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NORTH RIVER
NORTH R1VES �- J v� ...r - .�_.. ... -..z.+s..a . �•ws�'. __�_ ._"_ �fir. c_ __ .�__�.. _ .r..o-r� _ _ _ ...- sC k } � a y r ,�. , V'""^' �� �' Y .y n i, 1` COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS South Essex Sewerage District Salem, Mass. NINETEENTH REPORT COVERING FROM DECEMBER 31, 1943 TO DECEMBER 31, 1944 SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS NEWCOMB&GAUSS CO.,PRINTERS 1 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS 0 South Essex Sewerage District Salem, Mass. NINETEENTH REPORT COVERING FROM DECEMBER 31, 1943 TO DECEMBER 31, 1944 THE SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE BOARD GEORGE WAP,D STETSON, Chairman ALBERT H. RICHARDSON FRANK P. MORSE Commissioner of Public Works City Engineer Beverly, Mass. Salem, Mass. A. PRESTON CHASE FRANK J. MCCARTHT _ Representative Commissioner of Public Works Town of Danvers, Blass. Peabody, Mass. Salem, Mass., December 31, 1944. To the Governor of the Commonwealth, the County Commissioners of.Essex County, the Mayor of Beverly, the Mayor of Peabody, the Mayor of Salem, the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Danvers. Gentlemen: The South Essex Sewerage Board, created by and or- ganized under chapter 339 of the acts of the year 1925, here- with submits its nineteenth annual report, covering the year 1944. There have been no statutory changes affecting the Dis- trict during the year, nor have there been any changes in the personnel of the Board. CONSTRUCTION Construction Program Again this year, no new construction work has been un- dertaken. The construction of a settling basin at the Pea- body-Salem line, and the reconstruction of the Salem Pump- ing Station, two projects that have been badly needed for several years for the proper operation of the District's sys- tem, have been considered by the Board again this year. The first of these, the settling basin, was considered in May, as a Maintenance problem, but it was found that this work could not be done under Maintenance. Late in the year, the matter of securing these two projects was discussed with the Mayors of the Cities of Peabody, Salem, and Bev- erly, and at the end of the year, a bill was drafted for sub- mission to the Legislature to secure funds for these projects. This bill will come before the Legislature early next year. CONSTRUCTION APPORTIONMENTS The annual apportionment of construction charges has been made, based on sewage flow measurements and the val- uations of the various cities, town, and institutions of the District, as furnished by the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation, in accordance with section 1 of chapter 22 of the acts of 1929. 3 MAINTENANCE Sewers DANVERS AND BEVERLY TRUNK SEWER The connecting branches of this sewer, for the various State and County institutions in Danvers and Middleton, which are maintained by the institutions, as prescribed in section 14 of chapter 339, acts of 1925, have been inspected and are in good condition. This trunk sewer, throughout its entire length, from the State and County institutions to the Danvers Pumping Station, and from the Danvers Pumping Station through the City of Beverly to the Beverly Pumping Station, has re- quired practically no maintenance throughout the year. In- spections of this sewer have been made from time to time, and a few more houses adjacent to the sewer have been con- nected with it. The meter at Nichols Street has functioned well throughout the year, and has been given the usual inspec- tions and servicing. PEABODY AND SALEM TRUNK SEWER Again this year, conditions in the Peabodx-Salem trunk sewer have been far from satisfactory. The large amounts of heavy solids and greaW which collect in this sewer have seriously impaired its carrying capacity, and it has been necessary to carry on sewer cleaning operations constantly. The amount of grease was exceptionally heavy again this year, and on many days the sewer was surcharged to the extent that it was necessary to open relief gates and dis- charge sewage to the North River. Weekly readings of the sewage level show that the average level, as was the case last year, has been high, and unless the amounts of grease and solids that enter this sewer are prevented, the sewer cannot be maintained in a clean condition. Regulations of the Board are in effect, limiting the amounts of these substances that may be properly dis- charged to the sewers, and it is only by the enforcement of these regulations that the Board can remedy this serious condition in the sewer. To this end, the Board has, during the year, instigated legal actions against manufacturing es- tablishments that are constantly violating the regulations of the Board. 4 Rainfall The total rainfall for the year, which is measured daily by the District's force in a gauge maintained by the State Department of Public Health near the Salem Pumping Sta- tion, was 37.05 inches. This is somewhat below normal for this vicinity. The greatest monthly precipitation of 6.40 inches occurred in November, and the greatest daily precipi- tation of 3.37 inches occurred on September 14th, and the total for the month of September was 5.90 inches. Two abnormal weather conditions which affected the sewerage system occurred this year. The first was on Sep- tember 14th, when a hurricane passed over this locality. The combination of heavy rains and strong winds which left the three pumping plants without power caused a serious flooding of the sewers. Again, on November 30th, a very heavy rainfall, combined with a record high tide of 13.2 feet, caused the sewers to be completely flooded. Grease and Grit Chamber Grease has been removed from the sewer at the Grease and Grit Chamber periodically throughout the year, and the grit and heavy solids that collect in the channels have been removed when the channels became filled. The amount of grease removed is estimated at 3,438 tons, which is more than three times the amount that was removed last year. The amount of sludge removed is estimated at 3,475 cubic yards, which is about 30 per cent more than last year. Force Mains The 30 inch force main, from the Beverly Pumping Sta- tion to the Juniper Cove junction at Salem Willows, and the 48 inch force main, from the Salem Pumping Station to the beginning of the 54 inch outfall sewer, and the 54 inch out- fall sewer itself, which extends from Juniper Point to the outlet in Salem Harbor, have all functioned well throughout the year, requiring very little maintenance work. The auto- matic air pump continues to keep the summit on the 48 inch line free from air. Lime scale has'again accumulated on the inside of the 48 inch main and the 54 inch outfall sewer, but has not yet reached the point requiring the cleaning of these pipe lines. Pumping Stations DANVERS PUMPING STATION The Danvers Pumping Station has again functioned well throughout the year. The smaller unit continues to handle all of the sewage flow, while the larger pump is held 5 in reserve in case of emergencies. All of the mechanical equipment is in good condition, and the only maintenance work required during the year has been regular checkups. BEVERLY PUMPING STATION The Beverly Pumping Station has been operated this year without any unusual maintenance requirements. The I large pump continues to handle the sewage flow except for a few occasions when heavy rains occur, and both pumps are used. SALEM PUMPING STATION Again this year, the operation of the Salem Pumping Station without any major structural changes, or changes in equipment, has been extremely difficult, and has required a great deal of maintenance work. Careful and frequent inspections of the electrical apparatus have been required, and manual cleaning of the pumps is a constant operation. The capacity of the plant is inadequate, and the mechanical condition of all apparatus very poor. On December 14th, an accident occurred because of an electrical short circuit, which could have caused serious damage to the plant, as well as serious injury to the attendant. As previously re- ported, the reconstruction of this plant should be under- taken as soon as possible, and this is one of the projects for which the Board is seeking legislative authority. Office Building No maintenance work has been required on the office building this year. MISCELLANEOUS Personnel On September 30th, Mr. George F. Ashton retired as Clerk and Treasurer of the District. As former City En- gineer of Salem, Mr. Ashton was a member of the commis- sion which established the District, and upon the organiza- tion of the District in 1925, he became its Clerk and Treas- urer. The Board wishes to express its gratitude for the faithful and efficient manner in which Mr. Ashton has per- formed the duties of this position. Mr. Elihu A. Hershenson has been appointed by the Board to succeed Mr. Ashton as Clerk and Treasurer. 