New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-15
SUFFERERS From STENCHES.
INVESTIGATION BIZ THE HEALTH BoARI

INV LSl IOAliON Dl lIlD IBAilll DOhhb'
ANSWERS or. PRopRIETORs OF VARIOUS ESTABLISH
MENTs TO TIE COMPLAINTS MADE-PERsoNs
WHO WERE CERTAIN THE SMELLS DID NOT COME
FROM HUNTERS POINT.
The Board of Health yesterday took testi-
moy and heard reports regarding the origin and extent
Of the uptown senches, taking up complaints which had
been made against establishments on both sides OF
tho city. President Chandler said that complaints
had been made against the following establish
ments speer LounsOerry, propnetors Of the render
ing boat Algonquin at the foot Of West Thirynintst
Rafferty, & Williams, of the rendering establishment at
Fortyfcurthst and the East River; c. c. Parsons own
er of the ammonia works at TwenIieh-s and AvcHUe-B
and Lombard Ayres Co.. OF the North River Oil Works.
at Sixty hird-st lie hoped that the facts would be
shown the board demonstrating that these places had
been recently offensive. II such the The
board could not act rumOr on vague and indetn-
lite complaints further than to them indications
of special localities which Investigations should be
directed In conclusion lie said Permits not now
and never been granted, except in accordance with
sanitary code after careful Investigation into
merits of the application, and they will not be re-
voked except upon clearly established iacs Jusylhg
The charge against the rendering establishment Of
Rafferty, Williams first taken mp. and Mr. NilliAnS
described the apparatus and said that no better coud be
had in the world Not pound OF slndge acd WIS ever
used upon the premises, nothing but fresh suphulc
acid, and only fresh fat was bought Tor their use
DIR. Henry Tuck of No. Is East Thirty -frst-st. in
letter to Beard attributed foul odors 10 tins cstah
''",'''ii' 80
that he :ouud little evidence of smell from this source,
but had traced the stenches to Hunters Point.
Judge Fullerton who Appeared for the firm, said lie
had been through the place. and had found nothing OMEN
sive. No could deny the foul odors in the city, int
no honest man would attribute them TO this place.
Jackson S. Schultz remarked that he knew the differ
ence between the smell of fat and that OF kerosene
pei son could easily mistake skunk for woOdchuck,
as mistake the two. He mad been 10 the place MY
odors came from Hunters Point At this point Mr. RAT
ferty began TO speak against Thomas - Mnsgrayc ana
The TRIBUNE, but was stopped by President Chandler,
who said they not there Tor tlat purpose
Mr. Speer replied TO the complaint against the render
ing boat Algonquin. He said the business that OF
drying blood and scrap, which was all done in covered
tanks, and the vapOrs were condensed. No acid was
used and OdOrs escaped. The blood was IN lner-
charitable condition. twentyfOur hours after IL was re-
ceived The system Of work fully described by Super
intendent stanard He attributed the offensive odos
partly TO the Oal and bone boats and manure yard at
the foot Of West IhirtyFevenst and in contradiction
OF Mr. Musgrayes report said that the Lister Brothers
dd not manufacture at all III THIS city, having thclr iac
r b. Mcintyre OF No 514 West Forty-second-st. con-
tradcted these statements and said that he ana his
had made several complaints TO the Board of Health but
to purpose. These doors were very strong TWO WceaS
ago, when the wind was from the west.
OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM The WEST SIDE
William Livingston OF No AL West IhrtyfourtE-st.,
said that Monday evening" with the wind from the
the offensive odors clearly detected in Ninth ard
Tenhaves, and he believed they came from the Alg9n
qun. He had made complaints repeatedly, but he be-
llevcd there "Was too much money there TO do any
Testimony TO this effect also given by G. L. surGis
of No. 325 West 1hTtyfOurth-s, and william Ii. DICK,
his Investigations he told at the precinct station
house that 1t was a matter of political influence ana
could be touched 80 can distinguish between lat
and kerosene" said Mr.. Dick The kerosene smell Is
a perfume TO the other"
President Chandler invited these persons 20 telegraph
TO him time they detected this nuisance and
promised , prompt remedy ioo,ord Avrc. Co.
answered the complaint against tho North River
OIL Works, and said they were willing TO
adopt any precaution the Board might sug-
gest Persons not thoroughly experienced, he said,
could not distinguish between the smells OF fat aud
sudge acid and great part OF the offensive smells he
attributed 10 the latter. That from their establishment
was sent NCwtOHn Creek and Barren Island. with
easIery wind he had detected sludge acid smell AT
Sixth-avc. and Twenty-seyenthst., and with wind
from the southeast even IN Harlem.
of the ammonia factories nj twentieth
ST. and Avcnnc-B, and IN West Eghteenth-st, near
Twelftl-aye, next heard aud claimed that with
their improved machinery no offensive smell could
escape.
The reports Of sanitary inspectors then read and
were 10 the effect that In only small number OF the
families visited the offensive OdOrs attributed to
the fatreudcrug establishments. DIR. Bryant IecOm-
mended that the permit Of D. Van lderstinc Co.. at
Tnirty and EcveDth-ave, be revoked. They
state He also recommended that the rendering OF NUT
ton rat by VI. DUnOhUe Co., ana the oil refining by
Cook Brothers, at Nos 5O1 and 800 West ThTtYcightL
ST., be stopped.
asked in regard 10 the petition sent In bv
Mr.. Musgravc, and said that he had sent circular
the sigurTS asking for more definite information. III
this manner he had found that several names had been
used without the knowledge authority OF the persons
President Chandler said the Board Of Health had been
extremely anxious TO obtain evidence by which 10 trace
these OdOrs, and wanted more. No effort would be
spared to Tree the city OF these senches