VILLAGE OF OAKFIELD

Nuisance caused by manufacture of plaster of paris

OAKFIELD, N. Y., June 30, 1898

To the State Board of Health, Albany, N. Y.:

Gentlemen-I wish to call your attention to a matter in this village of Oakfield. There is located in the south part of the village an establishment for the manufacture of calcined plasterplaster of paris-on extensive scale. It is run 24 hours every day, and sometimes seven days in a week.

With the steam from the kettles there is a constant escape of partially calcined plaster, which is carried by the wind a distance of a fourth of a mile or more. It is an exceedingly fine dust or powder. It settles upon the houses, trees, plants, foliage, fruit and flowers. It is driven into the dwellings and can be swept out in measurable quantities. It is breathed into the lungs night and day by all who are within its reach. The plaster adheres to the fruit and it is eaten by the children and some adults. Careful people will not use the fruit unless it is carefully washed. When the wind is blowing stiffly it looks like a miniature snowstorm. Of course, a heavy rain will wash off the greater portion of the dust. I am satisfied that it is very seriously affecting the health and spirits of the people. I do not know just what its physical effects are, but it is exceedingly depressing to those who have to endure it. I know of one most estimable lady living near the works who can scarcely speak of the matter without shedding tears. My wife spends a part of the summers abroad, when she is quite well and strong. Immediately after her return she is worse, and at the very season when she would expect to be better. I think it will be difficult for her to live here at all if this trouble continues. There are

various other aspects of the case which might be mentioned. enclose under another envelope some twigs which will give a fair sample of how it affects the foliage and fruit in the exposed places. A numerously signed petition to have the nuisance ́abated has been presented to the trustees of the village, but they claim, and probably they are correct, that they have no jurisdiction.

I have a daughter who has recently returned from school at Fredonia. Possibly she may have been exposed to the epidemic that has prevailed there, but I regard the small-pox trouble, which seems to have been easily stamped out, as of less importance than the one that I have attempted to describe. I would like the matter to be thoroughly investigated by your honorable Board.

In regard to my reliability, I will say that I am president of the board of education and am now, and have been for 30 years, clerk of the board of supervisors of this (Genesee) county.

Very truly yours,

BENJ. F. HAWES

ALBANY, July 1, 1898

BENJ. F. HAWES, Oakfield, N. Y.:

Dear Sir-We are in receipt of your communication of the 30th ultimo, also of the sample referred to in connection with your complaint concerning the manufacture of plaster of paris by an establishment located in the village of Oakfield.

In reply, you are informed that the state chemist has been directed to examine the sample sent by you, he to report the result to this Board.

Upon receipt of the report such action will be taken as is deemed to be necessary, of which you will be advised.

Very respectfully,

T. A. STUART,

Assistant secretary

ALBANY, July 1, 1898

Prof. W. G. TUCKER, Director of the State laboratory, Albany, N. Y.: Dear Sir-I enclose herewith copy of a letter received from Mr. Benj. F. Hawes, of Oakfield, N. Y., also under a separate cover the twigs referred to by Mr. Hawes in his complaint concerning an alleged nuisance caused by the manufacture of plaster of paris.

You are requested to make an examination of the dust on the twigs and state whether, in your judgment, it is detrimental to health.

Very respectfully,

T. A. STUART,
Assistant secretary

ALBANY, July 12, 1898

A. F. ZORHORST, M. D., Health officer, Oakfield, N. Y.:

Dear Sir-I enclose herewith, copy of a complaint made by Mr. Benjamin F. Hawes of your village concerning an alleged nuisance caused by the manufacture of plaster of paris.

The twigs referred to by Mr. Hawes have been examined by the chemist of this Board, who reports as follows:

"Referring to your communication of the 1st inst. concerning an alleged nuisance caused by the manufacture of plaster of paris, and enclosing some leaves and twigs, dust coated, of which you direct an examination to be made, I would respectfully report that an examination of the latter shows that the foreign matter which, more or less completely covers the surface of the leaves, contains and essentially consists of sulphate of lime, or plaster of paris.

"I would say that this substance is not in itself poisonous, but that any such inert matter may become a nuisance if diffused in the air, or added, in any considerable quantity, to articles of food or drink, and under these circumstances may certainly be detrimental to health. It would appear to me that in such a case as this the reality and extent of the nuisance may best be determined by an actual inspection made by a competent health officer

In view of the complaint made by Mr. Hawes, and the report of the state chemist upon his examination of the samples of twigs received, you are directed to examine into the complaint and report to this Board upon the reality and extent of the nuisance.

Very respectfully,

BAXTER T. SMELZER,

Secretary

OAKFIELD, N. Y., July 25, 1898

To the State Board of Health, Albany, N. Y.:

Gentlemen-In accordance with your directions, I have examined into the complaint made by Mr. Benjamin F. Hawes, of the - corporate village of Oakfield, N. Y., concerning an alleged nuisance, caused by the manufacture of stucco or plaster of paris by the English stucco or plaster works, located in the south west corner of the corporation of the village of Oakfield, N. Y., and find the complaint, as set forth by Mr. Hawes substantially correct.

The works, located as they are, in the southwest corner of the corporation, and the prevailing winds coming from the southwest and west continually carries a cloud of calcined lime over the south and southeast portion of the corporation, making everything white in its track, thereby annoying the inhabitants of that section of the village to such an extent as to threaten some of them with severe nervous trouble and sickness.

At certain times, more particularly during a dry spell, their lawns, shrubbery, walks, fruit and windows are white with the fine dust from the mill; and those living within 40 rods of the mill, cannot keep the dust out of their houses, which thereby necessitates an enormous amount of extra work, which with all does not prevent injury to their household goods. No one living within the track of the dust from the mills can use their rainwater for laundry or washing purposes, on account of the large amount of lime in the water, which has been washed from the house roof. The hardest well-water, softened with soda, is used by all in preference to their stuccoed rain-water.

Many of the properties could not be sold for anything near their cost value, which lay in the stucco dust district. Children cannot play on the lawns of the stucco-dust district five minutes without their clothes becoming covered with the lime dust. Yours very truly,

Oakfield, N. Y.

A. P. JACKSON,

Health officer

ALBANY, July 30, 1898

A. P. JACKSON, M. D., Oakfield, N.Y.:

Dear Sir-We are in receipt of your report upon an investigation made in connection with the complaint of Mr. Benjamin F. Hawes concerning a nuisance caused by the manufacture of plaster of paris.

From the report made by you, as well as from that of Prof. Tucker upon his examination of samples of twigs sent by Mr. Hawes, it would appear that a nuisance in violation of the Public health law as defined by section 6 of the enclosed sanitary regulations, is being maintained by the plaster works of your village.

It is recommended in view of the existing conditions, that your board notify the owners of the plaster works to appear before them to show cause why the nuisance should not be abated.

We find that Buck on Hygiene and Public Health refers to the dust from plaster burning as follows:

"Attempts have been made to catch the flying dust in wooden chambers built about the mills, but without success. The powder is so light and fine, that it is almost as difficult to confine as a gas. It is possible that something might be accomplished by having the air drawn continually from the room by a blower and forced into a long horizontal flue to a tall chimney. The heavier dust would settle in the flue, whence it could be removed as often as necessary, and a considerable portion of the lighter dust might be precipitated in the chimney by a spray of water. An ordinary spray condenser would be choked up too soon to