6 SEWAGE FLOW MEASUREMENTS The flow of sewage for the respective institutions and municipalities comprising the District has been 'measured during the year as usual. All of the Venturi meters have been regularly inspected and maintained in proper condi- tion. The Salem meter, which again became coated with O lime scale, has been cleaned. The amount of sewage meas- ured at Nichols Street was apportioned to the Institutions in proportion to their respective measured water consump- tion tributary to the sewer. The following table shows the amounts of sewage flow for all the members of the District for 1944, together with the valuations of the cities, town, and institutions, as furn- ished by the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation, which were used in making the annual apportionment of maintenance costs, in accordance with section 1, chapter 22, of the acts of 1929. Average Normal Valuations Daily Sewage as of Blow for 1944 April 1, 1944 (Gallons per day) Commonwealth of'Mass., Dept. of Mental Health (Danvers State Hospital) 290,639 $4,450,000.00 Essex County Tuberculosis Hos- pital District 121,164 1,475,000.00 Essex County Industrial Farm (Prison Camp) 5,870 30,000.00 Essex County Agricultural School 5,327 273,250.00 Town of Danvers 584,000 17,081,583.00 City of Beverly 2,295,000 39,920,205.00 City of Peabody 4,994,000 26,155,459.00 City of Salem 4,189,000, 49,649,713.00 12,485,000$139,035,210.00 Respectfully submitted, SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE BOARD GEO. WARD STETSON ALBERT H. RICHARDSON FRANK P. MORSE A. PRESTON CHASE FRANK J. MCCARTHY 7 ANNUAL REPORT TREASURER AND CLERK Salem, Mass., December 31, 1944. To the South Essex Sewerage Board: The report of the Treasurer for the year 1944 is here- with respectfully submitted. Mr. George F. Ashton, who had been Treasurer and Clerk of the District since its formation, retired on Septem- ber 30, 1944. Mr. Elihu A. Hershenson was elected Treasurer and Clerk on September 22, 1944 and took office October 1, 1944. CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT CONSTUCTION OF SEWERS AND OTHER WORKS 1925 to December 31, 1944 Engineering, Office Expense, Legal, and Other Expenses $245,173.78 Land, Sewer Rights of Way and Easements, Sewer Takings 83,480.38 Office Building 11,917.41 Outfall Sewers under Water, Syphons, etc. 647,402.90 Outfall Sewers on Land 121,455.63 Sewers 552,552.14 Stations and Station Equipment 101,042.63 Interest 156,371.24 Total $1,919,396.11 1925 to December 31, 1944: Amount expended for Con- struction, exclusive of interest—$1,763,024.87, under chap. ter 339, Acts of 1925, and acts in amendment thereof and addition thereto. 8 CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT P.W.A. DOCKET NO. MASS. 1245-R 1935-1937 Construction of a Grease and Grit Chamber in accordance with the provisions of Alas". Chapter 404 of the Emergency Y Relief Appropriation Act of 1935. Preliminary Expense $269.10 Expended for Land 2,592.42 Construction Cost 52,196.96 Engineering, Architecture and Other Expenses 1,223.74 Legal 250.00 Miscellaneous Costs 357.07 Total $56,889.99 Grant from United States Government 23,889.29 Total Expended by South Essex Sewerage District $33,000.00 CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT December 31, 1944 AMOUNTS ISSUED, PAID AND OUTSTANDING Issued Paid Outstanding Construction directly assessed, 19U $39Fi.11 $396.11 $$0.00 41/% Coupon Construc- tion Bonds issued Nov. 15, 1929 (1930-1949) 1,500,000.00 1,350,000.00 450,000.00 4% Coupon Construc- tion Bonds issued Nov. 15, 1930 (1931-1948) 90,000.00 ;0,000.00 20,000.00 4% Coupou Construc- tion Bonds issued Nov. 15, 1932 (1933-1942) 29,000.00 29,000.00 0.00 Total $1,919,396.11 $1,449,396.11 $4711.000.00 AMOUNTS ISSUED UNDER CIIAPTER 404 OF THE EMERGENCY. RELIEF AI'PROPR,IATION ACT OF 1935 2',"o Coupon Construction Issued Paid Outstanding Notes issued Nov. 15, 1935 (1936-1947) $33,000.00 $27,000.00 $6,000.00 9 DEBT ACCOUNT December 31, 1944 Net Funded or General Debt Fixed Debt $476,000.00 Loan 1929 ($90,000. due 1945- 1949) $450.000.00 Loan 1930 ($5,000. due 1945- 1948) 20,000.00 Loan 1935 ($2,000. due 1945- 1947) 6,000.00 $476,000.00 $476,000.00 10 SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE DISTRICT Salem, Massachusetts BOND AND COUPON ACCOUNT 1944 RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES $1,800,000. Issue $90,000. Issue $33,000. Issue 4% Constn. 4% Constn. 2% Constn. Total Bonds, dated Bonds, dated Notes,dated Constn. Nov. 15,1929 Nov.15,1930 Nov.15,1935 Bonds and (1930-1949) (1931-1948) (1936-1947) Notes Dec. 31, 1944 Receipts Balance Interest 1943 ............................... $548.30 $25.87 $5.59 $579.76 Temporary Notes issued to pay May 15 interest ...... 12,397.96 510.20 91.84 13,000.00 Assessment made Feb. 15, 1944 ...................... 114.300.00 6,000.00 3,180.00 123,480.00 Total ....................................... $127,246.26 $6,536.07 $3,277.43 $137,059.76 Expenditures Temporary Notes Paid .............................. $12,397.96 $510.20 $91.84 $13,000.00 Interest Temporary Notes .......................... 43.91 1.81 .32 46.04 Outstanding—Blc. let Nat'l Bank: Issue 1-2 coupons .............................. 45.00 Issue 4-1 coupon note .......................... 1,000.00 1,045.00 Principal Paid ...................................... 90,000.00 5,000.00 2,000.00 97,000.00 Interest Paid ....................................... 24,255.00 1,000.00 180.00 25,435.00 Balance ............................................. 504.39 24.06 5.27 533.72 Total ....................................... $127,246.26 $6,536.07 $3,277.43 $137,059.76 SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE DISTRICT Salem, Massachusetts CONSTRUCTION BONDS—AMOUNTS OUTSTANDING DECEMBER 31, 1944 ALLOCATED Common- wealth of Mass., Dept. Essex of Mental County County of Essex Health Tubemu- Essex, County (Danvers ]osis Essex Co. Agricul- Town City City City Total State Hospital Industrial tural of of of of Outstanding Hospital) District Farm School Danvers Deverly Peabody Salem Dec. 31, 1944 A ........... ................. $11.980 02 2,941.07 101.91 440.58 ........ ........ ........ ........ $15,463.58 B 6666.......................... 14.959.45 4,022.83 113.43 623.40 79,582.37 ........ 99,301.51 C .............................. .....17 ..... . 59... 2..... X.......07 81,021.. 6.285. 3 ........ 136,397.79 D .............................. ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ 6,285.53 . ,473. . 6,285.53 E .............................. ......1 ......0 ...18.58 6611 . 0 3 391.0. 29.68.6 1, 81.7 3 471.4 18.154.95 F .............................. 