The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-06
HUNTERS POINT sTENCHEs.
yuRTHKR INvEsraATIoN BY THE HEALTH COM
MIrrEE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FOR A sTRIN-

MIrTEE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FOR A srRIN-
GENT LAW DEMONSTRATED
The Committee Public Health. appointed by the
Assembly to investigate tho condition of the petroleum
rsneries and superphosphate uorks of Hunters Point
and other localities adjacent the city, began their
undertaking yesterday morning The party, con-
Eistng OF Drs Russell. wure Hammond, Nelson
and Crosby, accompanied by their attorney left their
hotel early and first visited the slaughter
Ing establishments along the East River 'front.' They
proceeded 10 the foot OF Forty-iourth street,
10 the house OF Mcssrs. Rafferty, Williams,
dealers in fcrtilizing supplies, &c, and were
astonshed at the stencil and fth which pervaded the
place. and they expressed their disgust at what they
saw AS the proprietors had been entirely unaware
OF their coming they were taken by surprise, which
gave the committee fine opportunity OF seeing the
wretched manner in which the business Is carried
No seemed TO be taken to subdue the sickening
doors which escape from the place and find their way
al over New York.
Many neighboring slaughter houses were also found
In exceedingly bad condition. The committee then
proceeded to Hunters Point and visited the petroleum
rennerics of the Standard Oil Company and
made thorough examination. In tho centre
OF the great yard they found themselves
each OF which contributed its part TO the foul at
mosphere that hung around the neighborhood The
yard was filled with pools Of dark, greasy water and
the smell was very bad and could not entirely proceed
from crude petroleum The process OF cleansing tho oil
Is carried in tank where they the oil
being washed with oil OF vitrio, and they saw the
latter alter gathering up all the impurities OF tho
petroleum, running from the bottom OF the tank by
race to large compartment in the ground The sudge
acid as this refuse IS called, sometimes dark and
heavy, sometimes pale and thin. and at other times
blue ana green, and stencil that was positively SICK
cning cano from IT, II was impossible TO stand any
where near II for even short time while the fumes
arising from It could be recognized tor miles
around DR.. RUSSELL in his haste to to get away
from IT, ran over barrel that buried underground
The covering OF which partly gave way under his
weight so that one leg was almost wholly submerged
When he was pulled out he was minus gum SHOE and
II is highly probable that the Doctor took away with
him a sample OF some OF the perfumes.
The committee spent about hour in the yards,
aiming all the machinery, tanks and processes with
The most minute care. aud took full notes OF every
thing they saw. When they lett the place tho doors
seemed TO follow them and they freely gave expression
to their opinions.
pany they next VISITED TIE phosphate factory OF Mr. T.
Frank Coe. Some iniima,ion must have been given
that the committee intended TO visit the place, for
workmcn spreading ashes some OF tho
places, and trying to improve the condition OF
plank wagon drive the committee at once entered tho
rickety sheds in which the superphosphates pre-
pared No words describe the horrible odors OF the
place Some OF the doctors could not enter the sheds
Al all Huge heaps OF fertilizers piled up every
where, ana men were seen shovellng the dis
agreeable dust INTO bags and barrels. Heapcd
dried scrap fish were also seen, and tho atmosphere
was actually nausoating that one of the party
made sick by IT, The buildings very long and
very much out of repair Passing from these
sheds the party the large recepaccs In which the
sludge is kept Mr. Coc buys this sinking stun from
The rcfneries and consumes more than 1872 500 gallons
Of 1t per year, The committee hurried away
soon as possible and adjourned to room near by. As
they leaving they asked Mr. Coo whether he did
not think that his superphosphates could be manu-
iactured with less stencil. He replied, sYcs, and III
do II when tho proper time comes evidently meaning
that he would do when the law absolutely compelled
him.. One of the physicians remarked that Il is with
out exception the most sckening and disgusting shed
was ever in ~ verify believe" said ho sit Is tho
worst place EARTH
The committee sent out for Mr.. Rudolph, OF the
Long Island City Board of Health, who, upon bong
questioned, said
mo complaints have ever. to my knowledge been
made by the members Of any other Board OF Health to
our own board that the works you have
just visited were nuisances Tho cili-
zcns Of this city, however. have complained to US
respecting Mr. Goes place. and three months ago wc
made examination IT. but three experts that
engaged returned us the opinion that the place
not unhealthy one It is my opinion. however
that Mr. Coe, Ii he wanted, could manufacture with
less disagreeable smells -
0Mr Rudolph" said DR. wurtz ~ was Informed
this morning by party residing In New York that
sometimes late At night he has been compelled get
of bed and shut down his windows keep tho
frshtiu atmosphere that proceeds from this
hood. Can you tell me whyr''
hners run their works all night We have compelled
Mr. Coe. however, to work only In the day timo.
There large element OF the population here that
very friendly Mr. Coe and any effort might
make to have his establishment condemned . nun
The Board then proceeded to Newtown Greek, where
they engaged tug. Along the banks Of the creek
located many establishments, In which are
manufactured phosphates. Clues &c, and from
which proceed those awful perfumes which In tho
summer months render some parts OF New York almost
uninhabiiable As the little tug steamed rapidly along
1t passed number OF fiat boats loaded with manure
and oa so that the passage was Of the disagree
able kind.
The lrs, landing made was at Prestons dock rho
establishment very large and very varied APP
continents After literally wadlng through souvhs or
IN kg Tho nnoxa Ian iiuvl
In was abomnablc IL was "a congomcration OF mud,
fertilizers and broken bits OF bone, while from
tbs black pipers thin shower Of dark dust falling
which settled everything around and discoorcd IT,
AL the Of the entrance regular Golgolha for
piled up in one tier after another were hundreds OF
frinning skulls the last or horses and cows
Here too, were series of sheds under which were
heaped superphosphaes OF many different coors all OF
which emitted their peculiar odors which IN some
instances compelled several OF the doctors withdraw
There were other sheis niied with guano and other
could be seen busily engaged in tho manufacture OF
glue the smell FROM which is almost sickenng as
that from the phosphates There was, however, In /
the air smell noticeable than all the Others
and with which the committee had not before in
contact II easily traced bone boiling and bono
saving apartment near by. Here, under the Iouest
conditions OF Nth and stencil, large number OF men
were seen busily engaged in their unwholcsome occu
patton The room filed with steam ana was in
tcnsely hot. Bones were boiling In numerous pots
which one by one were taken out and scrapcd.
II is impossible TO describe the siekening overpowcr
ing stencil which this process creates and which free
10 escape and poluic the air for miles around.
HoxEwARD
The other places visited were OF the nature as
those described above. As y the examination
the little tug passed down Ncwtown Greek TO
the river and thence proceeded to Fulton street, Brook
Iyn
lit is revelation 10 me, said OF the doctors
the HERALD reporter III had idea OF tho careless
and Indifferent manner IN which these operators
duct their business. They to have regard
whatever for the conort health OF thu people
around them. IL seems to me almost cr,m-
tnal Tor them TO create atmosphere
such they do when they could conduct
f q
not be offensive. do not wonder that the uptown
people IN New York up In arms against this
rage would be deplcrable circumstance tho bill
framed to condemn these places, as they exist NJ
present, SHOULD be defeated"
LIGHTHOUSES AND BUOYS