Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-05-31
GLUE FACTORY.

upon me rs one Oi tue guhTulhs Ol Tue puOnc
health, / have thought best TO give my opin-
ion on the subject before u.s. in writing, ~
TINT IL cannot be misunderstood, and would
be glad II others would also take that trouble.
Our opinions may have some weight with the
public, and they should he given without fa-
vor or Partially, and with no uncertain tone,
so that the public may know that we are in
earnest In this great matter Of preserving the
public health.
In reference to the subject before us, I
would say that have watched this Glue fac.
tory for the eleven seasons l have been in
town, with great interest. have noted care
fully the condition Of the people who have
lived within its influence, and all the circum.
stances likely TO affect the health OF that
neighborhood.
Some six years ago the village council voted
this Glue factory nuisance and passed an
ordinance abating it. Whether that ordinance
has ever been repealed or not, am not in
formed, but it has been permitted TO go on
without interruption for the past five years,
till the present time Some three or four
weeks ago, the citizens Lying near 1t felt that
it had become SO much of an evil that they
contributed nearly $4,000 to compel its re-
moval or cessation. An injunction was served
by the proper authority, aud for nearly week
work has been suspended. Yesterday, this
Board of Health was invited by the proprie
tor-Mr. Geoppinger- to visit the premises,
and decide whether or not II was as much of
nuisance and as injurious to the public
health rs had been represented In compli-
ance with this invitation the Board visited the
factory, and found condition of things quite
CT, table to the proprietor and nearly unobjec
ti0nabe The immense vats which were flied
with scraps of hides, homes and hoofs of oxen,
emitted but little odor unless disturbed; the
floors were neat and the drying glue crisp and
bright, with very little stencil; the piles of
decaying garbage and refuse matter had sll
been removed and plowed under, and only
occasionally breath of the heavy odor of
former days came up TO remind one of what
had been.
The stream below was turbid, with whitish,
Shiny substance mingled with hair, lime and
decaying animal matter; and for rods below
the reeking filth filed the stream, but the fe~
days in which ii had lain next the earth had
deprived it of its worst odors, and no one
could say that there was enough OF poisonous
exhalation arising TO lnjure the most sensitive
AT the suggestion OF members of the Board
comparative condition now and when the fac
tory was in active operation, and learned that
all are fully satisfied with the present condi-
ton.
There are none of the heavy, disgusting
odors now that used to almost destroy their
comfort and make life almost miserable, while
these purifying animal substances were un-
dergoiug the process of boiling, steamng,
cooking, stewing and stirring. Their parlors,
halls, sitting rooms, bedrooms, pantries and
dining rooms were not fill,d with deadly
stenches as before, but the pure air OF heaven
was permitted to nourish them, and all was
agreeable. But the people in this neighbor-
hood ieel that their rights have hitherto been
disregardee, and they now show their deter
minalion TO have them respected. and their
earnestness in prosecuting the matter is attest
ed by their liberality in thus contributing
sonAe 81 800 TO defend their rights.
need not argue before these three eminent
physician, or the other intelligent members OF
this Board that these heavy exhalaliOns from
purid animal matter are not conducive 10
neallh, or that constant inhalation of any OF
the products of decomposition is highly iu-
furious. No intelligent man would wish to
stultiiy himself by arguing in favor of a life
in the midst of putreiying and noxious odors
Hammond in his work on Hygiene, page
l56, says of sulphuretted hydrogen-one OF
the products of the decomposition of organic
substances haiti is exceedingly poisonous" "
One eight hundrcdth part of it kills small
birds in few seconds. "When its action is
long continued in small amount it causes cx-
traordinary lassitude, languor and detecliYe
appetite"
Other poisonous gases are also liberated
and add to the danger, and in time II is sure to
affect, njuriously, the young and sensitive
We cannot but admit that the constant inha'
lation of these poisonous materials would pre-
dispose to disease and produce discomfort and
debility. The low forms of fever that have
recently affected the families OF Mr.. Dickin
son, Mr.. Willard, Mr.. Haskell, Mr.. Gilkey and
others in this vicinity, are well remembered
bv the members of this Board
But the remark is sometimes sneeringly
made, "lhai the people are not all dying of
in the vicinity of the Glue factory" This is
heartless and almost barbarous. If the Glue
factory has caused one single death-if it has
robbed even one hearthstOne of its treasure, ol
even prolong' d the perils and sufferings of ont
case of sickness by one week, il should be re
moved 10 some less dangerous locality. Hu
man life and health are too precious to b,
thus trihed with
1t is with extreme reluctance that woul(
advocate anything contrary to the interests o
Mr.. Geoppinger. He is an honest and indus
trious citizen, and deserves well of communi
ty. Like all others his judgment may b'
warped by his pecuniary interest. He may
look upon his Glue factory as harmless In
situti0n in the midst of thickly settled
community. may be a hardship for him t'
remove his factory to some less Objectionable
point. 1t was so with the slaughter houses
but we do not wish them back. Those who
are to be benefited by his removal can wei
afford 10 pay him his sctual expenses for sucf
removal, and if he goes willingly or withou
the expense of a legal trial, doubt not the,
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