2,589.17 723.05 15.58 119.3 13,464.5 27,67357 51,881.79 53,471.40 151,847.11 G .............................. 869.92 187... 4.81 29.37 3,4.4.82 7,673.. ....... ....... 34,289.13 H1 .............................. 4...... ..939.1. ........ ........ ........ 4.847.18 .6666... ........ ........ 2,939,15 H9 .............................. ........ 6666.... ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ 2.939 15 H ..... .. . 3 .............................. ........ .27 ...... ........ .27 ........ ........ 1,473.80 ........ ........ ........ ........ 1.473.80 Total .............................. $42,267.94 13,645.99 298.08 2,958.75 136,422.31 118,354.03 80,272.45 76,780.45 $470,000.00 P. W. A. Proj. No. 1245-P. Grease & Grit Chamber .................. ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ 2,869.05 3,130.95 6,000.00 Total Outstanding Dec. 31, 1944.... $42,2G7.94 12,645.99 298.08 2,958.75 136,442.31 118,354.03 83,141.50 79,911.40 $476,000.00 SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE DISTRICT Salem, Massachusetts APPORTIONMENTS FOR 1944 1044 1944 Apportionment Apportionment for for Total Appor- Construction Maintenance tionment Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Mental Health (Danvers State Hospital) $19,813.30 $2,364.52 $13,177.82 Essex County Tuberculosis Hospital District 3,237.17 921.41 4,158.58 County of Essex, Essex County Industrial Farm 76.33 37.67 114.00 Essex County Agricultural School 758.62 73.78 832.40 Town of Danvers 34,929.93 5,859.65 40,789.58 City of Beverly 30,511.47 8.344.07 38,855.54 City of Peabody 21,950.77 28,184.40 50,135.17 City of Salem 21,202.41 279252.88 48,455.29 $123,480.00 $73,038.38 $196,518.38 SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE DISTRICT Salem, Massachusetts APPORTIONMENT OF MAINTENANCE FOR 1944 Common- wealth of Mass., Dept. Essex of Mental County County of Essex Health Tobacco- Essex, County (Danvers losis Essex Co. Agriicul- Town City City City Total State Hospital Industrial total of of of of Hospital) District Par. School Danvers Beverly Peabody Salem Total Actual Amount, Maintenance 447.50 Apportionment for 1943 .......... $72,673:38 2,483.34 971.30 40.09 75.80 5,441.35 8,557.52 27,656.48 27,447.50 Total Estimated Amount, Mainten- ance Apportionment for 1943.... 76,370.00 3,329.78 1,305.36 54.19 100.23 5,631.28 9,191,88 28,583.78 28,173.50 1943 Balance ..................... 3,696.62 846.44 334.06 14.10 24.43 189.93 634.36 927.30 726.00 Total Estimated Amount, Mainten- ance Apportionment for 1944.... 76,735.00 3,210.96 1,255.47 51.77 98.21 G,049.58 8,973.43 29,111.70 27,978.88 Net Amount Maintenance Appor- tionment for 1944 ............... $73,038.38 2,364.552 921.41 37.67 73.78 5,859.65 8,344.07 28,184.40 27,252.88 SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE DISTRICT Salem, Massachusetts ACTUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS— 1944 Common- wealth of Mass., Dept. Essex of Mental County County of Essex Health Tubercu- Essex, County (Danvers lasts Essex Co. Agricul- Town City City City Total State Hospital Industrial tura] of of of of Hospital) District Farm School Danvers Beverly Peabody Salem A. From Institutions to Ferncroft Station ...................... 343.66 133.22 5.36 11.36 ........ ........ ........ ........ 493.60 B. From Ferncroft Station to 800 ft. east of Danvers line...... 1,146.38 453.57 19.32 33.28 2,824.65 ........ ........ ........ 4,477.20 C. From 800 ft east of Danvers line to Juniper Cove Junct .. 559.67 219.67 9.15 17.14 1,416.96 4,591.09 ........ ........ 6,813.68 D. In Peabody .................. ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ 2,604.50 ........ 2.604.50 E. From Peabody and Salem Boundary to Juniper Cove June ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ 23,955.96 26,206.68 50,162.64 F. From Juniper Cove Junction to Outlet ................... 1.21 .46 .02 .04 3.34 10.09 15.23 15.85 46.24 G. General Expenses ............ 380.63 145.43 5.60 13.66 1,048.47 3,172,21 4,787.26 4,981.18 14,534.44 Total Maintenance for 1944.. $2,431.65 952.35 39.45 75.48 5,293.42 7,773.39 31,362.95 31,203.71 79,132.30 SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE DISTRICT Salem, Massachusetts MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT 1944 I 1943 Balances RECEIPTS Maintenance Assessments 3,696.62 Employees' War Savings Bonds 62.23 $3,758.85 1944 Assessments 73,038.38 Temporary Notes: Maturing Nov. 20, 1944 55,000.00 Maturing Nov. 20, 1945 3,000.00 58,000.00 Miscellaneous Receipts 166.62 Payroll Deductions: Employees' War Savings Bonds 1,057.48 Pay-as-you-go Income Tax 3,164.92 4,222.40 Total $139,186.25 EXPENDITURES Materials and Expenses $39,445.43 Salaries and Wages: Net Amount Paid Employees 33,506.61 Contributory Retirement De- duction 1,695.94 War Savings Bonds Deduction 1,057.48 Pay-as-go Income Tax De- duction 3,164.92 Mass. Hospital Service Deduction 222.10 39,647.05 Purchase of Employees' Pay- roll War Savings Bonds 1,046.40 Income Tax Paid to Government 3,164.92 Temporary Notes 55,000.00 Discount on Temporary Notes 206.44 Cash—Bank Balance: Maintenance Balance 602.70 Employees' War Savings Bonds Balance 73.31 676.01 Total $139,186.25 16 The costs for the purposes of apportionment are pre- scribed to be allocated by the Board in the following man- ner:— A. Costs to be borne by Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, Department of Mental Health (Danvers State Hospi- tal), Essex County Tuberculosis Hospital District, Essex County Industrial Farm, and Essex County Agricultural School. B. Costs to be borne by said institutions, and the town of Danvers. C. Costs to be borne by said'institutions, town of Dan- vers, and city of Beverly. D. Costs to be borne by the city of Peabody. E. Costs to be borne by the cities of Peabody and Salem. F. Costs to be borne by said institutions, town of Dan- vers, and cities of Beverly, Peabody, and Salem. G. Costs to be borne by said institutions, town of Dan- vers, and cities of Beverly, Peabody, and Salem. H.(H,-H2-H,-H,) Costs to be borne by said institutions respectively. AGREEMENTS, DEEDS, LAND TAKINGS, ETC. Agreements, deeds, land takings, and other recorded documents, etc., made by the South Essex Sewerage Board from December 31, 1943 to December 31, 1944, are as fol- lows:— No. 51. Valuations for maintenance received from the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation, for apportion- ment purposes. No. 100. Report of an audit by Director of Accounts, of the accounts of the Clerk and Treasurer of the South Es- sex Sewerage District, for the period from December 1, 1943 to September 30, 1944. Dated Nov. 1, 1944. Respectfully submitted, ELIHU A. HERSHENSON, Treasurer and Clerk. Salem, Mass., December 31, 1944. 17 j l0m 8.'62-00 7.861. . ' THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS ` * DEPARTMENT OF PUBIJC HEALTH SPATE HOUSE, 1iOSTON 38, MAM r y i . id`ll.y � W 4'+vt.#+Nja.��i�a WriR lwvw,y�..` MMr wYY+ FiV Y..W�. Q•� y9 {Iw+*�*�'�"AV •. ,• ' ' {�wst: aY•;ti$' .00 23; 400 VO4,tiv: t!:t lio=.:4 to 4,N-jt tt�) Coww ova l�«t t F.�,7»r� � -vt t;4o . i.*�;J a: la Ch,;. t>x' I;.% a , =I L;,.+"w'i't.:G}a 4.44 '0« FG't zo* alvo "" j�Iµwh • 4'$.`SL. '`s.L�:t + +i+ ^Qi"`�"r"s .�v„Aw. 'jr.+"�tzgeiK.'t .a. '9`e_w +. , , t Se .' t.bili t It U UC-.:. td.barrtctl c.���.i��u,,tpqy, %a..tt t 'W. QQ yy' �� r ' • ao D4+;iy� ,' t 'c F':Z�e.L�ht 'tY'«.';'�v,:k'X:.1 _�* . Y 4P;.ae1�p• •"�' p.'W...: y` w'�4 . 3a�- '� � L.1.4 .7 L.iWt� yS.i into W.4i <..{.