New-York tribune., 1903-03-15

The owner of Riverside house who found
last summer that he could not open his windows
for the cool evening breezes without filling the
rooms with fumes blown thither from Ne"-J'r-
sey wrote to Commissioner Lederle OF the
New-York Health Department to prevent the
continuance Of such a nuisance, if possible"
Although Mr.. Lederle that it lay beyond his
Jurisdiction, nevertheless. he asked the NeF|-
Jersey State Board of Health to investigate
and take some action. The Jersey authorltl"S
sent inspectors to the scene of trouble, VINO
watched the factory chmneys of WeehaWk"n
and Edgewater, along the river front, and tt'!
reported that nothing could be done. They SAID
that the fumes and smoke rose 50 high aboN"
the Palisades that they caused no annoyance I"
Jersey folk and accordingly there ground
for action.
But the dwellers in riverside Drive continual
to murmur. The coal strike had ended. and still
the smoke which waited into their win
dows was just as black and thick. The fumes
Of various chemicals were just as pungent.
Many complained from time to time that the
acid fumes infamed the membranes Of the
throat and nose, and made them cough An
appeal was made to the West End Association
to investigate and take some means to ch"' *
the nuisance. After much discussion it was
decided that action should be taken either
in the federal courts or in an enactment of Com
gress, and committee is now preparing to take
the proper legal step.
A view of the opposite shores of the Hudson
River for this part of its channel affords 4 tr''-
mendous contrast. On the Manhattan side frr'.n
Stventy-sccond-st. to Grants tomb stands
long wall of terra GOTTA granite and mar hI.
composed of palatial dwelling houses, huge
apartment hotels and here and there VIII,
Occasionally there are to be found N""IHt
squares. where the foundations of som.
structure such as the new h"ln" cf Ch'irI-: NJ,
SchWab, are being laid. which will ;t.!l s;.I
further to the snl"ndor of the thor u.hi Ir'..
Along the driveway fashion and wealth axe
abroad IL carriages and automobiles. and t..'u-
sands of pedestrians crowd the walk every
fine day.
On the New Jersey shore stretches v.ist ,"!-
ony of factories. In one place, for example. =
plant for the manufacture OF glucose the Chi'n-
neys Of which rcck with the ud"r Of fish a:l! III.
Not far distant the works of a lard Refinery,
which makes the atmosphere ll'nt with the
smell of grease. \ t:tnncry watts up the f,.,ii
odor of unsolson,d hides. and from the l"H
chimneys of chemical work. arise tn" I..".
yellow fumes Of suphuric, uIurItir. acctir and
other purgtnt acids
Back of the chemical v:,rI Ks. which l!rlui',
the General Chemical tunI'any, and Mhl'h .ire
situated opposite Dne-hundrrd and -thir': L.
Manhattan rises Il spur Il the Palisades. 1ha
trees which used to cluthr this slope '.': i.
Edgewater citizens say that not only VcG.'"!i.
but animal life has been stricken, and '!It
poultry near the works died from the fUurA
after their combs had grown white like p,i"rs
Although th"S,. gas = are not as great III N"! 9
as those from other plants. they far
penetrating and do not seem lose their pun
gency they travel.
When the win0 is due west the acid =. ,.s
strike the N"w-York shore near the fcot f
one hundred,hst a slight shift of the hi.-:e
into the north carries them far d.'Nl.
Seventy second ST, ut the beginning e IN:
driveway, While i southwest wind hioi., tn
into the residential district around ttr,!.tS
tomb. To suffering; with asthI,,. it...:t'r
where he may live i'll Riverside Drive. tt!.
fumes are to come and half suftucat" t.:t.-
Such is the testimony of many before the W"at
End Association.
The officers of the companies operating : t,-
tories in Wechawken and Edgewatcr argue that
these chimneys do emit smoke g,..,,s