Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-12
Water along the West Shore Said
to Be Poisoned by Two
Pulp Mills.
from Factories Alleged to Be Killing
Tons Of Fish - Political "Pull"
Rumorsd-Procsedi ngs to stop
Alleged Destructive Agencies.

An Albany despatch to the New York
Herald says: Proceedings are about to be
begun by residents along Lake Champlain
against the pollution of the lake by two
pulp mills, which, It is alleged, have sue
ceeded in evading the law against the
pollution of waters in which game fish
are to be found.
Complaints are being prepared for pres
entation to the forest, fish and game com
mission and the the State board Of
health of this State. Appeal is to be
mado to the Vermont authorities to take
action through the United States courts
to restrain the continuance Of the abuse.
1t Is asserted by property owners along
the lake that poisonous substances are
being discharged from the Bouquet and
Ausable rivers in such large quantities
that unless the practice is stopped fishing
in the lake will be ruined within few
years.
All attempts to put a stop to the pollu-
ton have failed. Major j. Warren Pond.
chief game protector of tho forest, fish
and game commission. knows that the pol
luton is going on, but asserts tina. the
law is inadequate to end it. This law.
which is section Sc of the statutes relat-
ing to forests, fish and game, reads:
WORDING OF THE STATUTE.
mo dye stuff coal tar, refuse from a
gas house. sawdust. shavings, tan bark,
lime or other deleterious or poisonous sub
stance shall be thrown or allowed to run
into any waters, either private or public.
in quantities destructive of fish inhabit
ing the same"
Violation of this section may be punish
ed as a misdomeanor under the penal
code. Major Pond asserts the difficulty
lies in proving to the satisfaction of the
courts that poisons have been permitted
to enter the water in sufficient quantities
to kill the fish.
las it stands the law is practically a
dead letter" he said. Repeated at
tempts have been made to strengthen it.,
but there have always been opposition in
tere9ts powerful enough to prevent any
change"
Residents who are complaining Of the
poisoning of tho lake do not agree with
Major Pond that sufficient evidence cam
not be obtained to prevent pollution, IT
least by the mill which is located on tho
Bouquet river.
This Ia " hat is known as soda mill III
the manufacture Of pulp il uses poplar
logs and it consumes many tons Of che
micals every day. These chemicals. when
discharged into the river are carried by
the current n distance of three miles INTO
the lake and are suspended there in tho
form of gray precipitates.
The mill has been in operation since 1870.
Soon after it started Major Pond brought
| an action against it, which resulted in an
alleged promise on the part of the own
| ers that they would construct n pool to
| collect the chemicals discharged from
their mill.
III spite Of this alleged promise, the evil
continued until Governor Roosevelt 8
| term when the forest, fish and game com
| missioner employed special counsel and
| brought another action.
Hundreds of tons of fish had been kill
l
shore or remained in the water still fur
Their adding to it's pollution. Experiments
with the water of the river below the mill
showed that fish placed in 1t were able to
live only ono mute and three quarters.
The discharge into the lake in some
places had formed deep banks along the
shore. into which pole might be thrust
for twenty or thirty feet before reaching
the bottom.
POISONOUS BANKS.
These poisonous banks lay so loosely
| that whenever the water was agitated or
| the current was stronger than usual they
| dsntegrated and became mixed with the
water of the lake.
When all the evidence of violation had
been compiled an action against the mill
was brought in the county court and the
| case was so strong that the defendants
compromised. On their promise to offend
| no longer. the action was discontinued.
Soon afterward the forest, fish and
| game commission was merged with the
| forest preserve board. a new set of off
| Gals took control and the owners Of the
| mill. it is alleged, forgot their promise.
The mill on the Ausable river uses
spruce timber in making its pulp and
employs large amounts of sulphurous
acid gas.
| This mill is moro than ten miles from
/ th. l,a rt,r -
| keesevi'le formerly drew its supply of
| water from the river. but the stream be
| came polluted to such an extent that il
| lad to be abandoned. owners of the
mill admitted their responsibility by Of
ferinG to find the village another source
Of water supply.
| CANNOT SAFELY DRINK THE
WATER.
| Lake Champain has always been noted
| for the purity Of its water. Il has beer
| considered a possible source of supply
4 so