Perth Amboy evening news., 1924-04-10
FreehoIders Want Chancery
Court to Declare Storage
Picric Acid a Nuisance
AT THE NIXON FACTORY
Claim Three Is 2,500,0 900
Pounds-Suit Against But
terWorth- Judson Corp.

TRENTON, April 10.-The Mid
dlesex County Board of Freeho1ders
today asked the court of chancery 10
declare the storage of 2,50O,OOo
pounds of picric acid at Nixon, TO pc
nuisance and to order the removai
If the. explosive. The suit is against
William A. Bradford and the Butter-
worth -Judson Corporation.
The complaint alleges that a law
If 1917 requires license of the COM
missioner of Labor for the storage
of the explosive and that no permit
for the present supply has peen
procured.
In the bill of complaint the free-
holders recite long list of grew
ances. Starting with the Morgan ex-
nlosion during the war and taxing
in the recent Ammonite company
aarleup. with numerous others in be-
tween the people of the county nave
been kept in a state of fear because
of the knowledge that large quanti-
ties of high explosives are stored
within the confines of Mfddlesex'
People are moving out of the county
and the value of property is decreas-
ing. The loss of life and the damage
no property, particularly in the NOR
ran and Ammonite explosions were
very high. -.
The freeholders point out that
conditions interfere with the peace
ful enjoyment and comfort OF prop
ertv rights" and the lives, security
and safety Of the inhabitants are SER
iously jeopardized.
II is pointed out that the popula-
lion of the county IS terror stricken
At the slightest suggestion OF an ex-
plosion. Public Indignation meet
ings have been held and appeals 10
the freeholders followed these ses-
sions.
Picric acid, it is explained, is a
high explosive which can be deton-
ated by fire. The Nixon plant is
situated between Perth Amboy and
New Brunswick, about six mlies
from each place, and Sayreville Is
across the river. Numerous dwell
ings and industries of Woodbridge
township, Highland Park, Raritan
township and other places are near
the ''explosive district" and boats
pass up and down the river in close
proximity.
The acid is near Raritan Arsenal
where there are m lions of pounds
Vi uiSn tAplOSlNeS, near tiS iNiAoi'
Nitration works where inflammable
celluloid products are manufactured.
and supplies of nitrate cotton and
gun cotton are also nearby. The
freeholders point out that the picric
acid is not kept right, causing a
serious menace. The danger of
meadow fires is also pointed out in
the complaint, as well as the danger
of the magazines being struck by
lightning.
In summing up the county board
asks the chancellor to abate the
nuisance so as to relieve terror
stricken county. The storing of the
explosives without permit in v1o-
lation of the law is also referred to.
Richardson 6; Lyons appearing for
= the county have informed the court
that the defendant company was
notified after March 20 when the
board took action to start legal pro-
ceedings for the removal of the pic
ric acid, to remove the acid within
three days and to finish the job
within two weeks. No response to
the communication was received and
The work was not started.
In addition to abating the nuis-
ance. the court is asked to have the
defendant company pay for any cost
to the county for the removal.