The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-23
BUSINESS PEOPLE
NOT BEHIND BILL
Crenshaw and Smith Tell Com
mittee They Are Not Fighting
Pulp Mills on River.
COUNCIL ACTION FILED
Pollard, Anderson and Levy
Show How Water Supply Is
Polluted and Is Dangerous.

Sharp challenges TO the effect that
the people and commercial bodies of
Richmond are not behind the bill to
prevent the pollution Of streams which
are the water supplies of cities, was
thrown down last night ut the COM
mittec hearing by s. Dabney Cren-
shaw and Alvin NJ. Smith, both OF this
city. They said that the Chamber OF
commerce had not asked for the bill.
Mr.. smith. chairman Of the chambers
Committee on Mines and Minerals,
said the matter had not been referred
to his committee. and would have been
mud the chamber taken notice of il.
The Business Mems Club had done
1T thing for tue measure. he proceed
cd. lie had made il his business yes
terday to advise himself on the sub
ject, and could find nobody. outside
or the city Council who wanted its
passage.
Replying to this bombshell Assist
ant City Attorney George Wayne An
derson produced the joint resolution
Of the City Council, signed by the
Mayor. calling for the enactment of
the bill introduced by Senator y. C.
Harman and by the Richmsnd dele
cation In the House. He said this
made it the official action of the city,
the people asking for the bill through
their representatives.
Chairman Morgan +. Mills and
Graham Il. Hobson, Of the Legislative
committee. were present to urge tho
approval OF the bill.
Iiunnn Life Agninst nm Industry.
The hearing was before a joint ses-
sion of the Senate Committee on Agri-
culture, Mining ANA Manufacturing,
and the House Committee on General
Laws. Senator Charles u. Gravatt
presided. No decision was reached.
City Attorney Henry r. Pollard told
OF the investment which Richmond has
in its water plant, and the sum of
$4,000 year or more II is spending
in making tho water suitable for use.
1t seemed to he a case, he said. of life
and health and happiness against an
industry A vital principle. he said,
requires the protection of water used
for domestic purpose as the prime
necessity.
tie briefly discussed the three bills
that backed b. the City Council. re-
curing plants putting deletorious
utz bill, originally preventing sawdust
in streams and amended so as TO In
cludc acids, and the Kent bill asked
for by the State Health Department..
and giving thHt BODY control over
small watersheds. Tho Utz bill,
thought Mr.. Pollard. was intended for
tho protection OF fab AS to the Kent
measure he saw = joker in the shape
of reference TO territories of Atty
square miles. When shown that this
is now the law. he said the design was
to change II.
Large delegations representing the
Pulp mills at Covington and tanneries
mt various points were present to op-
pose the bills. w. f. Allen. OF Gov
ingtcn. said that It was strange Rich
mond was after the material dis
charged by plants. while neglectinE
In the streams, which really
cause disease. He thought this city
avoids that subjects because it would
he Itself affected. Rather than de-
stroy the industries which employ SO
many men, Richmond had better go
elsewhere for water.
CoIored by Pulp Mills.
Chief Health officer L. c. Levy told
OF tho diacoloratinn of the water as
the result of discharge of supplies
from the pulp mills. Asked as to the
sewerage, he said il soon disappears BY
oxidation. But the sulphite gets
worse. The color was Objectionable
and so was the taste. lie could not
say tina tit would do no harm, and
minute chemical substances might be
injurious TO health. Tanneries also
sent forth a bad liquid, but II was nor"
promptly oxidizcd.
X. L. Parrish told how n mill lad
been brought to Virginia which came
near going 10 West Virginia, where IL
was kept out by objections from small
fishermen.
Mr.. Anderson told of Richmond's
needs and said they should be con
sdered II the matter put in tho
water nv tile nulu mills was not de-
letcrious, they could not be prosecuted.
Evidently it was, or TIC representa-
tivcs Of those Industries would not be
here opposing the bill.
state Sanitar" Engineer Richard
Mcsscr spoke briefly for the Kent bill.
ana j. w. Chalkley called attention to
sections OF the Code which might al
ready cover part of the intent of the
Utz bill.
The committees will consider the
measures later.