New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-24
A PESTILENOE or STENCHES.

THE NUISANCES AT HUNTERS POINT.
AN INVESTIGATION BEGUN BY COMMITTEE OF THE
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH-INoUIRiEs OF THE
SANITARY REFORM sOCIEIY--wHAr CAUSES THE
NUIsANCEs.
The special committee appointed by the State
Board of Health to investigate the nuisances at
Hunters Point and Is vicinity held its first session
Yesterday at the rooms OF the Sanitary Reform So
cietv. No 40 Fourth-ave. L he investigation orlgl-
mated in n petition presented to Governor Cornell
last December and signed by over 100 prominent
citizens of New-YOrk among whom were the officers
of the New York Sanitary Reform Society Howard
Potter Judge Charles Z. DAILY, Cornelius Wander
bilt William h. Dodge, jr, DIR. R0osa Dr. g. II.
Apnew DIR David Magic. Henry Bergh.D; Appleton
Leonard w. jerome. Adrian lselln, ana DR.. lh0mas
r Cock. The petition called the attention OF the
Governor 20 what, in the estimation OF the petition
ers we're nuisances affecting the health aud security
of the city. I hese the nOIsome aud offensive
smells generated either at Hunters Point and other
places on Long Island and carried into the CITY by
the easterlv winds, or else arising from the posecu
ZION Of offensive trades IN the city ltselI AS
the local Board OF Health was poweriess
10 procure an abatement OF the nuisance, III
was suggested that the matter De relerISu 70 tue
state Board of Health for investigation. This being
donc a committee was appointed February o, con-
sistrng of Dr.. J. Savage D,avan, of Albany, Eras-
ms Rrooks of Richmond County. and Dr. Elisha
War,s Of New York. which should have authority
10 take testimony bearing upon the question: anu
make careful investigation ol all the causes OF me
nuisance submitting report TO the state Doaru lor
action. ,o,,, ~. mann,
ing aud AT once proceeded with business, Or Deia-
van prestdiug he session was devoted TO the
reading of documentary evidence, no verbal teSti-
monv being taken. Henry h. Pelew. representing
the New-York Sanitary Reform Society, stated that
the society had taken mp as one OF us o9ects OF IN
curry the question OF nuisances, and presenter as
evidence OF the existence OF the nusances mehioned
i'm the petition letters which had been received from
monument physicians aud citizens IN response TO
series OF questions which had been sent ont OY me
society Responses were received from d.. c. X.
nr 1 I HIGGINS DIR ,Iolu Nj. HIS. Df.
Thomas +. Cock. Henry Bergh, John NJ DRAKE T.
II. Iuska, W. Is. Clarke. }. H. Montgomery, 4. ;;
Dewitt. jr., William GrAydOn, Howard l0tief ana
Sigmund Mcndelsohn, all OF whom I'VE on ne last
Side OF the city and IN the nelgbOOrhuod OF murray
Hill, where tho foul OdOrs are most common Inc
answers were found To agree IN all important par
tculars the Odors being prevalent at all times wheh
moist casterly and sOutheasterlY WINDS pteNalleu;
The odnrs were stated to DO suiiOcatlng ana
disgusting in their nature, ana not eaSi-
~ rcspirabie. Those arising from petroleum
waste gas works, saughter-hOuscS Dhosphates useu
IN ferizng. tat and Oilal rendering ESTABLISHMENTS
and chemical works combined tOiproduce slenCn
which was uncomfortable TO those iYlng III the districts
affected by IT,. Although no case vi 9iINi'oS, 90
directly traceable 10 tins source IL was ne SeI"i
oplntOn among physicians that mucn l!I-hcaIln TO-
snted not only from directly lnhalng tue injected
atmosphere, but also from the TACT that WINE Vne
odors preyaed doors and windows could not be
kept open without tho greatest annoyance; thns
cansIuR sickness by insufficient ventilation IN the
case of nvahds and sensitive persons sickness was
undoubtedly aggravated by breathing the foul AIR,
many such cases having occurred IN tho experience
of physicians. . ..... ...,..l .. Az,
New-York Board of Health prior TO that presented
IN Governor Cornell read, IN which the grey
ances resulting from the nuisance were fnly stated
C. f. Wmgate, engineer OF the sanitary reform
Society who was present, stated that DT' roruJc5
Blrker had declared these odors TO De Iultlui
source of disease, and that Dr. ID. Is. ST. JOhh hoosa
and Dr. j. &. PeierB had made similar statements
The committee then adjourned until D. M Wheh
| a statement was made by DR.. Elisha Brooks IN re-
gard 10 the nusanCes exIstiDgln nRlsanu GitytOi
which he made a personal investigation IN 1917
r,rt of land from three to four miles IN length ana
| t,yo miles wide, extending along DOM Sues OI
Newtown Creek ho said, was devoted To industries
Inch had been crowded out OF the metropolis ana
| adioining cities account OF ther Offensive cu1I
| acier For distance OF three and haI IDlles tue
low swalnpy ground along the creek ana us nulner
| nns estuares was covered with timex deposit oI
ndrscrl babe filth, which at low tide emitted Tue
rn and slckenng od0Ts that were earned across the
ut River TO New York, Sludge acld, inc waste
- n,troleum and the refuse from the numerous Ter
| til,pcr factories chemical works ana glue
| facIories made up the mass OF the deposit
| n was Thought that with proper care ths acclnn
| iotion of refuse might be avoided anu espeIa,iy
! The nefroleum waste which coud be recovered anu
| m'cd IN tho dissOlying OF phosphate eartns
| Murray HILL that part OF the city comes
| more directly under the influence OF tue
| nuisance Brooklyn IS not 80 huch ahecteu, dS
1Lc winds which come from the nGrth are genctIl,S
! DIV thus reducing the eilluylum by Oxluaton. ~,
Harris also offered paper on tillVl1lln husees ~
dlflcrcnt localities, prepared Dy hmseii' " 10 'iN
| hailed i'm the report OF the committee. -. 400
| Tie next session will be held Saturday at C3O
| a