NATURE 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1881 
SMCKE-ABATEMENT EXHIBITION 
N the 30th ult. an exhibition was opened at South 
Kensington of appliances intended to prevent ex- 
cessive production of smoke in household grates and in 
the furnaces and boilers of manufactories, and thus to 
remove from the fogs of great cities, and especially of 
London, one of their most offensive constituents, and that 
which is most potent in darkening the cities over which 
they spread themselves. The Exhibition is described as 
“international”; that title is, however, often given on 
rather a slender basis; and from what we can at present 
see, the main exhibits are British, although a few interest- 
ing objects are sent from Germany, Canada, and France. 
The origin of the Committee, which has for the last 
eight months systematically endeavoured to direct the 
minds of Londoners to the question of bringing into 
practical use some means of lessening the smokiness of 
London, if not rendering London smokeless, is described 
in the official Report as follows; and as it may be hoped 
that this Exhibition is only the beginning of a movement 
of which, with the aid of perseverance, energy, and scien- 
tific ingenuity, much may be expected, it is interesting to 
place the history of the movement upon record, 
“The subject of the abatement of smoke, with the 
view of purifying the atmosphere of London and lessen- 
ing the deleterious character of London fogs, has been 
vigorously taken up by the National Health Society 
during the past year. In the spring of 1880 the subject 
was brought under the notice of the Committee by Mr. 
Ernest Hart, the Chairman of Council, as one which he 
was desirous of taking up actively, with the co-operation 
of the Committee, and he was requested to take steps to 
bring the question into a practical form for further pro- 
ceeding. With this view Mr. Hart placed himself in 
communication with Prof. Chandler Roberts, F.R.S., 
Professor of Metallurgy at the School of Mines and 
Chemist to the Mint, who undertook to make an exami- 
nation of existing methods of combustion of coal in 
household grates and in furnaces. Further steps were 
taken to obtain details of the existing apparatus in use 
in different parts of the kingdom, and a considerable col- 
lection of documents was made, which have been placed 
at the disposal of the Committee subsequently formed. 
In July Mr. Hart learned from Miss Octavia Hill, the 
Treasurer of the Kyrle Society, that that Society was 
contemplating some action in the like direction, and it 
was arranged between Miss Hill and Mr. Hart, that with 
the approval of the respective societies a joint committee 
should be formed, with the object of continuing the 
movement. Such a committee was accordingly nomi- 
nated, and met at the National Health Society's rooms ; 
a definite course of proceeding was resolved on, and a 
programme was sketched out. Various eminent persons 
known to be specially informed on the subject (not all 
connected with either Society) were asked to join the 
Committee.” 
Among those who have given most active assistance 
are Dr. Siemens, Capt. Douglas Galton, Mr. Atchison, 
and Col. Festing, R.E.; but it is needless to say that all 
the eminent persons in art, literature, and science who 
have been asked to join have willingly given the valuable 
aid of their names, so that the Committee is a very re- 
presentative one. The Exhibition includes a great variety 
of exhibits divided into the following sections :— 
VoL. xxv.—-No, 632 
2 
In Section A. will be found: Open coal-fire grates, 
stoves of all kinds, kitcheners, kitchen ranges, draught- 
regulators, base burners, and other appliances devised to 
prevent the liberation of smoke from bituminous coals or 
to consume anthracite and other smokeless fuel. 
Section B.—-Gas fires, open grates and stoves, gas pro- 
ducers, and gas-heating apparatus of all kinds for domestic 
use. 
Section C.—Appliances for heating rooms and buildings 
by hot air, hot water, and steam circulation. 
Section D.—Gas engines, boiler furnaces, fire-bars, 
mechanical stokers, smoke-preventing furnace bridges, 
and other appliances for steam-engines and for general 
industrial purposes. 
Section E.—Anthracite and other smokeless coals, 
bituminous and semi-bituminous coals, patent and other 
fuels. 
Section F—All foreign exhibits. Improvements in 
chimney flues, ventilating apparatus, and novel inven- 
tions for regulating temperature, &c. 
Buildings have been fitted up for the purpose of testing 
the efficiency of grates, stoves, and other appliances 
suited for domestic use; and trials of various fuels and 
boiler appliances will also be conducted in the Exhibition 
Buildings, and at certain factories where facilities have 
been offered by the proprietors. 
The Committee have secured the services of Mr. D. 
Kinnear Clark, M. Inst. C.E., to superintend the trials 
under the direction of the Executive Committee. In con- 
junction with Dr. Frankland, F.R.S., Prof. W. Chandler 
Roberts, F.R.S., has undertaken to make certain chemi- 
cal tests in connection with the trials of fuel grates and 
stoves. 
It is not unreasonable to expect that such an exhibition 
carried out under the direction of a Committee of Experts, 
which includes Prof. Abel, C.B., Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, 
A. T. Atchison, M.A., William R. E. Coles (Hon. Secre- 
tary), Col. E. R. Festing, R.E. (Science and Art Depart- 
ment, South Kensington), Capt. Douglas Galton, C.B., 
F.R.S., Prof. Edward Frankland, LL.D., F.R.S. (School 
of Mines, South Kensington), Sir Ughtred Kay-Shuttle- 
worth, Bart., Dr. Siemens, F.R.S., LL.D., J. Lowry 
Whittle, Temple, will be of national value. It will tend 
directly to a better utilisation of coal and coal products, 
by determining practically and scientifically the means 
which are actually available for heating houses as at 
present (and as may be) constructed without producing 
smoke, as the Committee will be enabled to examine the 
subject generally and to report for public information 
upon the relative adaptability of the various coals and 
appliances to the requirements of every class of the com- 
munity. Trustworthy information will be obtained upon 
which to base sufficient and equitable amendments of the 
existing laws regarding smoke ; and the Committee will 
also ascertain and make known the comparative value of 
existing appliances for the utilisation of gas for the purpose 
of heating. 
It must be admitted that for years past the air of 
London has steadily deteriorated, and that in London, 
which 150 years ago was famous for its roses, it is now 
impossible to get a rose to blossom or conifers to grow. 
Homely but practical evidence of the actinic influence 
of light, which is so essential to the health of plants 
G 
