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It having been urged on me that I have scarcely done justice, at pp. 190-192, to the subject of "Copper Smoke," in my 1st Edition, I append my letter to the Cambrian at the end of 1865, to shew that I, at least, have not overlooked or underrated its vast importance.

IMPROVEMENT OF SWANSEA.

SUPPRESSION OF COPPER SMOKE.

To the Editor of "THE CAMBRIAN."

SIR,-Copper Smoke and Swansea are with great numbers of persons interchangeable terms. The latter flourishes alongside an admitted evil! Under cover of it, other noxious vapours have successfully nestled, so that those who suffer in mind, body, or estate, are quietly but firmly informed that the creation of Smoke, in this District has now become a Prescriptive right. To open the question at all requires some boldness, from a fear which generally exists that, it is better to leave things as they are, than risk the chance of injury to a great local trade. The sufferers, though their name be legion, have now for some years lain dormant, chiefly, I believe, in the hope that Chemistry and Legislation were marching forward simultaneously for the benefit of the Public health and the abatement of acknowledged nuisances.

Dr. Percy, in his "Metallurgy," published in 1861, at p. 339, says: "The proprietor of the Patent Swansea Fuel Works has been compelled, at great expense, to construct a long flue and

chimney to the top of Kilvey hill, in order to carry further away some dark-coloured, foul-smelling smoke, which is intolerable to the inhabitants of a Town which can submit without a murmur to the sulphurous and choking exhalations of the Copper Works. Nay, it has, I understand, even been gravely maintained by some persons that Copper Smoke is beneficial, if not agreeable rather than otherwise. The smoke is an unmistakeable nuisance; and the man who pretends that it is not, must either have a peculiar constitution, or lie under some strange delusion."

This is the opinion of a competent scientific and perfectly independent witness; how many will endorse it locally, I leave to your readers to consider and determine, if so inclined.

The late Mr. J. H. Vivian had the honesty to declare that "the suppression of the Smoke would be advantageous to the Town and its neighbourhood."

So much for the disagreeable part of the question, and I will now enter on the "sunny side" of it by stating That a Remedy has been discovered, has been tested, found practicable and profitable, and is now being carried out at the 'Hafod' and their other Works!

The questions which not unnaturally arise are, May we hope to see the Valley again compare with our lovely Bay ?-Can Nature again recover her lost position? Can our hills once more be with verdure clad? It will, I feel assured, be admitted that these are most interesting questions to us as Swansea folk. If our atmosphere could be pure, if our naked hills could be clothed with grass and our cattle once more graze and fatten thereon, who could complain ? and if this "consummation devoutly to be wished," could not only be brought about, but, at the same time, bring profit to the Copper Smelters, then should we indeed have cause for common congratulation and rejoicing!

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PORTRAIT OF H. H. VIVIAN ESQ.

F. G. S. J. P. & M. P FOR GLAMORGANSHIRE. WHO FIRST ESTABLISHED THE GERSTENHÖFER SYSTEM

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