Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-05-09
TUNNEL WORK STOPPED.
UPPER LEHlGH COMPANY'S REPLY
TO FREELAND'S APPEAL.
Citizens of Town Met to Devise Ways
and Means to Prevent the Pollution of
the Nescopeck-A Committee Appoint
ed to Act-Work Stopped Next Day.

the Nescopeck-A Committee Appoint
ed to Act-Work Stopped Next Day.
Notwithstanding the fact that several
other meetings and attractions kept
many people away, the Cottage hall had
fair-sized audience on Monday even
ing, gathered there by the desire to do
something to prevent the Nescopeck and
Obey creeks from becoming sulphur
water streams. Hugh Malloy was
chosen chairman and d. j. Boyle secre-
tary. After brief explanation of the
reasons why the meeting was called, a
committee consisting of j. ]. Powers,
James Hough and Edward F. Hanlon
was appointed to draw up resolutions on
the subject.
While the committee was at work the
chairman gave graphic description of
the tunnel now being driven by the
Upper Lehigh Coal Company, which was
designed to carry off all the mine water
in No. colliery, and stated that this
water must naturally flow into the Little
Bear creek, then to the Obey and finally
will reach the Nescopeck, thereby des-
troying whatever purity there may be at
present in these large and beautiful
streams.
Mr.. Malloy's description of the tunnel
and the creeks was so plain that every
one present could understand the mat
ter as thoroughly as if on the ground.
He also explained that the collery is
now nearly worked out and would last
but few more years. The coal COM
pany has the land leased from the
Green Mountain Land Company, and
the tunnel Is presumably being driven
to save the expense of pumping the
water out after the coal company aban-
dons the workings. The tunnel is so
arranged that it will serve for years to
come as an outlet for all water that NAV
gather in the mine, and this poison
tainted sulphur water will flow from it
and into the creeks continually.
When Mr.. Malloy concluded discus
sion relating to the purity of the water
took place. James Bohlin contended
that the streams mentioned are not so
pure as is generally supposed, as the
sewerage of farms along the banks and
decayed animal and vegetable matter in
the creeks has already contaminated it,
This, he said, chemical analysis would
disclose. He also gave it as his opinion
that Freeland would have no occasion
to go to the Honeyhole or Nescopeck for
its future water supply, that the water
in the strata underneath the town is
sufficient to provide for population of
many times the present number of peo-
pie here and that it can be obtained
through artesian wells with consider
able less expense than by going to the
Nescopeck.
Mr.. Bohln's arguments were replied
to by the chairman and j. C. Berner,
the latter making vigorous and eo-
quent appeal to do whatever could be
done to keep the streams about us pure,
especially while their pollution is not
necessary to the company or the least
benefit to anybody. James ]. Ward,
Patrick Mcclure and others spoke in
favor of the purpose of the meeting.
l. He SOluJlOnS, WHICH were as IOllOWS,
were then reported and adopted unani-
mously:
Whereas, The Upper Lehigh Coal
Company has begun the construction of
tunnel which will drain the sulphur
water of No. slope into the Nescopeck
stream, which means the destruction of
that valuable creek; therefore be it
Resolved, That it be the sense of this
meeting to appoint committee of ten
citizens from HazletOn and Freeland, on
ways and means Of preventing the pol
luting of this creek, and furthermore
be it
Resolved, That the committee be in
| structed to wait upon the Hon. John
Lescnring and request him to have the
work discontinued; or If not the commit
tee be empowered to proceed according
to law.
The following gentlemen were ap-
pointed as the Freeland portion of the
committee: ]. c. Berner, Hon. William
r. jeffrey, James j. Ward, Joseph p
Mcdonald and Hugh Malloy. The bal
ance is to be selected from those people
of Hazleton who are interested in the
subject. The meeting then adjourned
to convene again when the committee is
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