Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-05-19
complain OF DAMAGE
FROM WORKS OF The
PYR|TES COMPANY
Protest to Council Last Night is
Followed by Inspection by
! Officials Today.
STATEMENT BY THE COMPANY


Davis appeared before City Council. in
COMMITTEES Of the whole, last night, and
cnu,plafncd OF damage which they al
Aupsd Is cause by sulphuric acid coming
from a pyrites plant in South whining
Inn. They announced that the State
Rrsxz3 OF Agriculture would inspect the
surrounding territory today, and Coun-
cll instructed City Engineer Harry L.
Mater TO accompany the inspectors ana
ruouoseed the Board of Health to send
q rupreaentative.
Mr.. Tfbbett said the acid has burned
tress and Vegetables in section ex-
tending to Farnhurst and Newport. He
afxfed the damage has been consider
afae since last August, when the radius
OF tarrftory sprinkled with acid was in
eroaAed by the erection OF a stack
larger than the one first installed. BE
estimated the present radius at. ~
miles and said a chemist had told hmm
the radius will be eight miles IL pro-
rceed new stack is erected. He declared
acid on fodder and hay had killed is
horses and acid on grass had killed
unnny chickens.
Mr.. Cook exhibited vegetables burned
hy ac5d. He stated acid falls from the
establishments stack like cinders from
q locomotives stack and explained that
damage ie greater in wet weather than
dry weather. He cited burnt trees in
T>icn and Kirkwood Parks and declared
acid Is curling the leaves on trees IN
Rodney Square. He told OF acid killing
eight horses owned by Charles Hill and
damaging James Logue's farm to the
extent OF 1000.
Mr.. Davis said acid bad injured
mans eve and eaten the hcofs of horses
assd mules.
Representative Megginson intended
10 introduce in the Legislature Monday
a bill authorizing the State of Board of
Agriculture TO ask for injunctions in
such cases. but refrain when he was
informed the Senate would not con-
slider new business.
Professors c. A. McCue. T. F. Manns
and H.. NJ. r. I.amkey of the agriculture
department Of the University OF Della
ware, accompanied by City Engineer
Aiaior and representatives OF the COM
plainants. started on the inspection trip
al ln.1s o'clock this morning. Contrary
10 announcement. the state Board of
Agriculture did not participate in the
Inspection.
The inspectors spent some time in
Hamilton Park. noting the damaged
condition Of fruit trees and early veg
citation, Cherry and pear trees seem 10
b. damaged most, while grape vines ap-
pear 70 have escaped. The discoloration
OF paint on buildings was noticed. Even
a poplar was found in bad condition,
which caused a member OF the party 10
remark that when a hardy poplar is
affected conditions are serious" The
professors obtained from porch floors
samples Of dust said to have blown there
from stacks OF the pyrites plant, which
they will have analysed.
Presumably from the effects OF the
acid. James Mcclure. OF Hamilton Park,
has lost Is chickens, and Walter T.
scott. TO- all OF which died during the
present damp spell. Residents of HaT1il-
ton Park complain of the acid affecting
their throats.
Prom Hamilton Park the party pro-
oecd.d to the Rogers and other farms
An the neighborhood, next going TO
Farnhurst.
The afternoon will be spent in in
.recting different sections of Whining
ton.
Damage was seen at all the places
inspected this morning. Residents Of
some OF the rural districts threatened
10 remove therefrom If relief is not
obtained soon.
Company Makes Statement.
An official OF the Pyrites Co.. today
stated that efforts had been made by
the company TO arrange conference
with the committee representing. the
residents of Rose Hill, Hamilton Park
and other complaining. sections in the
rural county 10 learn from them
whether or not any damage had been
caused by smoke or fumes from the
pyrites plant. but thus far no such
conference had been arranged. The
company several times had notified the
residents TO send their committee to
confer, but for some reason this con-
ference has not yet taken place" the
company official said. He further stat
ed that If IL were shown that any dam
age had been done TO crops or plants
in that section by the operation of the
pyritcs plant. the company would stand
ready 10 make a fair adjustment of
such claim.
He went on to say that the company
has erected stack 300 feet high TO
carry off any smoke or fumes, and that
with such a stack ii is believed that the
smoke passes away in the air without
much possibility Of causing damage.
Furthermore, system for the precipi-
,tation OF smoke is now being installed
these improvements 10 cost somewhere
about 5000.
The Pyrites Company pays in wages
about 100000 a year TO residents of
Wilmington, he explained, and is keep
ing It's plant open at the present time,
and has for the past six months in order
that its men may not lose their en-
ployment. AS matter Of fact, it was
pointed out that the company has not
shipped a carload Of manufactured ma
,erial from its plant in the past six
ponths.
The Pyrites Company is perfectly
willing" he said ito meet the parties
who claim injury, or a committee rep
resenting them. In the most friendly
spirit and il any damage can be shown
to have been caused by the company
II will make good actual losses sus-
tained," the official said. In conclusion.