Evening journal., 1895-06-19
THE VERY SAME SMELL
That is What the Physicians
Said
AT TIE LIEBIg WORKS TO-DAY


Board Of Health, Executive omcers and
Reporters Nose Through and About the
Liebig Chemical oompans's works,
Locate the Obnoxious Fumes and Now
New scheme win Tried.
at noon to day, in response to the
pressing invitation of Attorney Lewis @
Nsndegrift and Vice President Gibbons,
Of the Llebig Chemical Company, the city
Board OF Health, In company with the
executive officers and reporters, made
complete tour OF the big phosphate plant,
where the acid products are now made
Mr. Gibbons was there to courteously
receive his official visitors and he and
Mr. Vandegrift ia company with the
foreman, escorted the company all
through the factories, from the
Christigns wharf, where the schooner
/ James Baird is discharging cargo Of
| phosphate rock from Charlestown, S Q.
The Process Of Manufacture.
From the vessels the rock is trans
ferred to a clean and airy storehouse
wheTe this raw material is prepared for
grinding The rock is put through
n
expelled from two indoor chutes, as fine
as -four
Mr.. Gibbons stated that the company
/ is exsrting every effort TO save all the
dust that now fills the rooms This
would be an economical move for the
company If it could be retained.
Discovered What Caused the Smell.
When the department was reached
where the ground rock comes in contact
with a spray of sulphurie acid 1t was
realized beyond question that there was
the spot where the odor that has been
demoralizing Wilmington and Whining
tonians originated
When the acid falls upon the rock, the
most pungent smell arises. but the fumes
are generated and drawn mp BY force
draught. there being a wide wooden fue
co conduct the powerful odor to the first
tower.
Ths fumes pass through three towers
reaching far above the buildings roof.
When well up in the odors are washed
by an overwhelming spray Of water,
passing through all these towers.
An air-pressure pump With the tire
mendous power OF 600 gallons a minute
draws water from the Christiana and
shoots 1t up in the lofty tower to fall
heavily upon the blast Of air from the
acids
Where the waste water lows bach
into the Christiana, 1t was ascertained
that strong ana repulsive fumes escaped
under the pier only to arise on the creeh
and spread over the city.
Mr.. jenkins Suggests 10 Burn It.
When this was found, Joseph Jenkins
OF the Board Of Health addressed Vice.
President Gibbons OF the company
saying
Mr.. Gibbons, would 1t not be posslbis
to burn these fumes ard thus deadau
the strong odoI?'
Mr. Gibbons-"You mean after thl
fumes have passed through this process.
OF washinRg'
Mr.. Jenkins ~ "Yes woulS
be eR.ilys overcome in this way
Heat would certainly destroy wha
wstsr could not. ia this case Now thi
c ~, Pyle Company, although the,
removed their patent leather factory
away out OF tie city, found that th
only way they could dispose Of bad odor
about the place was to burn the air
Mr. Gibbons-"Your suggestion, sir, Il
an excellent one and we will sat about
trying it once Yes, see your idea a
once and understand how tina
can be easily done We can take th
fumes by force draught and carry then
into the Goals in our furnaces, thus con
dsnsing what is left from the washers
Accordingly, word was sent to th
superintendent and he was instructed Il
construct q hue at once, carrying
the odorlferous blast into th
hot Goals Mr. Gibbons said that every
thing would be done to conquer the smell
/ and no expense would be spared
Among he inspecting party were DI
joan P Wales, Dr.. Lewis, DR.. Abram
Frantz, City Engineer James Wilson
Registrar w. O. R. Colquhoun
Executive Officers Mcdowell and Jane
B Tucker, City Solicitor George A
Elliott, Attorney Lewis Q Yandegrift