�r1w+r.:i4i ww�• ♦ 1 x Y , �' ., ♦ ' iM1{�LM#ITMR{j,M!IMvG VYh44.a.:n�i4�Y.i� r s r ' w.R Minutes of the meeting of the Ulso Board of Health held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, October 6, 1944, "eating called to order at 4s35 Pe Me by William ye McDermott. Me Do$ Chairman; all members present, also Mayor Edward Ae Coffey, City Bngineer Frank Pe Horse, Sanitary Inspector Michael Jo Trainor, Plumbing Inspector Peter Pe Griffin, the members of the Peabody .Hoard of Health# consisting of Ralph Pr McCarthy* its De, Chairman, Leonard Po Conway and Charles He Cotton, and Agent Leonard be Jones and Plumbing Inspector Cornelius Pe Sheehan of the Peabody Board of Health* Dre MoDermott staid he had invited the Peabody Board to be ' present to see if there was some way they could eo-operate on the Worth River problem; he did not know how bad It was In Peabody, but it was very bad in Salem. He had been on the board of Health for thirty+three gears,; for the first ten he had mentioned in each annual report that the North River was a nuisance and should be attended toe There were certain factors he would like to brim; out, We have not been free from violations, our tanneries have done damage; but there is no doubt the nuisance exists above the Peabody line. He said he was not an engineer and could not give details, but we have obtained tnaunotions against 'ten or more Peabody factories, We 'snow that the South Essex Saw- crag* Board is throwing sewage into the river, and the City of Peabody is throwing sewage through a by-pass into the river. He wanted the Peabody Board to come down to see what could be done; he hoped we would be able to do some- things had It was a big problems A short time ago samplestaken from the Korn heather Factory, which axsalysis showed to be contaminated* Ae Co Lawrence had a place which overTbwed into the river at times. The Mayor had a headache over the whale thing and was trying to olear It up. (Drs McDermott here read several reports of samples taken from Peabody ,faotories. ) He would like to have a good, free, open discussion and see if we could get anywhere. Drs McCarthy said the by-pass which had been mentioned was an the property of the South Essex Sewerage Board, although It had undoubtedly been opened many times by the City of Peabody. He understood that the sewer was not in good son- dition, that Incrustations were heavy and thick; cleaning of the part of the sewer in Peabody was at least five months overdue* There had not been much trouble because there was not much backflop, but it could easily cause trouble. They were awaking every effort to see that nothing did happen, but if the sewer backed up the sewage had to go somewrheree He understood that the sewers were not large enough and the pumps were not adequate. e. itro McDermott said he had heard as far back as 1926 that the pumps were not sufficient and could only pump with the tide. Dr, McCarthy said he understood the some condition prevailed toddy, He Inked biro SP+eehan if any changes had been made at the Pumping Station since the time Dr. McDermott mentioned. Or, Sheehan said no changes had been mads, and that the sewer had been full abouts two weeks ago although It wae 'better now. In one case, sewerage backed up Into the chimney of a store atnd' thoy had to wait four weeks for conditions to be right to olein it outs another time, sewage backed up through a *least. Dr* McDermott said he understood that when regular sewage met 1iaet incrustation 000urred. V ro Sheehan said he believed'the cleaning of the sswera was now parooeading pretty well, lie explained that Prom'Fomter Street down, the South Nesex 'Seweragte hoard took oar6 of it; above that, the City of Peabody did. The South Ussex Sewer- ago hoard now had men working on harmony drove Road. faro McDermott said he hied, heard the statement made that the lateral sewers in Peabody were not large enough to' take care of the sewage. l3'ro McCarthy said this condition existed only when there were heavy rains* He said there was no'raw sewage going into the river in Peabody* Air, Griffin said tb4t at Hrso' Murphy's place, the Lloyd Chem- Ioal works, sewage was going directly Into the giver. Mr, Sheehan explained that this place had been used as a storeroom for twenty gears, only for about the past six week* have ren been working there and using the toilet. As , soon as he heard about it, he had sewev connections wader Kr. Griffin acknowledged that as soon as Mr. Sheehan had been notified of this sondition, . he had it taken care of. Dr. McDermott said that the same condition had at tiniest pro- ,failed In ftlem, and aro Griffin answered that it was true. 11ro ilonway said he could not underetend why someone from the South Essex Sewerage hoard did not give any facts about the sewers. He spoke of, the amounts paid to them by Peabody and Saler". Dr.' Movermott said that what he would like to do would be to get all the tanneries cleaned up, and after that it would be up to the, South, Essex Beverage Board*, Dro McCarthy said he was quite sure the raw sewage had been taken care of, and his Hoard had been doing more work than the Salem Board seemed to think; but unfortunately, tanning was a dirty industry. Ur, Sheehan said he did not know of one ,place in the City of• Peabody where human sewage was going into a brook; there had been plenty, but in the last twenty years he had seen to it that it was taken out* Dr, MoDorrmott .said it was the tannery waste we would like to get rid of. ITS thought the odor was oaused by fleshings; bubbles came up which were undoubtedly hydrogen sulphide,. People *peinted their houses, and overnight they turned dark. He asked the Mayor if he would like to speak. Mayor Coffey said he did not wish to say anything for fear it. would be interpreted as being political, and tae did not want it to be ,political. He thought that if the Poabody Board of Health would block the by-pass and the sewer over- flowed, it would bring the matter to a head, meaning that the South Nsaex Sewerage Hoard was not capable of taking care of it. He was trying to get an opinion from the Cit1 aolicitor relative to closing another by-pass in Salem, Ile realized that blocking the gate would cause trouble in Peabody, but it would be- fairer to have the trouble, in Peabody. Dr, McCarthy said they could not tolerate, closing the gate very long or the would drown in the sewage. It Would take a long time toar the South Essex Sewerage Hoard to build bigger and better severe. ar. McDermott asked Mayor Coffey if the material from the Peabody section of the river, would not be apt to flow into Salem if we followed our plan of dredging the canal;- the Mayor answered that it would, Dr, McDermott asked if it would be passible for Peabody to clean their pant at this same time. Ur. Cotton said he supposed their section needed dredging. Tar, McDermott said although mean people were opposed to dredging, in his opinion it wou never be cleaned up until the dredging was done; it would not stop contamination, but it would stop the condition which existed at the present ticme. The canal wee last dredged in 1917. Mr, Conway said that $18#003 had been spent in Peabody in 1936 to Olean the brooks. Mr, Cotton asked if colored water did any hares; Dr. McDermott answered that in his opinion it did not, ��4 JfRWQ mjtttRVeWJ*teA1Vmendoue' amounts of lira iqant into 4• tiro Griffin *bowed sows samples whioh were taken from the bed of the brook in Peabody. dr, Trainor said that about a week' aSo he saw sewage run* ning into the river from the Cox Feather Company., where he had never seen any oomin$ out before. Dr. McCarthy asked if 1t was, raw sewage; Mr. Trainor said that It wye�,ws'V and he had heard that they pumped it out every Friday afternoon* Far. McDermott said we had sent an inspector up to Peabody# and he took a sample From Kornss, which analysis Showed to be contsminatad. He said the trouble was to be there when they opened the outlets; it was a hard. fob to catch them at it. Dr* lWarthy naked iP they had a settling basin