THE CITY SMOKELESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2202, 28 May 1908, Page 4

THE CITY SMOKELESS.

AS AMERICAN IDEA

Reference was mado in this column so'ino time ago to tlio splendid degree of smokelessness attained, in many largo American towns by the operation of n comprehensive anti-smoko 'ordinance. The city smokeless is well within the range of practical municipal politics, and the .Lord Mayor of Sydney is the latest- convert to the delectable gospel. It is his determination to bring about such a state of nmttors in his own city, nrul thoro is every prospect that, within a vciy few years, Sydney will ho enabled to boast other inspiring attractions beyond tlioso of its admittedly (tor peace sake) beautiful harbor. The Lord M ivor has delved deeply into the matter, and has emerged from the study armed with a wondrous array of authorities to support'his case. Ijo Iris discovered, for examplo, that in England, of 150,000,000 tons of fuel consumed annually for heating purposes, tlio benefit of 50,000,000 tons is lost through unsciontific stoking., In Germany they apparently contrive much hotter. Thousands ot pounds are expended annually by the Prussian Government towards t-lio, education of firemen alono. Tlio reason for this Stato aid was given in tlio Prussian Budget for 1902, m tlio following portentous words: “The preliminary condition for tlio prevention of excessive emission of smoke is, as experience fins shown, the instruction of capable • firemen. This would also li-avo tlio advantage of loading to bettor insurance against boiler explosions, and to economy. 11l view of tlio general State interests which are hero -in Question, and of the proven failure and insufficiency of efforts on the part of persons interested, it is desirable that the. State should take the proper steps for such instruction to bo given.” Franco and Austria have arrived at •prncticilly tlio same opinion. And thus, fortified with so many scientific conclusions, all pointing to the' wisdom manifested and the economy and pubic comfort achieved by adoption of scientific methods of stoking, Alderman Hughes is prosecuting his mission with a stout heart and supremo confidence that ho will ultimately succeed.