The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-17
Testimony Regarding an
Alleged Nuisance.
Hearing in Opposition to the
DegraS Chemical CO.
One Complainant Stated That He
Had Been Threatened.

A public hearing was given yesterday
afternoon In the city hall on the petition
OF a large number of citizens, ask ing
that nuisance existing in their vicinity
be abated. The nuisance referred TO was
q nauseous odor, which the people
claimed emanated from the works Of the
American Degras 4 Chemical Company.
This company uses the wool scourings
from the various mills in that vicinity,
and extracts from them kind OF OIL, also
fertilizer. Ii is claimed by the residents
of this section that this process causes
smell, which is ill-conducive to health,
to be emitted from these works
The petition was presented some time
ago and the Board of Aldermen appointed
a committee of its members, consisting
of Alderman Darcy, chairman, Aldermen
Burbank and Mccarthy, TO act as
board OF health. Alderman Darcy called
the meeting to order about 4:l5. ma
jority of the committe were present,
Alderman Mccarthy being the only one
absent.
Attorney Wilson represented the petit
TONERS, while lawyer Charles l.. Stearns
looked after the company's interests.
City Solicitor Baker was also there TO rep
resent the city's interests. Dr.
Chaplin, superintendent OF health, read
the petition, after which lawyer Wilson
opened for the people. General Wilson
said that, personally, he did not know
anything about the matter, but he had
head from a good many citizens that the
company in their line of business, main
tanned a nuisance. The attorney said that
when the works were burned down, con-
ditions were all right, but just as soon as
the works were built up again the naus-
eating smells commenced.
al Hiram u
Tor, who acts as agent for Thomas
Grimes and Thomas Booth, who own
property In that section. Mr.. Taylor stat
ed that he has lived on Harris avenue for
16 years His house was about 100 feet
away from the Degrss Company's Works,
which are situated on the corner OF VAL
ley and Eston streets. lie said that the
stencil arising from the company's works
was such that he was obliged TO close
the windows when the wind was blow
ing from the west. He also said that
tenants of the house he had in charge
were obliged to move away on account
of the smell, ana that all the tenants
complained to him of the nauseating
smell.
When asked what kind OF a smell 1t
W as ne replied that it smelt like "stew-
ing sheep manure
George Cameron was called. He said
he lived on Valley street three years, but
moved on account of the stencil. Mrs.
Robinson said she had to move for the
same reason.
Mr.. Hatfield OF % Valley street was
then called. lie said he had lived 10
years at % Valley street, but had not
noticed the smell until this year. When
asked by Attorney Stearns what kind "
a smell il was he replied that IL was
a stink and that's all there was to it.
Hezekiah Matteman was called. lie
saiu he used to live at 8 Esten street
bur had moved on account OF the stencil.
Mr.. Magno of AZ Valley street was
then calico. He said that he could not
have his windows open these warm days
on account OF the smell. He said the COM
pany ran seven days in the week, night
and day and tnat all the time it was run
ming he could smell this nauseous odor.
Quite a sensation was produced when Mr..
MagDo said that the superintendent of
the Degras Company had tried to intimi-
date him from coming to the hearing.
When asked by Lawyer starns what the
man Shame was and what he said, MIR.
Magno replied, "His name is Boscom.
lie said that for a man of my position ii
would be better not to speak about it. F."
Concluding Mr.. Magno sale, 81 will give
any gentleman here 30 and board for a
week IL he will eat aaj sleep where do. I"
Several other witnesses were called,
who said substantially the Same as the
previous witnesses.
Mr. cameron was then called, who stat
ed that he was q physician and surgeon
of 10 years practice and that he lived
400 feetaway from the works, but even
as far away as that he said that he had
been made sick mornings by the smell
so that he had TO lose his break fast.
He testified that such smell rs that
coming from the company's works was
dangerous to the health OF any one livi-
ng in the vicinity. After DIR. Cameron's
testimony the hearing was adjourned.
The company will lie given an oppor-
trnity TO reply later.