at the Cox leather Company. Sr. Sheehan said they did but it was. not in *tee• His. Gritfim said, he thought all the Peabody leather factories had settling basins. Mr. Sheehan said there were sixty or wore, aro Sheehan said that sewage from the Peter Sims factory was running into the river a short while ago. Mr. Conway said that both Salem and Peabody factories were putting sewage into the river. Fr. McCarthy Said his Board would pledge all their efforts to prevent the factories from patting anything into the river. Ur. Conway asked, if the Salem Board had any auggestions as to what they could do. Dr. McCarthy said that east because a man was a manufacturers he had nes right to pollute the river. Dr: MoDormott asked if Salem factories were not all Laken care of. ur. Griffin explained about Simbs ; their engineer said the waste was going into tae river because the sewer mould not take it• Wr. Sheohan said that what happened at Sims# was exactly what happened In Peabody; the sewers were not large enough to take care of all the sewage. tar, Griffin asks{d if A. Co Learrsneae did 'not have two Sections* one of which was connected with the sewer and one with the river* gr. Sheehan, said he did not knows Mr, Griffin said that was horn it was explained to Maxi, afro Trainor explained where It was located, near the crossing. Mr, Sheehan said there were two inspectors (sewer inspectors) in Peabody, and he only knew about the disposal of human sewag;e, 5• br, Griffin said that Norn was a perpetual violator. acre Sheehan read a seotlon train a report of the South Essex Sewerage board about opening the gates, lir, Griffin said to ask tero hsarse abet haat. Mr. 90"0 said he had been listening with interest and had heard a great deal of aritiolsm directed against the South Essex Sewerage Board, which he thought was unfair and unjust. Be believed ovaryone had a wrong Impression, Tbo South Bssex Sewerage Board bed no gates or valves which they oontrclledf the one in :Peabody was a, Peabody gate, mote a South Essex Sew+ erage Board ,gate, He said Peabody bad a member on that howl. The reports of the Board showed that their pumps were Inads- quuato, but this condition existed because legislators from Salem and Peabody opposed it when they asked the Legislature for money to increase. pumping capacity. They could not build a new station without additional authority. They were going In again this year acid hoped to have the support of Peabody and Sel.em. They would probably be grown out again for .lash of funds+. Vr. Convoy asked if, they would be able to to" oars' of the sewage 1.r they received the money for new pusrap Ing eequipment. Mr, Bassa replied that they could tithe oars of it today if the tanneries would tame the sludge out of it, The Mayor and Br. Horse load some discuasSion at this point about grease Ike the *ewers, Mr'. horse said the South Rosex Sewerage ':Board Had regulations about placing grease to seweres# but the manufacturers did not, cars about regulations; thesy pulled the boards aside and let It go Into 'the Gower, Mr. Griffin 3414 that was not hie experience; he asked whether or not the grease load any oommeroial value, Ur, Vose said the grease was of no valuep but it should not. gel .into the sewers, and if the sewers becatme plugged, who was to bla tee the South gasses Sewerage Board a36 the 'tanneriest He considered it very unfair to €sritIoise the South Essex Sewerage.-Roard for not increasing the pumping capacity whsn they had not been allowed to do so. Several members of both Boards said they had not heard this situation explained bef crew err. Morse said, he had seen aaustio lino an thick as this arca esomi.rrg out of Peabody sewers. Sir. Conway asked it the sewers were big onougt at present, tar, Uorse answered than they were; he also said they had been to the Legislature several .times for money for now pumping equiprment, 60, Dr* McCarthy asked how much money was needed 'for this purpose. ttr. Mors* said he thouOit they had asked for $1251,000 or. pos- si.bly $130,OOQ. In his opinion, you would never clean up North River until you cleaned up the source, and the tanneries are the souroe, Orr McCarthy asked it he considered it possible to olesan. up the condition entirely In a tannery city. Mr. Horse said that tie did, and that It must be done in Salem as wall as Peabody* The; Mast time the public Health Oommitt'ee of the lAgisleature . :down to view the river they found .St clear, because the factories had shut off; before ,that, a net had been spread across., the river and it showed all the evidence In the world. The Committee found sewage going Into the carAl from a pipe run Mason Street which had only recently broken and had not been. noticed; It was imsfaeediately repaired,, but the. Committee had received .an unfavorable Impressions. air. Coavay said that hes was situated .near one of the brooks In Peabody and noticed that the water was much Clearer on Sundays when the factories wore shut down. He risked what the South Essex tawareBoard would do to Correct conditions si they received the $1500000; would they be abler to prevent wage from 'backing up into Peabody? or. Morse said it would not 'back up now If the factories were forced to Seep the sludge out. The elation of opening the gate at Howley Street, Peabody# . was brought up again, Br. Trainor said he saw an employee of tJW South Essaex "Sewerage 'Board standing over the gate, watching the sewage come out; at than particular time, the Sato was open for three days.. ttr.. Morse insisted that the South Hoeex Sewerage Board had no gates. Mayor Coffey asked If when the sewage from the lateral sewers reached the main sewrer, the pressure was greater In the latter, was not: the gate opened to relieve the pressure? Ur.` Korea replied that this was truas, and the acme condition existed further down. Dr. Ho;iomott asked If he understood Up* Morse to say that the South Essex Sewerage, Board could take care of the sewage now if the wastes were 'kept out. .Ori Uerse said yea, except at abnormal timeat i " Or. BoDermott asked if there would still be an odor If only domestic wastes went into the river. Mr. Morse said yes, but it would not be the casae scall; most of the present objection- able odor was caused by fleshinge. Uri Norse said the gat* at Howley Street was not on the trunk sewer. O.r. Orlffin said the asap showed It to be on the trunk sewer* 7. Dr. McCarthy asked why the South Essex Sewerage Board did not ,ire any explanation of their position, after all the talk there had been. Or, Morse said he had no right to speak for the Board. They had a oonference with the 'Peabody city government a Few years ago= the city government had seemed very oo-operative and en» thuslastie,. but later they opposed the proposal. Tho ,south Essex Sewerage Board also had held meetings to which they in- vited the manufacturers, showing them what they were up against, but the manufacturers only laughed at them; now the Board was going to. bring them into court. DT-w aCarthy said they should; he would not wait another minute. Or, Worse spoke of caustic lime causing two inches of corro- sion in the sewers; the tanners said to build another one, whioh would cost 4160,000, He said again that the sewerage system was adequate except for the pumping station. Mr. Sheehan asked about pumping on ineoming tides. Or, gorse said they pumped regardless of the tides, according to the depth of sewage in the sewers. "Their well was only about three feet below the intake, whloh was not enough; they wanted a free outlet at all times, which they did not hade. But the plant is Aad; it was built in 1905. Or. Conway asked Mayor Coffey if he had opposed giving more money for pumping facilities when he was in the Legislature. Mayor Coffey said he had voted