The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-10-08
POLLUTING LAKE CHAMPAIGN

The efforts of lovers of Lake Cham
plain on its western shore to keep the
waters free from the pollution from
the pulp mills ON the Bouquest and
Au Sable rivers have aroused a deep
and sympathetic interest in Vermont.
Formal complaint was made to the
New York authorities that the waters
of the lake were being polluted by the
refuse from these mills and Prof. Olin
H. Landreth of Schenectady, con-
sulting engineer of the State depart
meEt Of health was detailed, to make
an official examination. Prof, Lam
dreth has nearly completed his report
and in few days will present it to
Governor Odell Prof. Lambeth on
his tour of investigation was accom-
panied by Edward Hatch, Jr., of New
York, a large property owner in the
Lake Champlain region, and one who
has been active in the fight against
the pulp mills.
In an interview published in the
New York Times Mr. Hatch tells some-
thing of the result of the investiga-
tions. He said: I'VE first looked
into the pollution of the Bouquest
river by what is called the soda mill
of the New York and Pennsylvania
Company. This company uses poplar
logs, and the refuse Of tons OF chemi-
Gals is carried out into the lake. Prof.
Landreth made soundings to find out
| about the banks in the lake formed by
: this refuse-a gray precipitate. These
banks are agitared and spread through
the water every time a strong wind
blows. From the neigbhorhood of the
Bouquest River we went along to
Willsborough Bay, and on the shores
and the point we found the same con
ditions of pollution apparent. Au
! Sable River water looked like coffee,
and has such a fetid odor that it made
one of the women III the party ill. A
dog we had with us refused TO drink
the water, and even the cattle, we are
| told, will not drink it. Moreover,
the hackdrivers at Au Sable Ohasm
| told us that visitors were now MOTTO
! ing the cdor from the water.
The water mains of the village of
Keseville are known to have become so
clogged with the refuse from the mills
that much of the force Of the water
has been lost. The attention of the
insurance companies has been called
to this feature of the case, and their
representatives are now making an
examination with the view to cancel
ing policies or raising large rates if
the reports are substanuiated. The
chemical deposit is not soluble. 1t is
precipitate, and sinks to the bot
tom, but is of such light specific gray
ity that the slightest disturbance Of
the water will suspend it and send it
to discolor and befoul the shores The
State chemist of Vermont tells me that
after each west wind quantities OF
dead fish come ashore, and the pecul-
lar odor and taste of the water in
Burlington is due to the same cause.
The stones on the shore of -Four
Brothers Islands and Marlborough
Point are covered with slime, and
have seen long streak of the pollu-
tion as it spread itself in milky
way on its travels down the lake. ,"
Mr.. Hatch said that the mill own
ers asserted that although they had
spent enormous sums of money for the
purpose. they could not dispose OF
the baneful residuum. but added:
"The position of the mill owners is
simply one of dollars and cents. 1t is
conceded that the refuse can be dis
posed of in other ways, but in no way
so cheaply as by dumping it into
! the stream on which the mills are To-
Gated, and so for financial reasons
| they are likely to continue the prac
: tice until compelled to stop it,
To prove that the refuse can be dis
, posed of without damage to thu
streams or lake Mr.. Hatch stated thai
r the mi lis at Ticonderoga and elsewher'
? have solved the problem, at the cos
l of thousands of dollars, and he is o
t the opinion that the other establish
3 ments can do the same if they are s
! disposed.