Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-07-22
MORE ACTION
ON EXPLOSIVES
FreehoIders to Investigate
Salvage Co.'s Operations
Is Near Raritan Arsenal

rBv Evening News stan Correspondent
NEW BRUNSWICK, July a.
Complaints against the continuance
of the government practice of using
Middlesex county as a storage place
for various kinds of explosives have
been made by the members OF the
county board OF freeholders at vari-
Gus times.
These complaints made to the
ordnance department at washington
have been followed up by confer
ences and communications with the
legislators from the state, with the
result early in the year the word
was given that this locality would
soon be rid of the dangerous ma
t~erials.
Though residents of the county
have from time to time voiced their
sentiments as to the danger lurking
around the government pIahts, ~ 10
during lust the past week that a
manufacturer has called the free
holders attention to a further
menace, the direct result of the gov
ernment's explosive materials Delng
stored in this county.
A communication from the Novel;
Chemical Corporation was be1ore
the board yesterday calling atten-
tion To the fact that shells are now
being salvaged near the company's
plant, creating a very dangerous
condition.
AS pointed out by various mem
bers of the board, the shells being
eAlvaged are removed from Rar1tan
arsenal to the plant of q private cor
poration, the government thereby
{~~t-- A-u otthpritu or urigdtcfiOn
'Ahey may have had over the hand
Hing or storing of the material.
The \ealvage work Is being done In
the Sand Hills section between the
arsenal and CROSS corner, on
ground rented by the Columbia Sal
a e Company. That a danger *
lists has been admitted by a Mr..
Brown, of the company. who Is
quoted in the letter from the Noval1
company.
Following a prolonged discussion
Of the matter among the freeholders,
it was decided that immediate ac-
ton, possibly drastic in nature.
would be taken to further safeguard
the community. Freeholder waiter
O1iackenbush of Perth Amboy and
Road Supervisor John Liesen of
Woodbridge were appointed to fully
investigate the matter. with power
to take such action as they deemed
best or necessary in preventing the
possibility OF a catastrophe.
The letter from the Novall Cheml-
zeal Company. which indicates the
apprehension that company has for
the safety of their plant, is given
in full: Il
"On June 28th a man telephoned
the writer and stated that his name
Brown
"Mr, Brown stated that he repre-
eented the Columbia Salvage Com
panyaof Camp Raritan, New Jersey,
and that his concern have a contract
with the War Department to o
Cor them explosives for shells.
"Mr. Brown said he desired TO
rent additional land near our plant
1t Perth Amboy. This has been re-
<fusei - him.
plosion occur in the operations
which are being conducted on land
Adjacent to hat which the Columbia
Salvage Company were desirous OF
renting, our plant would probably be
damaged and perhaps destroyed.
I'VE would respectfully request
hat these conditions be Immediately
Investigated, and. should any danger
% property and lives in the neigh
borhood exist, that the operations
be Immediately stopped and the dan
yerous material removed from the
neighborhood."
Signed by Donald McKesson, pres
dent Novel; Chemical Corporation.