The sun., 1916-08-29
GARBAGE FIGHTERS
BACKED BY EXPERTS
state investigation Begun
INTO disposal Plant on.
staten Island.
OvTBlRSTS At MEETING
Fear Expressed That Drip
pings From ScOws Would
COntaminate Wells.
OrTBl RSTS At MEETING

Testimony 10y expert sanitary engl-
or,rs and health authorities from other
States marked the opening OF the state
inyts,.gAtlon into the garbage disposal
pl,u, on slater Island. which began
Yesterday In borough Hall. st. George.
TIE hail vas crowded with members
o., the Women's An'i-Garoage League
s.d several hundred State Island tax
ta,cr. bent ON having the proposed plant
declared a nuisance.
The n~ves;igit.on was In charge OF
p.laty stat" Health Commissioner
Iusy Y. williams. assisted by Prof
" n. Whippie Of Harvard Inc Deputy
Aforementioned George II. Chamber
l.lu. District Attorney Albert &. Each
OF richmond represented the people.
ralscy and Lewis were counsel for the
METROPOLITAN Ey-products Company. the
contractors. and Assistant Corporation
Caursei CSiitend-n for New York city
corrict.d the array Of legal talent.
The meeting was not without frequent
ol,iIrsts from some OF the more spir-
ial members Of the anti-garbage forces
pA,1 kent tAc hearing IN an uproar.
Az st the testimony OF Charles Van
Elton. Vce-presideut Of the Metropoli-
tn by. Products Company, that the dis
ro,Ai plant would not be Objectionable
tie taxpayers produced statements from
various experts showing that the con-
,;-uction of the plant not only would
b. obnoxious to the residents on the
island but would constitute a serious
menace to their health and welfare.
lr John Il. Hicks Of the United
gtlies Amy Medical College. now serv-
lns under the Health officer Of the Port
O. New York. said that after "A detailed
Inspection OF Il similar plant at New
Bedford. Mass. he VAS convinced the
coas:ruction of n disposal plant on
Staten Island would lie a nuisance. He
sad the garbage would be sure to at
,-sct flies. which would materially aid
n Tie spreading ~ disease on the ISL
and and that garbage had always been
considered an indirect carrier of disease.
1T is ny opinion" concluded DIR.
n Ks, that garbage has been one of
The greatest causes ~ the spread OF
TIE presen; intantile paralysis epidemic.
! believe = garbage disposal plant here
would become "A nuisance within a very
snort time"
Henry l.. Morrison. Commissioner Of
Public Works of Richmond. said drip
prrS from garbage scows as the waste
matter was being transported to the
'ssrd would "onta'nirate th. waters
shou' the island and find their way
mo many OF the artcs!an wells. lie
sid they would also contaminatc the
water in the Kill van kull.
Another expert. J. +. Forbes. assistant
chemist in the Massachusetts State
Health Department, said that "swill
liduid' was obnoxious. odorous and in
'%grous." lie said that at the New
n-ls .M1 .l..s H., --.1 n
tec,ed within a radius of almost two
miles, and that after a personal visit
there he went away with the odor
OH clinging TO his clothing.
"ln talking to workmen at the New
Bedford plant continued Mr.. Forbes.
"l found that many OF them could not
work long without becoming III from
H. Elects of constantly breathing the
GLORIOUS fumes and gases generated dur
!rg the disposal OF the waste"
August +. Hanson. a sanitary en-
fuecr and specialist on water. testified
MAJ especially during storms there
would he larg" quantities OF ~drippings
from th" garbage scows. He pointed
70 'he statements of other experts who
Preceded him on the stand as to what
ihe results Of this would be.
While the examination of witnesses
continued. it was learned that In case
M proposed plant Is declared to be a
nu.sauc" the state Health Department,
VIII refuse To grant a permit for It's
coos'ruct.Ou. a. IL has sole Jurisdiction
90 matters Of this kind. District Attor-
ny Each announced after the hearing
ma more EXPERTS will he called to-day
'nd that he believes the Staten
Islanders will win their fight TO KEEP
IN, plant on the site at Lake Island.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Chitten.
don 80 first declared that the State in.
'es' sat.on vas improper. as it con,
oern"d only the city OF New York. and
moved that the investigation be dis
continued at once. His motion was de-
'ed
Inc hearing will continue to-day be.
're Deputy Commissioner Williams.