Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1924-03-26
To Ask Indictment Against
Ammonite Company at
Meeting Next Tuesday
REPORT MADE BY STATE
Findings of Expert Will Be
Used by County in Move
Against Plant Officials

In view of the findings of the ex-
perts engaged by the state to detE-
mine the cause of the explosion ut
the plant of the Ammonite Company
at Nixon on March l, there is no
doubt but that the April term grand
jury will be asked to find an indict-
fnent against the officials of that
company when it holds it's first ses-
sion next Tuesday.
Tne report made at Trenton yes
terday at the conference of Governor
Silzer, State Commissioners of Labor
Mcbride. Prosecutor Joseph e.
Stricken of this county and numer-
Gus state experts and investigators
places the blame for the fatality
with the Ammonite concern.
Although the Ammonite company
officials informed the state and coun-
,ty investigators that the ammonium
nitrate solution received In tank cars
at their plant from the Coiumpla
Salvage company contained only one
half Of one per cent. INT. the anaiy-
eis of the contents of three tank cars,
made by Charles Bacon, an expert
/, chemist of New York. showed that
twenty per cent. of the contents was
TINT. This high percentage OF INL
!. xVo,lld indicate that the contents ol
]lhe cars bore the same percentage
sPof hign explosives as does the amatoi
nsed as an explosive agency In sheIs
which the Columbia company was
ealvaging. -
As result of the explosion at
Nivon and the apparent need Tor
new regulations covering the use
and storage of explosives, Commis-
vio,1er of Labor Mcbride has made
the following recommendations lot
new legislation:
ain order to more carefully pro-
tect the life and limb of workers IN
Industrial plants using explosives IN
their production, general revision
should be made of the explosives
laws Of the State of New Jersey.
THAT the word explosives De
more clearly defined and be maze
plain that it refers to both wet ana
dry explosives.
different communities adjacent to
manufacturing plants using explo-
siyes. the bonding of these compa-
MES gainst loss of life and property
should be included in the law with
out making the minimum bond as
high as in the present law.
''That the allowable distance be-
A,ween plant buildings be defined.
~ HProvisions made in the law COW
ering the manufacture of fireworks.
"A simple method OF regulating
the handling and keeping of explo-
sives for blasting purposes should
be provided.
"AlI manufacturing concerns OPP
Grating in New Jersey should be
compelled to be properly registered
ir the Department of Labor with
penalty provided for failure to COM
ply.
'All plants using any ingredients
in their product that could In any
way be determined an explosive
should be required to file with the
Department of Labor statement
as to the amount of such material
used and the method of handling
same.
THAT anybody who has or keeps
explosives shall need a license.
THAT 1t be made a criminal Of
Tense to give false or misleading in
formation or misleading samples to
q. state inspector.
THAT consideration be given to a
code regulating fuel oil storage.
THAT legislative provisions be
made that any material used in ex-
plosives which may, under any cir
cumstances, detonate should be in
cluded in the act"