Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-07-20

Regular meeting Of the Council. p
the City OF Perth Amboy, N. j., neIe
June ard, 1918. The members present
Andersen. clark. Riedy and Alderman
at-Large Grouse.
On motion the reading of the min
utes of the meeting of May goth wat
dispensed with and the minutes ap'
The following reports of chemical In
April /. 1918.
The Board of Aldermen,
City of Perth Amboy. N. ].
Gentlemen:-
The following is a report made upon
various chemical plants in the city oil
Perth Amboy, Investigated per your In
structions as to their safety TO me
from hre or explosion were concerned.
and also as to their responsibility Tor
dangerous or disagreeable doors, and
what precautions were takeh TOT crs
will b. divided into W parts, the nrst
regarding fire and explosion hazards,
and the second, fume and odor question
Part /.
The first plant inspected was Build
ing No. 2 belonging to the Roessler q
Hasslacher Chemical Co. This plant Is
used for the manufacture OF sodium
cyanide which Is not inf1ammaole. the
only raw material which can cause
lIOuDl6 III az IAAaAA
duct is metallic sodium, and this, only
IL 1t came in contact with large quanti-
ties of water.
II seems that on January IL. 1918,
there was a severe fire caused by water
getting into vaults in which was stored
about 40, 900 pounds of metallic sodium.
This material was stored In drums wnlcn
are practically hermetically sealed.
The vaults were constructed of con-
crete about IS inches thick and rein
forced, and II was evident that the
water could not have penetrated from
the sides or top. but must have risen
from the floor. The entrance to each
vault was protected by a wooden door
which was set upon a sill of concrete
about 5 inches above the ground level.
On the night in question there was
"a very severe southeast rain storm
with a very unusual precipitation. The
origin of this IRE undoubtedly was due
to the fact that the water could not
be carried of fast enough from the
ground by the sewers and finally arose
over the stills and flooded the vault. A
damaged or open drum of sodium could
easily have started the resulting nre;
This method OF storage was considered
absolutely safe and has been pursued
for the past 20 years with no trouble
resulting. There Is no that the
very exceptional weather conditions
prevailing on the night in question
The Waterman in making his rounds
had noticed nothing out Of the way
and 1t seems with the condition pre-
vailing, the occurrence could not be
avoided. However, to make absolutely
sure that repetition OF this shall not 90
cur in the future. a new storage build
ing 10 being constructed. the moor OF
which is 8 feet. 8 inches above the
OF approved Are proof construction, and
cinder-nlled. Sodium drums viii be I'M
loaded directly into the furnace room
where they are used. There can pc abb
water in this building. n I would say
that this hazard has been permanently
The furnace room and the remainder
of ammonia. and ammonium sulphocy-
anide. and storage OF carbonate cyan
Iide and salt is entirely satisfactory In
every respect.
mo. / belonging to the Roessler q HAS
iiacher Chemical Co. and Is used for the
| manufacture of hydrogen per
borates. pure ehloroform, persii. TIN OK
ide ana colors for the Ceramic trade
and the refining OF platinum. gold ant
In the manufacure of hydrogen per
oxide. the innammable material Is SO
should any organic material come II
contact with II and II the noors are no
kept absolutely clean. any soolum per
oxide. which might be spilled eomlnt
llu COnNhGA VIII 1olsS
upon the floor. might start q nre; Fol
this reason, II is always advisable .
cover wooden floors where SODIUM per
oxide is stored with sheet metal In or
der 10 prevent any possible acciden
and conhagration. In he hyarogel
peroxide department In question;
found this possibility 20 be wen axe
care OF; and as the drums are yer,
close 20 the reaction pans. n yer,
little carrying is necessary. the hasar'
here Is very small. The rest OF tn
Chemicals used In the hydrogen per
oxide department cannot give an
trouble, and this branch OF the pan
is safe In my estimation.
The departments of this plant use
for manufacturing tin oxide. and tn
refining OF gold. platinum. and stlye
as well as the purincation of chloro
form present no hazard within tn
scopa OF this Inspection and can D
certified as safe.
As sodium peroxide Is used for IN
manufacture OF p~erborate. the sam
precautions regarding It's use an
-ANu AAnD ~ mar