for the bill; he considered It very unfair to make the general acousation that Salem and Peabody representatives had voted against it without mentioning which ones had voted against it. Tie said the bill was linked because there was a fight, and it would be licked again because they were already fighting with the :Youth 'Essex Sewerage Board, Dr. McCarthy said that he appreciated Or. !gorse's answering questionso tero horse said .he was not supposed to answer questions for biro NoCarthy, who was the Peabody representative on the Board. Wayor Coffey said Thr. Morse was in a very peculiar position, since he was City Engineer and also a member of the 'youth Essen Sewerage board. He would not want to embarrass him by kzaving anything he said at :this meeting made public. or. McDermott said the meeting records were not to be made public; they were not to be given to any reporters, Or. Sheehan asked why not spend a million dollars and do a good fob, instead of the 0150000 the South Essex Sewerage Board was asking far. He also asked Mr, horse about the comparative merits of Diesel and other type engines. qtr. Morse said he liked Diesel engines although some people did not, but that was something that mould have to be worked Out. tiro Sheehan said he had been told that the present sewer system should run at half capacity to gat full efficiency; . he understood it was now running at full 'c eity. Would the expenditures Mro gorse mentioned bring it down to half ospacityl Mr. Norse said he thought it would. Eta said they had two problemes sludge and grease; it was -coming down from Peabody. Dr. McCarthy asked if the some condition existed in Salemo lir4 gorse said yes, but not as badly as in Peabody. Pte mentioned Several, firms in Salem that were bad offenders-- Slattery'* and Donnell & Mudge. He said the South hisses Soverage Board had no control over the north Enver; In , his opinion, the State Department of Public Health should be given authority over it. or. Conway asked how Mr. 'gorse thought the alAAge was . getting Surto the sewers: blr. Trainor said the pipe at SOW** ease right out of the beam house. *r. Morse said the severe were large enough under norrs2 oonditione, but they should not be a dumping place for everything, kir. Griffin asked if it were not true that the trunk sewer to the Peabody line was sagreat big settling basin; ter. Norse replied that he' would not say that, although sometimes It did sot as a fettling basin. Dr. McCarthy said the sewer system seemed inadequate to the manufacturers; about all they were allowed to put 3n was hot water* 11r. Morse said they meta allowed a certain amount of leeway, but they, went too for and made, trouble Doth for his Board and the boards of healthe ter. Sheehan sold that he and Dr>--firlffln had Been 8eer096 coming out the windows of tannAries, -where it had backed tap and flooded the places spoiling akl,us. aro Morse said the severe were adequate but the pumping station was not. Mr, griffin said he thought it was true that sludge was put Into the sewer to save the expense of cleaning settling bas- ins. Mr. Sheehan said the Peabody manufaoturera `spent thousands of dollars a year for this purpose., , Mr. Conway said be saw trucks loaded with waste going all day from g: 1i. C. Lowrenceapo go underitood there was a new machine which could be placed near the entrance to the sewer and take out anything that should not enter. Dr. McDermott said that although all the factories had- set-tling blame# at night they opened up and let everything into the river, Wr. Conway spoke of a meeting he had attended in' Peabody;, the. Board went to Karats, looking for trap moors: He- awed how they could stop this dumping. Dr.' 'goDermott said the manufaoturers are making plenty or, money now and can afford to take care of their wastea .pro. perly. gr. Conway thought the ,problem was probably trying to got help enough to , take the stuff awayi Dr. .ilcCartby gild there are two sewer inspectors In Perabody. One of the abler troubles :ie throwing tau, such sludge and grease into the sowers; it they can stop that, it would help to keep th4 'sewer 'from *logging. Ties said the human aewage was pretty well taken care ot. Mr; Brown, sold that it .Peabody would turn over a pure river to us at the Salesa«Peaibody line, it would be up to us to take care of it from there. Mr, Griffin said the Say; State Chemical Co. is ,putting stuff Into the river# but they are going t* try to put it into the aeWe�'• Ur* atorse said the same problem dla not exist in the €sewers ton years .ago that dose today; the tanneries now use kerosene to 'clean eking, whlch to part of the reason 'thers is so' smsob greaaa., Dr. Bo'Oartby asked what cam sown the Danvers River. Mr: Sheehan said the main street in Danvers to not sowered. There to a new scbool from; which sewage was supposed to go Into a aeptie tank; this is not working and the sewage goes Into the river. ' 1t is turned by incasing tides into Borth River* qtr. Worse did not think it could do muds da d. 'kr. Sheehan quoted from a repsrst made in 1923 by X* Ho Oood- noug,'hr Chief Engineer for the state Department of Publie Health. fir. Morse died not thintt the situation was an bad to this report stated. lir. McCarthy asked about pumping the sewago out to Great Haste, and inquired it it casae in on the beaches. Mr. 'horse said that at times In the past he had seen test Beath covered with grease balls, but you doth see much of that, toda because most of the grease is taken out at the Pumping elation. Dr, HODeranott said that in 1914 he had asked the :Mate depart- ment of Public Health to examine the olam beds along the Salem shores, and even then they were all Pound to be oontaminated, Dr, NoCarthy said there was human waste along the beaohe's which was said to come from the pumping station. Mr. Morse did not consider this possible; the outlet has been moved half' a smile out beyond Oreat Hosts, The force min is now 54" instead of the original 30"; the 30" main had become so encrusted it was aotually only the equivalent of a 12" Pipe. Or. Sheehan asked about finding human filth at:Wabb Street. Ayr: Morse said it was the overflow ffm the trunk sewer, Ur. Sheehan and Vr. Morse had some conversation about the ' .. size of certain valves, the disposal of storm water„_ eto. Dr. VoDorgmott said the smatter had been talked over prett7 thoroughly, and proposed another meeting ih a monthts time. Dr, Vo0arthy said his Board would do everything it could, and if the Salem, Board and the South Bssex Beverage Board would do the same# he thought 3t would help to relieve the nuisance, Wr, capon asked what Mro gorse would suggest the .Board do' to seaiat the Routh Sesex Sewerage Board in geetting more funds from the Legislature* Mr, Mores said the Vayor would take care of that. Dr, McDermott thanked everyone for their -co-operation in attending the maeeting. Adjourned at 5655 'P. M• Attests cleft 1 � J II V v` Olnutes of the meeting or the won Board or Health bald In the Council Chamber# City Ball, oatober 6. 1N4. Meeting called to order at 405 ro No by t€Illiaan ye McDermott@ go D*# Chairman; all members present, also ttayor Edward +A. Coffey# City Engineer Prank ?