The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-11
MILL WASTES
Committee Gives
a Hearing.
Several Manufacturers
Make Arguments.
Oppose Plans to Make Them
Care For Sewage.
Expense Would Drive Owners Out
of the Mill Business.
Expense Would Drive Owners Out
of the Mill Business.
Mr.. Weeden Doesn't Think Manufacturers
Should Be Treated as Aliens.

The hearing given this morning by the
committee OH Manufacturers waste in
the Common Council cham ber.was fairly
well attended by manufacturers and
lasted two hours. Chairman George l..
Vose presided and nothing definite was
done except an agreement on the part OF
the wooden manufacturers present that
they would confer with City Engineer
Shedd sometime next week concerning an
arrangement between the city and the
manufacturers.
Chairman Vose stated in opening the
hearing that the committee desired to
hear suggestions from the manufacturers
as to how the waste that was now em ptied
into the streams along the banks OF
which were large manufacturing estab-
lishments, might he kept out and the
water kept clean and free from offensive
matter.
Charles ID. Owens OF the Atlantic miIls
said ne did not think the city could forca
the manufacturers to take care of their
waste, but IL they were forced to do SO it
would prove so expensive that the manu-
facturers would De driven out of business.
William b. Weeden of the We ybossct
mills, did not like the discrimination
that seemed TO be exhibited against the
wooden manufacturers. He said the
securing matter set afoat by them was
not different from that emptied into q
stream by a woman who secured an iron
pot or washed clothing only there was
only more of it. lie did not think that
becsuse the mill owners employed large
number of PEOPLE they should he treated
as aliens or step-children Of the city. Mr..
weeden also propounded a legal conun-
drum to City Solicitor Colwe!l, who was
in attendance at the hearing, as TO
whether the manufacturers could be
compelled TO take care of their waste.
City Solicitor Colwell replied that there
had been no decisions on the matter in
this state, though in other states there
had been. lie parried a question as 10
what these decisions were in other
states.
MIR. weedsn then said he could see no
difference In the condition of the wster
when his mill was shut down month
at the time of the big Olneyville strike.
Walter Ward OF the Riverside mills did
not think tnat the manufacturers should
be compelled to do anything III regard
to the matter, for there was nothing
the woo;en manufacturers could do with
out great expense.
City Solicitor Coiwell said the upper
part of the Providence river was today
In very bad condition and a menace TO
the health OF the city, but he said the
hearing was not held in a prosecutory
spirit
j. II. Southwick, Esq, said Ire had
given the matter much study and thought
the proper way out OF the trouble was to
have the manufacturers connect with the
sewers as they were built largo enough
TO accommodate waste from the mills.
Chairman vose said the city would
have TO uay $500, 0l0 for precipitation
plant ana Sl00,0CO year to keep it run
ming.
c. ID. Owen wanted TO know what part
OF this expenditure the manufacturers
were responsible for.
City Engineer She'd did not tslnk IL
advisable at present TO give 3guros, bat
that the expenditure for sewers was IN
round mum bers 5000. 600. me ordinary
sewage OF the city requires but liltIe.cere.
Mr.. owen said cheap water and no
sewer tax would do moro 10 bring the
manufacturers to the city than any other
thing.
Chairman vosc suggested that there
m lght be way 10y which The mannino-
turets could take care CT their waste
cheaper than the city could. and thus
the manufacturers save IN theit Iaxss.
Il. u. Fearce OF. the Lonsdalc chemicsi
Works said he believed the smell IN the
Providence river was chiefly due TO TIE
salt water striking the sewerage and
seemed to think that the acids put in.o