Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-02-13
SAY EXPLOSIVES ARE BEING
Removed FROM THE MORGAN
and RARITAN STORAGE DEPOTS
Only Small Amount Will be Left
After Program Is Complete
It Is Claimed

While Congressman Thomas J.
Scully was in this city this morning.
the desire was expressed that he clear
up, once and for all, II possible, the
rather clouded understanding as to
the amounts of explosives stored at
the Morgan General Ordnance depot
and the Raritan General Ordnance
depot, as well as the shipment of ex-
plosives out OF these two places
through Raritan bay.
These matters have been the source
OF considerable worry in this city for
time past, since there have been con-
flictnig reports as to the status OF the
wo plants and the shipments OF explo-
sives as well.
Mr.. Scully at once fell in with the
idea OF allaying fears of residents of
this section and got his Washington
Office on the wire, having the follow
ing letter, which is self explanatory,
dictated to this city:
February II. 1919.
Hon. Thomas ]. Scully,
Washington, ID. c.
Referring to your verbal request,
for information as to the situation at
Morgan General Ordnance depot and
Raritan arsenal as regards the. storage
of high explosives. You are informed
that the status of these establish
ments is as follows:
Morgan General Ordnance Dept.
This depot, formerly the plant OF
the Il. A. Gillespie Loading Company.
| is intended to be utilized only for the
storage of shrapnel and inert metal
components despite the fact that over
100000 pounds of high explosives
could be properly stored In the high
explosive magazines on this property
in strict compliance with the New Jer-
sey state laws.
1t is the plan OF the ordnance de-
partment to remove all high explo-
sives from the Morgan general ord
nance depot. In the past few weeks
and up to February !, 2,768,OOO
pounds of high explosives have been
removed from Morgan. AS of Febru-
ary /, our records indicate 3,232,0O0
pounds of high explosives still in
storage at Morgan, all of which will
be removed in the near future. The
movement has been and will continue
at the rate of from two To five cars
per day.
Attention Is called TO the fact,
however, that the amount remaining
at Morgan is scattered through hfty-
one buildings, well separated and all
protected by barricades and all OF
the material is now stored in compli-
ance with the New Jersey state laws.
The need of taking care of large
quantities OF ammunition returning
from France and the avoiding of con-
gested conditions at other points may
make Il necessary TO temporarily
store at Morgan small calibre shells.
These shells, however Will be OF such
small calibre as to be incapable or
producing a detonation in mass. With
the exception OF this temporary e1-
pedient there will be kept at Morgan
no high explosives either in bulk or
In shells.
Raritan General Ordnance Depot
IL has never been the intention TO
utilize Raritan for the storage OF any
large quantities OF high explosives,
this being mainly an ammunition,
sn okeless powder and vehicle depot.
The major portion OF the explosives
now at Raritan is picric acid contain
ing ten per cent. moisture which rem
ders il incapable of detonation.
This material belongs to the French
government and will shortly be dis
posed of.
II is planned to continue to utilize
Raritan for the storage of small guam
titles OF high explosives in the maya
zines designated for this purpose but
in absolute compliance with the New
Jersey laws.
Respectfully.
G. C. WILLIAMS,
Major General Chief of Ordnance,
BY w. S. PIERCE.
BFlSaOltF
The congressman called attention 10
the letter received by Col. c. i. Har-
ris. Jr.. of the ordnance department
from Major w. ID. Harkness, written
January "a. and published I'm the
EVENING NEWS OF January ~. in
which it is stated that all explosives
had been removed from the anchorage
in Raritan Bay and that there were
cases of picric acid and not high eI-
plosives that would detonate rapidly.
Mr.. Scully. whose home is in South
Amboy said that from his obser ervation
and talks with the ordnance corps Of
flcials he could see no cause FOR worry
by residents OF this section as his un.
derstanding of the present status OF
Morgan was that the materials stored
there and for which IL is to become
a government storage ground. were
inert parts OF various materials
Mayor Frank Dorsey. who has been
continuously bombarded with anxious
queries as TO when the explosives
would be removed and what the pre-
sent danger Is. was particularly an
xious 20 have the situation cleared up.
Buckeye ineubators and broOdeFs
Kellv q McAlinden Co.