+ Xersa,. ftaltary Inspector Michael J. Treainor# numbing lnspoctar Peter P. Oriffla, the member* of the Teabody Board of noulth, 'consisting or Ralph Po XoC*rthy# g. Do# ahairman# Loonard. p. Conway. and 00,V1e0 He CottWo and A64ftt Isconard .Do Jones. and Plumbing tnoi ectoar Cornelius r. [Sheehan of the Peabody Board of goalth* Dr* HaDornott sold he bard Invited the Peabody Board to be present to sea if there sae novae may they could ao"porate on the North [river problem; he acid not know how bad It was In ftAbody, but it was very boo, ica Salome' he bad been on the Board of Health for thirty-three fears; ,r*r ,tb* first 'Con he had nentloned In esch annual ,report that. the Itorth lover was a nuisance and should be, atteendeaod to. ,There wore certain factors he would 'llke to bricdg out. We have not boon tree from violations# our tanneries have done, derattagel but there leo no doubt: ts}is nuisonce, exists above the Peabody line. He acid be was not an eeaaglneer and Oenald not ' give 4et4lls, but we have obtained injunctions Against 'ten, or snores Peabody ta+ator las. Ito [snow that [tie €36utats Essex gew- arago Board Is throwing sewage into the river,, and the City of Peabody is throving, sewage through,a .bar-;;ossa Into the river. He wanted -the Peabody board to come down to see what could be done; he hoped we would be able to do some- thIng, although it was a big problems A short titoe agovee toad taken samples from the [Corn Leather Pactory, *blah anslysls showed to be contaminated, A. Oe Lawrence had a plane which overfloied koro the river at tiaxees.. The igaypr ho4 a hoen"oho over the whole taxing and was trying to• clear It up. (taro 11oDe7rmott be" read soverol reports of samplos taken rico Peabody factories,) He would like to have a goody free; open discussion and see ,it we could got anywhere. Dr, "L oCarthy said the 'by-pass mblob had beeen mentioned was an the property of they South Bssex Sewerage Board# although It had undoubtedly been opened many times by the City of Fosbod7o fate un4orstood that the sever was :not lagood acus• dltion, that Incrustations 'were boavy and thick; *loaning of the hart of the sewer In Peabody 'was at least [Five months overdue# There, had ;not been scums ttrou'bliv booauae there was not Bauch baout'low, but it could easily cause 'trouble. They wore making every effort to .ove' Chat ,nothing did happen, tut If tbo sever booked sip, the, sewage had to go somewhere* Ito unAerstvad that the severs weir,. not U- roee enough and the Pumps were not adequate.' IIT. 9000x tit sold he had board as far back as 1926 that the l%Mpa were not sufflatent and could only ;puM with the t1dew Dr, OoCartb:7 scald he understood the. some eoaedition prevailed todaayaOe aske4 kr. Sheehan If ora chaangos had boon ,de awt %be ,Pumping Station since the Bose pr. €ta Dermott mentioned. Urs Shoeban said no obangoo had been aaade* and that the 'sewer had beam MI about two weeks *$a although It woo' bettor moo In one. mase, oewerage backed upInto tkse Chimney of a store anal. they .had to waft four weeks ,rar conditions to be rloit to Olean it out; another time, sewage backed up through a Dar. McDermott sold he understoodthat3 whon regular sewage not hme, InoruettatIon 000urrodo kt^w aboahan said he behaved;" the clean>rntg of the severas was now pros 000ing •pretty we110 She 'explained that frog'postor dtreot downs ttte nth 1Saas" Beverage Board took flare of lt; above 'that, - the City of Posbody dial. the South gears% Sawai*+ ago Board now had'zen working on Harmony trove Roaad. torr MoDeeroott said he hand heard the statement shade that the lateral sewers In Peabody were not large enough to tsars care of the, sewage. Dr# VoCarthy sold this oondition. existed only when there wore heavy ralas r He said there was no•raw sewage Soing Into the river In ,Peahodq. ''re Orlffin .&44 that at Mrs. UmVh reo plaoe, the Uald €hearYw i.oab 'eorko, sewage *as going dirmotly Into the rivers ala*, Shosban etpUlned tbAts thle place had .!teen used as a storeroom for twenty year*; only ,for about the past six wreaks have aaeaw .Faeen working there and using the tolloto An soon as be, beard about tt, he had eeweass oonnectiorns aaade, Mr* QVIrtin seknovIodged that ae won a* Ore Sheehan had been notified of this Mondition, he U44 It taken: oare. or* Dr, atoDermott said that the saw oon4ltlon had at time pre- veiled ,In alerts, and tar. OrAfrin answered that 1t was true* tzar« donwray said be aou2d not underatand 'wh r c mreone from the death Uasax Sowerage Board dial not give any faots abouts the sowers. Rae epoke of the anounts paid to base by Peabody and :gaslewrr• rx. Ikopora att» said Haat what he would Ilk# to do would be to gat all the tanneries a leaned up, and atter that: It would be to the South .gssox 'lswweraaga Board. Dr* bo(olarthy said he moo atuito sure the raw oevade had '!sees: Wton oeare off# and his Board had been d?Ian more work than the dales Board seemed to think; but aanfortunately, tanning was a dirty Industryrr Ur* Sheehan .Gold he did not know of one pXaoe to the City ofPotbody wtse.rp hunan savage was going Into as brook; there had been plenty# Wt In. tho lasttwenty years he had seen to It that .It WAG taken oat• Sir`. %*Dornat!t said It waa the tannery waste we would like to get rid are He thought the odor .wsas oaunod by fleabin ,rsg bubbles aaame up which were undoubtedly hydrogen +aulphIde.. ft*pl* VATnted their houses* and overnight they turas dark* kap aaskod the Mayor If he would likes to speak. V ayor,Coftey said he 414 not mash to. say anything, for, fear It'vouulA be Interprated ,ao being polItIo4lp ", he did not want It to be politleals so thought that if the Peat4dy 1 eokrd of Health would blook a by-peas *asci the #ewer. ovor« Msad# It ward bring than oatter to ak heaad, peaa;ning that . the South Ussax .Sewerage ftard was not capable of taking *are of It, as was trying to get on opinion from the 'Ot.ty Sollcltpr relative to plosIng araoth0r ,byp4saa in $&Ion* He redllsed that blocking the gate would cause trouble In Peabody, but It would be., fairer to have the troeable In �eia�744yr Dr. Uo0arthy maid 'the could asst tolerate closing the gate Very long or they would drown In the cavaeger It would take a long time for the South Sesex Sewerage Board to build bigger and better sewers, Dr. UaDernott aacked Mayor Coffey It the Material, from the Peabody section of tho river wrou34 not be apt to flow into Saalon If we followed our plan of dredging the canal; the Mayor answered that It would* Dr. RaDer rota aaked It It mould bbe p000lto feats Peabody to clean their part at the OWN1me Uri Cotton said hoe supposed their section needed dredging. 'kyr. Vaabormott sal4 'dl,thouga maw people were opposed to 4redginap In his opinion it won 4 noiear be cleaned up until the dredging *so done) It would net stop oontasmina don, but it'woulal step the oon4ttlon aah existed at the present tia+se. The 60041 was lana dredged In 1917. Uri Convoy said that 018,000 had been spent In Peabody In 1936. to clean the brodkow Airs' Cotton aeko4 if colored water diol any harm; Dr. MoVermowtt y enamored that In his opinion It did snot. �ai, ar 't to ewtendmua amounto of liner Gant Into 410 Wr. Griffin showed aoams saamplea ehiah were, token frm the bad of the brdoU to ftaabody. Ur. Trainor said that about a wee2t sago he ase sewage arusar eaiM into the river fron the taws Leather Oonpany# where he had cover seen any coming out before. Dr. 940aarthy asked if It was raw sewage; hr. Trainor sold that 3t was, and he hoA heard that they pUhW.4 It out every . Prifty afternoeasa. bar. UdDormAt Said we had Bent ars inspeetor vada to reab"Is And he took a sawle from Nornos# which analysts showed to be darateeainated* ate said the trouble was to be there when they opesxaed the outlets; It was a hard Job to catch these at it:. Esr. RoCarthy asXa4 If they had a aetttlIng' baanin'st the Cox Leather, Company* tis*. Sheehan said trey 414 but 8t waw not In naee* or. airirm sold; he tihoUght 411 L the Pearbody leathery ara6tortes had settling basins. fir. MWShsf► said there' were sixty or sesame. ;Fr. Shooban *aid that sewage from the Peter Stare factory was aruasaisag Into the river aabort whiles sago. tor, Conway 'said'' that both dale = and Pesab*4 factories were putting sewage , ;sato the Maser. Dar. VoCasrtby send his Board would pledge all i,r efforts