The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-15
THOSE JERSEY DOORS.
After An the Litigation They sim
Cross the River.

To THE EDITOR OF THE suN--Sir: Tho
hearing before DR.. Herman M. Biggs.
Commissioner OF Health for the State
OF New York, OF complaints Of residents
OF the upper West Side brought out the
fact that despite all that has been said
and done the gas. smoke and fumes
emanating from factories In New Jersey
along the river front are stili making
life miserable for the residents of River
side Drive and adjoining streets all the
way from Fifty-ninth street to spuyten
Duyvil.
The West End Society laid before
the Commissioner a number Of detailed
reports to substantiate assertions that
the fumes were not only disagreeable
but injurious to health. These reports
were supported by witnessed Chemical
analysis said they have discovered pol
sonous ingredients, In tho fumes blown
over certain parts Of Riverside Drive and
the upper West Side. and that the Same
Ingredients have been found in fiues Of
the factories.
This Is matter Of long standing. For
years the residents Of the drive and the
upper West Side have been suffering
from the gases and fumes thrown OF
by the factories on the Jersey side Of
the river. II Is about time that the
nuisance should DO stopped, and the
authorities Of the State OF New York
should get In touch with those Of the
great State Of New Jersey with q view
OF abating the nuisance at least, II not
stopping II altogether.
AS far back as October, 1915, the
West End Society called attention to
the presence Of odors and gases on the
upper West Side. when II placed the
matter before Governor Whitman. The
latter directed Commissioner Bisgs to
investigate. On November s Attorney
General Woodbury. announced that he
would begin suit on behalf of New
York State in the United States courts
to restrain factories on the New Jersey
side OF the Hudson River from contain
mating tho atmosphere of the upper
West Side. This action was taken after
report had been received from Com
missioner B!ggs In which he stated that
conditions arising from the emission Of
gaseous elements constituted a nuisance.
iSIOf u was ut-
posted with the clerk OF the United
States Supreme Court to enjoin the
Bulls Ferry Chemical Company and a
dozen other manufacturing concerns. It
was charged that these plants emitted
smoke. fumes and noxious and poison
Gus gases. vapors and odors offending the
olfactories and endangering the health
or res dents on Riverside Drive. Then
On February % New York won the I'M
tial skirmish when the Supreme Court
Issued rule against a number OF pia nts
to show cause why an injunction should
not be issued to enjoin them from main
taining conditions which permitted the
escape of gases, fumes. smoke and odors
that foated across the Hudson River.
But despite all that has been done
during the last three years the nuisance
still continues. The owners of the Jer-
sey factories apparently have done little
10 stop the nuisance. for the odors still
come across the river. Commissioners
Diggs announced that another hearing
will be held soon: then the matter should
Ue pressed to a satisfactory conclusion.
As has been suggested before, let the
Legislature pass bill giving the Gov
ernor power to revoke the authority OF
a corporation owning a factory resp,n.
sible for such a nuisance to do business
in this State. This appears to be the
only logical way OF getting rid OF a
nuisance that has irritated the resi-
dents OF one of the best sections OF the
city for o long time. WEST SIpER.
NEW YORK, November IA