Perth Amboy evening news., 1924-04-16
PRECAU ON
EXPLOSIVES IS
SEEN At PAR[|N
! Close Inspection of DUPONT
Plant Held by Freeholders
and the Experts
STATE is REPRESENTED
No Danger or Risk for Nearby
Places, Decision Reached,
Following Inspection

NEW BRUNSWICK, April It.
close inspection of the plant OIL
the e. I. Dupont de Nemours @
Company at Parlin by the Boaru
of Freeholders and group OF experts
made yesterday afternoon reveaieo
that the company is taking every
possible precaution in storing lts IN
tiammable materials, that all the
u,apazi1es containing such mater
falls are properly locked and that
there is no danger or risk for the
nearby municipalities.
J. w. Elms, division manager OIL
4the company headed the Inspection
Axpedition. The Board of Freeholo-
ars was represented by County So
Iicitor Frederick F. Richardson,
Freeholders Clarence M. Applegate
and Robert M. Vandenbergn. Dr:
I'M. Szamatolski, consulting expert OF
Ttbe state Department of Labor.
Fred P. Rearwin, state factory IN
spector and George III. Roeder, ex-
: pl,sive expert. were also in atten-
dance.
Mr.. Elms. in response to series
of questions made by Solicitor Rich
ardson explained fully as to the
powder situated in the various parts
OF the six hundred acre plant OF
the company. The inspection party
was told that the company has
on hand approximately 2,400, 00o
pounds of smokeless powder which
was acquired in the year of 1920 at
an unusually favorable price. Mr..
Elms said that the plant uses about
$4,000 pounds of the powder for
the manufacture of their chemical
products, so that it has stored
enough of that material for a per-
iod of eight years. Solicitor Rich
ardson questioned Mr.. Elms wheth-
er it was necessary to have such an
amount on hand, Mr.. Elms advised
that it was because of the cheap
price that the powder was acquired.
The powder, which Mr.. Elms be-
iieved should not be classed as an
explosive, is stored in eleven differ
ent magazines. MIR. Elms opened
Aeight of these magazines to the in
specting party, as three others were
situated about a mile away toward
F the Runyon side. Mr.. Elms called
to the attention of tho inspectors
how the magazines are properly
equipped, that they are made of
corrugated iron and asbestos and
further pointed out to the little or
s no risk that is possible.
Following the inspection, Solicitor
< Richardson issued the following
statement,
IN the opinion of the Board of
Freeholders, the single base smoke
less powder stored here IS sattsfac-
torily cared for. We find that the
company is taking every possible
precaution in handling the material
Our inspection also shows that the
powder is stored in magazines prop
erly locked, that these warehouses
are made of fireproof material and
that the magazines are erected in
places where no outsiders have ac-
cess to. The freeholders are also
pleased with the hearty corporation
given by the company especially Mr.
Elms, in showing the magazines and
It's contents to the inspecting party
DIR. Szamatolski in a brief state
ment said that the material is well
stored and that there Is no danger
to the municipalities bordering the
= plant. Mr. Rearwin said: II have
been inspecting this plant for a
number of years. The powder Is
stored in fine condition. The com.
pany is known to take every pre-
caution in storing infiammable ma
other plants. The single base pow
der stored here has no explosive
possibilities.
Looking over the magazines the
party was satisfied that the compan,
is taking good care of the material
Questioned by Mr.. Richardson as tC
fire-fighting facilities, Mr.. Elms sait
that if any of the magazines wen
up in blaze there would be no use
to employ any fire-fghting appa'
ratus. The company superintendent
also pointed out that all of the
magazines are separated by som'
ESQ feet each. A fire that nigh
break out in any of the warehouse!
would be confined to the one struc'
ture. The powder. Mr.. Elms said
does not explode. but merely pro
duces a fame and is annihilated il
smoke. The other magazines woult
(Continued on page A.
Meet Tomorrow Night
Due to Friday being legal holi
= day, the committee session of th'