Evening journal., 1918-06-27
SAY ACID Wastes
Damage SHIPPING
Chemical Alliance of United
States Begins lnvestiga-
tion of Conditions
LAW WOULD AFFECT
MUNITI0N PLANTS

states has prepared a detailed report
for the information OF the War Depart
ment, and Of Congress. on the effect Of
acids from manufacturing plants into
the rivers OF the country. This report
is made because there Is now under
consideration House Bill, the enforce
ment Of one section Of which would Sc
riously interfere with the workings OF
munitlOn plants and chemical manu-
featuring establishments on which the
nation is dependent for material with
which TO win the war. The House OF
Representatives eliminated the section,
but 10 was restored in the Senate. The
question is now before a conference
committee.
Investigations by the Chemical ALI
ance showed that the section was in
serted primary because Of the condition
Of the Monongehela, Allegheny and
Ohio rivers. where 1t was contended
that the presence Of acid and acid salts
had resulted in the dtetrioration OF
boilers and hulls Of steamboats,, and
damage 10 the submerged parts Of gov
ernment locks and dams The acid
waste Is these rivers il was estimated
was creating damage amounting to $751;
900 a year
The Chemical Alliance took the mat
ter up with General Keller, OF the COM
mittee on Inland Waterways, and he
asked 10 to make a written report A
committee found that most OF the
trouble in the Western Pennsylvania
rivers was due to the waste water from
the coal mines, particularly abandoned
mines They reported that II was the
feeling Of the chemical manufacturers,
most Of whom are vitality interested
in the Governments war program. that
the provision. II put into effect. would
either result in the closing down Of
practically every chemical plant in the
country or knowingly operating in d.
rect violation Of the law
II was found that as against this loss
Of $4,000 per annum IL would require
an expenditure OF S5,OO0OOO for the pur-
chase Of lime TO neutralize $500 tons Of
acid discharged into the three western
rivers every day. This amount Of lime,
the cost OF which Is given without in
cluding freight and handling charges, Is
a very large proportion Of the total
produced in the United States last
year It's use for this purpose would
seriously cripple the agricultural in
dustry and the expense would be so far
out OF proportion 20 the damage caused
BY the acids that the enforcement OF
this provision would be extremely poor
business policy
Il was pointed out that such enforce
ment would virtually close up chemical
works in the country until provision
should have been made TO neutralize
the acid waste from not only the mines
but from the iron works. tin plate
works. an dye works and explosive
works including the governments pow
der plants and picric acid plants
il was also pointed out by the Chem-
ical Alliance that in very few places
throughout the country has the flow OF
acid into rivers produced any serious
de,eterious effect as is shown by he
fact that local authorities, which watch
such matters closely, have found that
the alleged pollution OF the rivers Is
not great enough to have any effect on
the fish, or the drinking water, or the
water used In boilers This is due to
the fact that almost all streams carry
enough alkali 10 neutralize the acld
which is run into the rivers by chem
zeal works and as a consequence ieW
comulalnts Of any serious import nave
been made. IN the few instances where
evil effects have developed they nave
been easily remedied.
The Chemical Alliance has inquired
that al one OF the government powder
plsnis. which has just begun opera
tious the acid waste will be taken care
~ Inv the alkallnity Of the river and
pat as a matter OF fact in modern
plsnts the acid waste is comparatively
small
Discbarges from a number Of large
chemical works along the Delaware
River have had little or no enect on
that stream. Most OF these plarts are
taking the same water 10 he used IN
their boilers and have found that no
damage is done. The large now OF
. water and the alksli carried by the
river Is sufficient to take care OF any
acid which is discharged into 1t rom
the factories. -,
Concluding its report 20 General kel-
ler the Alliance says: we reel very
con0dent YOU will agree with us th3'
after considering the conditions out
lined this section should, at least Tor
The period OF the war. be eliminated en-
firely. II the conditions continue 70 De
serious as outlined in the letter OF me
chief Engineer Of the Monongahela
River. we would suggest that the ques-
lion OF overcoming this difficulty pe
taken up by the Engineering Depart
mept and the manufacturers VINO arc
complained OF and that a method ne
developed to overcome the local trou-
BILE. -,
The Chemical Alliance is made I'D Of
,he leading chemical manufacturers OF
the United States, who are In close
touch with the business and economic,
nroblems involved in the conduct OF
large industries. They are particularly
active in devislng plans for the eim-
inatIon OF all dangers from an eco
nomic standpoint and they nave eN-
messed themselves ss especially anx-
ious that no locaa troubles, however
serious. shall be made the basis for
sweeping legislative action which may
interfere in any way with the import
ami war work in which nearly every
chemical organization in the country
now is engaged.
HELD on LARCENY CHARGE.
AL