Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-04-30
FREL|NGHUYSEN
ON EXPLOSIVES
Letter Concerning Storage of
Explosives in N. ]. Sent to
Benedict Crowell

United States Senator Joseph s.
Trelinghuysen has written to Bene-
dict Crowell, acting secretary Of war,
o letter relative to the storage of ex-
plosives In New Jersey and particu-
lariy Middlesex county and a copy has
been received by the EVENING
NEWS.
In the letter Senator Frefinghuysen
repeats his request that all explosives
be removed from New Jersey as
promptly as possible, in accordance
with the promise made by Secretary
OF War Newton d. Baker some time
ago. Senator Frelinghuysen's letter
April 20. 1919.
The Honorable Benedict Crowell,
Acting Secretary of War,
Washington, ID. c.
My dear Mr.. Secretary:
1 have several times invited the
attention OF the War Department to
certain vitality important conditions
In my State, in which are involved
the matter of life and death. / refer
to the storage of high explosives on a
large scale at a number of plants be-
longing to OF under the supervision
OF the War Department.
It Is needless to dwell upon the
sBlack Tom" disaster, or the more
recent one at the Morgan plant. Re-
sulting from the latter, the destruc-
ton Of property, public and private,
was very great, but this was of minor
Importance compared with the dis
tressing loss of life which ensued-
Not only were eighty-seven persons
killed outright or so MANNED that
death ensued. but many, who were
rendered homeless, and were COM
PEELED to remain without shelter for
hours, improperly clad, died subse-
quently from exposure.
AS a member of the Senate Commit
tee which Investigated the disaster,
the horrible details of the affair were
brought so clearly to my mind. that
/ should consider myself supremacy
derelict IL I did not employ every en-
deavor to prevent n such ~catastro-
phe hereafter.
BY reason to her proximity to the
port of New York, New Jersey, dur
Ing the war, was more largely utilized
than any other state, as the base fol-
the establishment of munition plants
and arsenais. While the war was on
and every citize and every community
was called upon to play its part, and
take its share of risk In the scheme
of national defense, my constituent
made ne comploint over existing con
dftions. Now, however, that hostilt-
ties have been over for months. there
~ uO ltkitlllhl6 Itd6On WHY nv tAlA
Gems OF New Jersey should be SUBJ
jected to undue jeopardy from thin
cause.
AS far back as December 4, 1918
the Secretary of War wrote me that
the work of removing this dangerous
material from New Jersey would be
pushed to the limit Nevertheless. the
menace still remains.
I have heretofore urged, and I now
repeat the request, h a every agency
at the governments command be en-
ployed to get rid of the vast quantity
of explosives in the numerous plants
in New Jersey where they are stored
In such large quantities. l especially
refer to those in Middlesex county, a.
the Morgan plant and at Raritar
Arsenal which are located In popu'
lous, ~congested communities, wher'
the disaster to life and property woult
be widespread, should a similar acct
dent to that of last october occur.
1 emphatically protest. in behalf o
my constituents. against any furthe
delay in the removal of this menac'
to their peace of mind and to lf'
itself. l beg to urge the highest meas
ure of expedition in the direction in
dicated, and I will be glad to have
prompt assurances at your hands tina
stone unturned to accomplish the e
desired. I will, moreover, be glad t
have a detailed statement. especial,
as to the two plants specified. regard
ing the tonnage shipped out of tn
State each day, and the estimated
length of time required to remove al
high explosives from said territory.
Yours very truly.
(Signed) j. s. FRELINGHUYSEN