Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-04-08
HALT SHIPPING
Of EXPLOSIVES
None Will Be Removed Until
July | and Perhaps Not
Then War Secretary Says.
FREEHOLDERS ARE TOLD
10000 Tons of Explosives
Now at Morgan. Cost Mil
lion dollars to remove them

NEW BRUNSWICK, April D.
None of the explosives now stored
at the Morgan ordnance depot will
be shipped away to arsenals in other
parts of the country until July l.
and there is a question of whether
the transfer of these materials will
commence then, according to let
ter from Secretary of War John w.
Weeks, read at a meeting of the
freeholders yesterday. This letter
was written to United States Senator
Joseph S. Frelinghuysen and refer
red by him to the freeholders. This
communication was the outcome of
the last trip of the freeholders to
Washington to urge action in per-
manently removing the explosives
from Morgan.
There are stored at Morgan at the
present time. according to Secretary
of War Weeks, 10000 tons of ex
plosives comprising $50 carloads.
The removal of these explosives
would cost $1,000.O00, it is estimated,
and no money is available at this
time. Nothing can, be done until
the next appropriation for the army
is forthcoming, which will be July
/, according to the letter and then
efforts will be made to secure sum
sufficient to transfer these explosives.
Senator Frelinghuysen's letter to
the Board of Freeholders follows:
"Mr. Thomas j. Mulvihill, Clerk,
"Middlesex Co. Board Freeholders,
New Brunswick, n. j.
my Dear Sir:
Herewith l am sending you copy
of letter received two or three days
ago from the Secretary of War, the
same being self explanatory. While
the Secretary assured me over the
phone the, other day that these ex-
rlosives would be removed, he was
unacquainted with the facts of the
case as they were known to the Chief
of Staff and as they were presented
by Major Stuart.
THE Secretary of Wars letter ex-
plains the exact situation. The prob
lem is one he cannot solve. The
money IS lackine and he is helpless.
The next appropriation for the army
which he refers to. will not become
availapie until July /. the beginning
of a new fiscal year. The Secretary
has inf. rmed me that he hopes to
be able to arrange for the movement
of these explosives by water, so as to
bring the expense within the
amount which may be available.
Under the circumstances l fail to
see how anything can be done until
after July l.
yours very truly,
"JOS. S. FRELINGHUYS SEN"
The Secretary of Wars letter ex-
planning the present status is 8 fol-
lows:
Hon, J. S. Frelinghuysen,
United States Senator, Washing
ton, D. c..
MY Dear Senator:-I have look
ed into the matter Of the removal
of the explosive shells from Rari-
tan, n. j., and find that it is pro-
posed to remove these explosive
shells TO certain selected safe points
when funds become available for
such removal. There are $50 car
loads of this material. weighing
some 10000 tons. The estimated ex-
pense of the removal would be in
the nieghborhood of $1,000.000 and
we simply have no transportation
money left for this purpose. but
when the next appropriation for the
army becomes available, l hope to
be able to straighten this matter out
to your entire satisfaction.
VERY cordially yours.
JOHN w. WEEKS,
Secretary of War"
The report from the Morgan ord
rance depot showed the following
explosives to be on hand March l,
1921: High explosive shells. 474,-
1902: low explosive shells. 1,752.739:
smokeless powder, 4'5S7,196.24
hounds