The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-05-24

Finance-Rev j. w. Pontius.
State of Religion and Morals-Rev. F. w.
Bald
| The rest of the session yesterday was occu'
| pied with the hearing of parochlal reports by
| the pastors and elders representing the various
charges.
Yesterday evening a service was held in the
| interest of home missions, at which an ad-
| dress was delivered by Rev. D. U. Dittmar,
/ formerly field secretary of the Board OF Home
Missions of the General Synod. The altar
| service was conducted by Rev. DR.. E. R.
Eschbach, president of the Board of Home
| Missions of the General Synod, and Rev. J.
| P. Harner, of Cavetown.
The Pollution Of the North Branch OF
the Patapseo River.
| The following letter is from DR.. Marshall
| Langton Price, secretary of the State Board
of Health and is in regard TO the pollution of
the stream that leads from Tannery to Car
rollton by the Carroll Oak and Tanning Co.
and the Duffy Distilling Co. This article was
written to DR.. Charles r. Foutz, health officer
| for Carroll county, after thorough investiga'
ton of both the tannery and distillery the first
part of this month by Drs. Price and Foutz,
and samples of the water and filth were taken
| to Baltimore by DR.. Price and properly ster-
| ilized and a statement below of his views will
| be found from the investigation. This article
will interest all the people who live on the
North Branch ofthe Patapsco River and also
in this county. The distllery seems to be the
more offensive of the two. Following is the
| report:
State Board of Health of Maryland. /
Baltimore, May 6, 1907.
DR.; Chas: R. Fouz, Health officer of Carroll County,
Westminster. Md
Dear Doctor Foutz =
/ am sending herewith an opin.
ion upon the alleged pollution of the North Branch
Co. and the A McGinnis (Distilling) Co.
From the action and petition previously present.
ed to you it appears that relief is asked for upon
the following grounds:
% The destruction of fish in the waters of the
North Branch of the Patapsco River.
(2) Nuisance caused to persons living upon the
banks of the said river by the existence of offensive
or unwholesome Odors caused by the drainage of
the said Carroll Oak Tanning Co. snd A. McGinnis
Co.
Branch of the Patapsco River by the Carroll Oak
Tanning Co. and A. McGinnis Co.. whereby such
waters are rendered unfit for drinking and domestic
purposes.
Upon the first point would advise that the sani-
ary authorities of this State have no jurisdiction.
and for this and other specified in my inter-
view with you, consideration of this point should
be ignored by the State Board of Health and the
Health Board of Carroll County.
Upon the second point. the petitioners may seek
relief either by civil suit in equity by petition to
the Local or State Board of Health for abatement of
Secs a. rs &C. II of Art. 49, Code of Public General
Laws of Maryland, 1904.
The most important statute of which the viola
ton is alleged is Sec. 429 of Article 81 Code OF Pub
lie General Laws of Maryland, 1914. This section is
Section 429. eff any person shall put or cause to
be placed any dead animal, or part of the carcass
of any dead animal, or any decayed or filthy animal
or vegetable matter, into any stream the tribu-
tary of any stream well, spring. reservoir. pond or
other source from which water or ice is drawn.
taken used for drinking domestic purposes, or
shall knowingly suffer any sewage, washings or
other offensive matters from any privy, cesspool,
factory trades establishment, saughter.house tan,
merry, or other place. over which he shall have con.
troll to flow therein, or into any drain or pipe
fnv etv town VILLAGE comny,nii v heahpRS
is fouled rendered unfit for drinking and domes
tic purposes, he shall be guilty of misdemeanor
and shall, upon conviction thereof in q court of
competent Jurisdiction. be fined not more than Two
Hundred Dollars for every such offense; and after
the State Board of Health, or any local sanitary
authority. to discontinue the act whereby such
water supply Is louied the 1urther sum OF not more
than Fifty Dollars for every day during which the
offense is continued"
Proceedings may be had under this section either
by prosecution in the criminal courts, by "rea.
sOnable notice not exceeding fifteen days" from the
State or Local Board of Health to discontinue the
act whereby such water supply is fouled.
Upon investigation made with you upon Nav 4th.
1907, find as regards The Carroll Oak Tanning CO.
First-That the said firm is corporation engaged
in the tanning of hides and the manufacture of
leather situated in proximity to the bank of the
Secondhand the said firm employs in removing
the hair from the hides of animals used in the
] of lime unslaked or saked. (Ca O. II. ~
Third-That the said firm employs in the process
of tanning solution of white oak bark (Quercus
Alba)the essential principle of which is tannic acid
and solution of southern manufacture from chest
nut wood of similar nature.
Fourth-That the said firm discharges daily into
a small stream communicating with the North
Branch of the Patapsco River at distance of about
| 100 yards the contents of several tanning tanks
containing strong solution of tannic acid and the
contents of several rinsing tanks containing in So
Fifth-That the said firm discharges at irregular
intervals. not less than once monthly the contents
of several tanks containing solution of lime into
pond or sink, bordering on the said North Branch
| of the Patapsco River, not now communicating
siIthSThat the said firm DISCHARGES da wI iato
! the North Branch of the Patapsco River through
the small stream before mentioned, the human ex:
crement derived from closets built over the said
small stream and used by all of the employees of
said firm.
has violated Section 429 of Article p of the Code of
Public General Laws of Maryland, both in causing
cnusinq permitting sewage to flow into the
North Branch of the Patapsco River and thereby
cause its fouling.
find as regards the A. McGinns Co..
First-That the said firm is corporation situated
upon the bank of the North Branch of the Patapsco
River, near Carroton Carroll county, and that the
said firm is engaged in the manufacture of rye
Second-That the said firm in the manufacture of
rye whiskey causes mash of rye and water with
yeast. or some other ferment, to ferment in large
tanks watts to produce alcohol and other extract
ives. giving the whiskey its essential flavor and
properties
when fermented, to be distilled at low tempera-
ture o produce whiskey.
Fourth-That the said firm causes the residium
OF the mash" remaining after distillation to dis
charge through an open drain into the waters of
the North Branch OF the Patapsco River, distance
of about one hundred yards
Fifth-That the waste material discharged from
the drain of the said firm has and disagreea-
BILE odor.
the Patapsco River have at Carrollton and some
distance above and below sour, penetrating and
seventh-That the said A. McGinnis Co. has
violated the provisions of Section 429 of Article 43
th sad to flow If from the
Branch of the Patapsco River, thereby causing
pollution Of the stream.
| find as regards the pollution, individual and
several, produced by both companies:
First-That the waters of the North Branch of the
Patapsco River are eolored dark from a point a
| short distance below the Carroll Oak Tannery down
J to the common boundary of Carroll and Baltimore
counties.
Second-That the waters of the North Branch of
the Patapsco River have continuously, or at inter-
vals offensive odor from point short istance
below the plant of the A. McGnns Co. to and below
Third-That the waters of the North Branch of
the Patapsco River contain between the points
specified In Section a growth of the nature of an
Fourth-That the waters of the North Branch of
| the Patapsco River have been habtuaIIy used for
| domestic purposes until they became fouled and
| polluted and unfit for domestic purposes.
Fifth.That the nuisance produced involves Car
roll and Baltimore counties
| would withhold any specific opinion upon the
several parts played by the Carroll Oak Tanning
Co. and the A. McGinnis Co. upon the pollution Of
the North Branch of the Patapsco River and in the
meantime would suggest that the persons affected
apply to me by petition for action against the al.
legged pollution, and the matter will be presented
| by me to the Board at its next regular monthly
| meeting in June. Very truly yours,
MARSHALL LANGToN PRICE
| Secretary.