Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-26
WATCHING EXPERIMENT
WITH TANNERY Waste
interesting Test In Publication Is
Being Made Under State SUI
porvision at Luray.
WILL HELP SAVE FISH LIFE
Big Plants on Virginia Rivers Have
for Years Been Polluting the
Streams, Destroying All Fish and
Making tho Water Unfit for Use.

mo poisonous wastes which have bsen
polluting the streams throughout tho
state. Unless the experiments prove
successful. tanneries may be forced TO
close George NJ. Inman, Of -Ae Vir-
glnia Department Of Game and inland
FISHERIES, Is receiving communications
every day in regard to the inspection
ne has just ma OF the experimental
plant.
Mr.. Inman is enthusiastic over tho
success which has already resulted
from tho experiment, which was con-
quoted by H. b. Hommon, OF the United
States Public Health Service. the funds
being provided by several Of the largest
tannery operators In the State. 1t was
at tho suggestion Of Mr.. Hommon that
Mr. Imam made tho inspection. which
hau led him to tho belief that all TAN.
neries can install similar publication
plants and thereby avoid stream pol
luton, which has the people In all
parts of the State UP in arms. and
which could only be prevented other
wise by court injunctions. The injunc-
lions would prevent the plants from
operating. and would probably drive
one OF VirCinia's largest industries
elsewhere.
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN
EXPERIMENTING FOR TWO YEARS
The government, under an act OF Con-
Eress, experimental for two years In
tho publication OF Industrial wastes Of
all kinds. Engineers with broad ex-
pefience In treating sewage and indus
trihl wastes were In control Of the
work. or the studies that are OF in
terest to Virginians. the tests at De-
ford Tannery. at I,uray. are especially
Important Before the government was
willing to recommend the design for the
puTlncation plant, which would purify
all tannery wastes without technical
supervision, a small permanent unit
was built with funds provided by the
tannery This was on the theory that
the government had furnished the basic
IDEAS, and IL was the duty OF the tam
ners OF tho State to build and operate
plant under the general supervision
OF the government to try out on a largo
scale and under the supervision OF q
nonsk!llcd operator tho results that had
oeen worked out in the tests. Tho
government Is especially anxious to
and to arrive at a solution that will
meet the demands OF tho State Board
OF Health and the State Fish and Game
commissioner. 1t is also interested in
working out this problem. SO that the
industries affected with be assured that
they have the very best information
obtainable to serve as basis for con-
structng their plants
AT the close OF the tests tho De-
lord Co., OF Luray: the Leas &: Nc
why inc, Salem, and the J. r. Cover
d Sons, Of Elkton, were sufficiently in
terested IN the publication of their
waStes to appropriate enough money
70 ouild the permanent unit recon-
x Jlended by the government. This plant
mas been in operation about two
months 1t was designed to treat 10
per cent OF the wastes, and consists OF
setting tanks for mixing the various
wastes altogether in proportion to the
now from the tannery and for remov-
Ing the solids. and filters for oxidiz.
Ing or purifying the impurities In So
lutions. The settling tank is twenty
Ieet long by eight feet wide by eleven
rect deep. There are two sets of filters.
each forty-two feet by thirty feet In
surface area. One set Is made out OF
cinders. and Is five feet deep. and the
other set is made of sand. with three
different depths. ono two feet, one three
rect and one four feet Three diff
terent depths OF sand were used be.
cause 1t was not definitely decided dur
Ing the tests which depth could be re-
iieo upon to Give a satisfactory ef-
fluent. and tho cost OF plant will do
pend to some extent on the depth NJ
tho sand For some tanncries as much
quired.
SsEEMs TO DE GIVING
SATISFACTORY RESULTS
AS explained by Mr.. Hommon. IN.
operation OF the plant will consist, nrst
OF mixing all wastes together in pro.
portion to the flow; second, treating
the spent tan liquors with lime sludee
from the unhairing watts to neutralfze
the acios; third, adding iron (cop-
peras) to the wastes; fourth, setting
the wastes en- large tank to remove tho
solids In suspension; fifth, cinder filters
to partially purify the organic mat
ter IN sorutfon. and sixth. sand filters
to complete the process of oxidization.
This. as can be readily appreciated, Is
complex plant. and II Is evident why
the government advised the tanners to
!. try 1t out previous to installing a full
. capacity treatment plant.
MI. lnman reports that the plant was
giving very satisfactory results Min
nows and sunfish were living in the
emuent from the sand filters without
the addition OF any water. except the
purihed wastes. and 1t was stated they
had been in the pond since August G..
Fish placed in the pool early in
July were alive for over a month
when back-water from the creek wash
ed them away There was slight
color to the wastes, but there was
no odor. and the government engineer
In charge OF the work stated the chemi-
cal analysis of tho wastes, made week.
>, ly at the government laboratories were
entirely satisfactory.
representatives OF tho three tan.
neries. who appropriated the money to
build the plant, arc much pleased with
the progress being made to help solve
this very difficult problem. Before
final recommendations can be made
for constructing disposal plant It
will be necessary to operate the pres
ent unit throughout each season to
& study the effect Of extreme hotl and
cold weather on the operation of the
tanks and filters. In the meantime the
fish and game commissioner will be
constantly in touch with the progress
of the work, and 1t Is hoped that a
. satisfactory solution OF this serious
problem can be obtained in the near
future. The government can be relied
upon to give an unbiased report on this
subject and the State OF Virginia.
Thirty thousand Dozen Pairs Weekly.
BURLINGTON, N. c.. August as
The scott-MeBane CO.. extensive manu-
facturers Of hosiery. have been abb
sorbed by the May Hosiery Company,
10. h Il