New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-11
BARREN ISLAND DOORS.
CONFLICTING TESTIMONY BEFORE THE
STATE HEALTH BOARDS COMMITTEE.


STATE HEALTH BOARDS COMMITTEE.
The Investigation inso the alleged Barren Island
nulsances was continued before tho special COM
nittee appointed by the State Board OF Heauh IN
the rooms 0: the Health Dcpar' ment Yesterday
At the last hearing. held a week ago inc Ns"-
mony went to show that the principal place com
pained Of the Barren Island FeruHzer anu
OIL Company. According TO the testimony az sew
era Witnesses the FISH factory as It was re-
fcrred to- Is worse than a nuisance. ana is most
Injurious 10 the health Of the persons living WITHIN
q radius Of several miles o. it.
Henry H. Finlay a resident Of Sheepshead Bay,
was :ne first witness lie said that he owned
property at ShecpshcGd Bay about -FOUR nliles
from Barren Island. M Finlay said ne had visited
Barren Island and the plants of several OF the re
Guc!ng' factories there.
"IIow about the odor arising from these places?
asked Commissioner Cassidy.
q at is terrible" was tho reply. 1.-The awful smell
arising from the Ash and oil factories is sicken-
o ing II will produce a sick headache IN few
minutes When the wind Is blowing from Barren
Island VIC are compelled 10 close our windows and
doors"
DR. Samuel Kohn health officer of Arverne. said
that he bad visited Barren Island. and described
she condition of tho island. He said that In some
parts Of IT the filthy water and muck were hub
deep a carriage "The stenchcs arising from the
factories" said Dr. Koin. "aro horrible and arc
unhealthful. The buildings OF the Sanitary Utiliza-
tion Company are not what call modern. ana
the stencil easily escape during the process
Of rendition"
% do you know of any person who has been made
I'll by the odors from Barren Island?' was asked
'Yes sir was the reply. 81 have been called to
visit several persons at Arverne who have been
made violently III from the stencil from Barren
Island i firmly believe that the odors from these
y factories very injurious to health"
Commissioner Waring the next witness. The
Commissioner said that he had studied the various
'arts of disposing Of garbage for fourteen months
and had finally awarded the contract 10 the SAM
tary Utilization Company. He had also studied the
different localities and concluded that Barren ISL
.end was the only available place about New-York.
This plant is the largest Of its kind in the
world said Colonel Waring, land 1t would neces-
earily take time TO perfect the machinery and the
plant. / have the power to compel the company
TO make any changes necessary. | have ordered
several and my orders have been carried out
Commissioner Waring said he had visited Barren
Island several times. and while he found the door
arising from the Sanitary Utilization Company not
the most pleasant he did not think 1t was as bad
, as painted. II can't conceive" said he, that
person could be made i'll by the odor even while in
side the factory.
The Commissioner said that he had his expert
visit Barrsn Island at least three times eacn week
constantly undergoing fresh Improvements
anspv ~ zson Company and the value Of the
output preached Colonel Waring refused TO
give M 5ayns na, that hs he
ed in the company When De Lancey NlcoH toIo
f. the Commissioner that the company was losing
money however Colonel Warins smiled knowingly
and murmured Nit.
"Rut MIR White tells me that this is a fact" re-
Wei. Mr.. White might tell his lawyer that, but
he wouldn't tell me So came back Colonel war
: tng's answer. evoking laugh; Ill.,, - rar
Mrs Mary Weinberg said she had lived on bar
rem Island several years and had raised big fam-
! Ibid you ever smell any dsagreeable odors on
the island?" asked Mr.. Cassidy.
"Oh, no. was the answer . ,.
. Mrs Mary Henchel. another resldent. OF bdi ,eh
Island. said she never knew OF case OF IilesS re-
eult!ng from odors from the factories Mrs. hen i
chel created surprise by saying that her sster Hap
been ordered by her physician 10 so TO barren ISL
and for her health. ...az s,o,a
DR. J. S Boynton occupied the wltness-stdnd
when the proceedings were resumed aller itCes'.
The doctor lives in Canarsie ana ne wds fg Drr
called to attend nve cases OF diphtherla on bdIre
ls.aud He did not believe that the disease VS.
caused by the odors from the factories IN ldrii'
DR. Boynton did think the doors from the Isl
and had any evil effect on health ne a'th nor
however that they very strong and uncom-
Dr. w 4 Tromer Of Canarsie testified that the
general. health of the people on barren ,sad d we S
3. the working methods of the hsh factories h any
when he pulled out a package OF Sanles W hr
he had obtained at the factory on Ihurr,iay IT, IT,
was general movement toward tne w. ~ Lan
heimer compared the fish factory odor 10 nihpur-
Ger cheese he Indignantly defended the GhteSs,' u
fromer told of having gone 10 lhe lsiau .ast
March when there dense fog Inc ony wa
r they could ma the place was -
% The testimony was closed yesterday. and law
yers for the defence will have hVe Gays lo' sun
uniting briefs