The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-04

There was a large audience at the meet
Ins OF the board OF aldermen, yesterday
afternoon, and the spectators were all
personally Interested I'm the early and
most important part OF the proceedings
consideration OF the petition OF William
III. Harris and others relative To the oil
works OF the Phetteplace company on
South Angel street.
Promptly at o'clock, Mayor Granger
rallied TO order eight members OF the
hoard. the two absentees being Alderman
Reynolds and winsor. The minutes OF
tho previous special meeting az read by
City Clerk Clarke were read and approved
md then the aldermen settled down to
business as n board OF health.
Rathbone Gardner, Esq. represented the
petitioners, while the Interests OF the
Phetteplace Olive Oil Importing company
were legally guarded by Attorneys TIL
linghast and Murdock.
BY way OF introduction Attorney Gard
uer stated that the original petition des-
ignated the remonstrants as the Phette-
place OIL company" but he would ike 10
amend by adding word or two and make
q the Phetteplaco Olive OIL Importing
company, and no objection was offered
He also explained that the petitioners
were owners or occupants or property at
the lower end of South Angel street.
They asked under Chapter % of the Gen.
al Laws OF Rhode Island that their
health and comfort be considered, that
the odors arising from the oil works were
nauseating and should be abated by de-
rlaring the WORKS nuisance.
The establishment OF the business by
the company had disturbed the comfort
ness among members or certain iamiIes
residing In the vicinity
He called as the first witness william
ii. Harris originator and first signer OF
the petition and frefH- his anxiety TO tes-
tify ne was a prejudiced and unduly par
tial witness. His deep and keenly evil
denced interest was best shown by his en-
deavor TO impress upon the board the
fact that he had lost one tenant be-
cause the latter's wife was made Ill
through the alleged offensive odors which
were sickening to a delicate stomach.
In reply TO a question by Alderman Nc
Carthy, he admitted he had not sought
relief by reporting to the superintendent
or board OF health.
FORMER TENANT TESTIFIEs.
Ernest q. Smith. former tenant OF Mr..
ainrris was the second witness, and he
and his family had lived there since June,
1890 hut he had moved out Oct. 1. only
a few DAYS ago. He had been away
snost of the time during the summer maxi
sng periodic visits TO home when his wife
would complain OF the offensive odors and
sncrc than once made her sick. The odors
were very nauseatlng and few whiffs from
an open window might make a person of
delicate stomach vomit. The intensity of
The odors depended whether the works
were running or not and the direction OF
the wind.
On cross examination he admitted that
The alleged odors had never made him
sick
Frank II. Anthony corroborated Mr..
Smith as To the nauseating character cf
she odors which on some days were ex-
sremcly bad, although he had never pass
cd more than TWO days week at his
home during the summer.
George G.. Tingiey also affirmed the
nauseating character OF the odors. He
noticed ar improvement OF late. but never
bad he or his wife been sick from the
pdors
Alvin p. Martin lives with his family
about 400 feet from the works. II was
not a decomposing animal matter smell
hut n sweet. sickenlng odor, and he had
frequent complaints from his family,
though never made sick therefrom HIM
self. lie and his family had remarkably
strong stomachs and that was probably
why they were not made 20 vomt or
visibly affected lie believed during cool
weather There wUutf be rpfirf.
Judge Sphinx testified that the odors
were not noticeable when the wind was
from the east.
George ~. Leland. house owner, testi-
fed that during the summer several OF
his tenants asserted that they could not
stand the odors and would have 10 move
away. He did not say they have as yet
moved.
]. Herbert shedd. former city engineer.
was the last witness to testify for the
petitioners. Thirty years ago he had
built I'm that locality. IL then being n
salubrioue spot and chiefly residential
until few years ago. when Industrial
plants began 90 locate In the neighbor-
hood. lie did not live there himself now
and consequently could not speak as TO
the odors. but he had received COM
plants from some OF his tenants who
said they couldn't and wouldn't stay.
Attorney Gardner stated that his re-
naining witnesses. ten or dozen. were
women snd as their testimony would be
in similar vein he would not take up
fhe time OF the board unless desired by
that body. lie would. therefore. rest.
SENSE VS.. SENTIMENT.
Attorney =. w Tilinghast one of the
rompanv's counsel said in answer 20 a
question by Alderman Vincent that there
was an odor arising from the works but
ss 20 the character OF the odor there
was q difference of opinion. The odor
would not cause sickness and the ques-
tion was whether the odor was disagree
shle or not. n II Is disagreeabie. then
the board would have = right 90 close
rhe factory. Thc company was ready 20
10 Anything that could be done TO pre-
vent the odot " has considered some
Suggestions and proposed Improvements
and va certainly willing 70 make any
reasonHbir changes 10 eliminate the al
isged 1auseating odors that the board OF
hesith might deem proper.
m reply 10 asQne~tion OF Alderman
Davis A. 70 the employees Attorney TIL
liIghast asserted that Tho employees of tho
works we're al hcaithful and no case OF
illncse direct or Indirect haf been report
81 Even one OF tho employees admitted
the dcrire ~ enjoying y vacation hut
could not ask FOR one ON tho ground Of
hcaifh.
~ u evident tho compsny's position e.
fair and reasonable one. ready 10 make
sndicious and mutual concessions, or,