 

 them to adopt more economical means of turning coal into energy. 

 But I have noticed and frequently publicly announced a fact which 