to prevent the foaWrloo frosam putting aenything into the giver. Uart Conway a h*4 If 'th6 dale board bad any suggestiona ewe to what; they oou34 400 Dro t£cCOr°thy said, that west bsonuse a aao as ananufaoturer, be bad no right to pollute than viver, Dr o McDermott asked If wesm r actories were not all toon care of* sin ., OrItTin explained about dtease ; "their engineer said the waaote was god Ihto fuss river bsoauase the asowev would not take It. U r. Zaesehan said that what bapapenedl'at Simst was exactly what happened In reabodys the sewers were not large onough to taste dare of all the seevas*# Oara et&'i:ffIn askead If R. al, TAwsranov did not have two sections# one of which was oeanncoted with the aewer and one with the rivenr. Mrs Sheehan WA he 414 not ';snow. tsar. Griffin said that was how it was explained to blot alar. Trainor explained where It was locat od, near. the crossings Mr. Sheaohan .said there were two tzasgseeators (sewer snap sdtors) in Vnebodys and he only knew, about the disposal of human sewaage. ter, Or i"M said that Rown was a perrpetual violator* Wre Sheehan road a section from a report, of the South #3aaex Sewerage Board about opo ning the gatep» Or*• Oriffi>an said to ask Lire Core* about that* er: dome said be had been listening with Interest and had heardv, great steal of criticism directed against the south 310sera 80waare" Roardo which he thought was ue'afalr and unjust* $* 'behaved everyone had a wroft Impression* Tho :South 'Resear Sewerage Board had no gate* or valves which they oon,trolled) the one in Peabody was a Peabody .gotof not a south ftsex Sew« orad* board $attar. He sols! Voubi4i had a meter on that Hoarde The reports of the Board showed that their pumps were inade- eyuaate, but this eondit~ion existed because legislators fr" Salem and Peabody opposed It when they asked the .T SIslature fon! Monsey to inaraase puVingg aapaoltye They. could not build a now station without adittlon xl .authority. They .areas+ g;€clog Ira again this year and hoped to have the support of Peab r and Sale** They would probably be thrown out again for .lack eat tuKr�3.ee ,Or. Conway asked if they would be able to take care of tho' sorevgo If they resolved the r. moy for now pumping equipmente ttre tremae replied thAat they could take care of It today It the, tanneries Vould take the sludge out of its The gayor and Ur. More* had same diaouatalotn at We, point about gross* Im. 'the sewers* itr.. fforss said the South Ramex Sewerage Board had regulations abouts pla ping grease In #ewesrs# but +Liao manufaoturers died not ' care about regyulationa' they palled the boards aside and let It do Into the sevor•e Urs tXritr~ia salad that was not his experiences he asked whether or not the grease had any oozoercial value, Vro ttstrsar said the grease was oi' rno value! but At should not go Rots the senterats and If the severe beoaarao pluggedw Who was to blaree@ tWflouth Usseax ftworage '$card err" tthe tannorieat! Xie considered it very unfair to criticize Use South Hasox OwNesrag;e Board for not Increasing tare puxping capacity when they had not been allowed to do so. Several menbero of both ftards said they had not heard this situation explaained before* sere Oars* .said he had sedan o4untle 'U!ie as thick as his arm casing out of Peabody severs. Mr. Conway asked it the showers were bigenougi at present, Ur: horrsra answered that they were; he also said they had been to the lagislaturo several tine for money for new pumping oquipment. Dr. VoCarthy asked how much money was ,needed for this purpose. Vr« Boras said he thought they baa! ackod for 4425#000 or pas« aiblj $2500€ OO, in Tai# opinion# you would never clean up. Routh River until you elad4s4 up the souroop and the tanneries are the source* ur4 oCartUy asked It he oonaidered it passible t<o eleau up,. tate asenaUtloa eAtlre,y 'ins a trasnneay' allay« . , .. ko rse .said thtt he dids ann4 that it out be done In Salem as well as ftaabodj* no Istat time the Public Health Coes tees of the Issgiala ure baw doses to vibe the river they routed .it clear, beaunee .the faatorlea had shut off; before thetz, a net d been spread across The river sand it showed, all the evidence in the worl4« The Corittsee fouand, asewage going Into the canal from a pipe on Mason 4trest which had only recently brokena and had not 3 eu notietettx It was ionedlately repsairsd, but .the OWmlttee had reaaeived wa unfavorable impression, Ur. Caawny *aid that he was situated noav ouo of the brooks In Peabody ", noticed that the water was saucer# oiearsr on . 11uzsdaye then the factories ware shut do as He asked what the youth Usox !awmraga Board would do to earnest oonditions, if they resolved the SC,006; would they be able to prevent so±mage frrm backing up tato Peabody? Urs Marrs# sold It would not back up now if the factories wore !`a"'Od to Ucep tae sludge saint, The gnoatlon of opening the gate at Howley Stareett# Peabody* +asset brouabt up wixn. qtr. Trainor said he maim an employee of tErae 3outh 3c4ex Sawarage Board standing over the gate# wmttchinS the sewage co-.,w out; at that particular time, the gate woo opens for three day$* Mr., Mouse insisted that the gouth Essex Severage Board bad no ga;trsse« Vayonr Coffey asked if whan the sevago from the lateral sewers reacted the rraain sewers the pressure was greater in tine latter` was rant tint gets opened too relieve Om pressure? ter. Vorrse replied that trhlo was true, and the saam oonsdition exisetaed further dom-b Dr* mint adroit asked If be understood U'r. Morse to any that the $out# vl asex 3oweraga Board could take care of the sea" #este if the wastes were Rept onto T#r, hearse said yes, except at abnormal tlmets» Dr, NoDeroott a s%e4 It tChero would .stip: be an odor if only 4*Megtlo winste .'merit into the rl.v+err. sir« ;#erne said yses, but It would not be the o ra'av anellr ,most of the present ob3eastionw able o4or was caatmod by fleabl age. Ur. horse said the gest* at Howley Street iaae 'reset on the trunk sewer* dr. OrIffien said the map showed it: to be on the tfrarrk le�aex`• 7* LV* #oCarthy asked vhy the South Neoax 3swera&ge board did not give any e-eplaraatsion of their position, after all tbo talk there ,had boeta* Hr* horse said he had no right to speak f'or the boards They had a conforenoo with the Peabody city goverment a few gears agog the ottty Sovermsont had seem" very co-operative and an- thuaiastio, that later they opposed the proposal. °dile South Essex sowerage Board also had heft meetings to which they in- vited the wsnuracturers, showing them what they were up agalostr but the manufacturers only lau*wd at then; now the Board was Solna to bring then Into court* Dr* V6Cartla7 said they should; he would not wait another ml.nuts* Hr* Vorse spoke of caustic .lime causing two inches of corro- Mora in the sower*; the tannors said to build another ono, which would cost 4160,000* He said again that the sewerage system was adequate except for the pvmpina station* ter» Shoehan aakad about p=pU% on lnoomie g tides. Or. Verse said they pumped regardless of the tidea, socordlag to the depth of sewage in the savers. 1hoir well, arca only about gree teat 'below the intake, which was not onou&j tbayr wanted a free outlet at all times which they did not have. Out the plant is old; it was built in 1909* Or* Conway Asked Mayor Coffey if he had opposed giving more am ney for pumping facilities when he wee to the Legislature* Mayor Coffey said he had voted for the bill; he considered it very unfair to make the general accusation that Won and Peabody representatives had voted against it without mentioning wbioh ones had voted against it* He said the bill was licked because there was a fight, and it would be lioked again because they were already fighting with the Uouth Hssoa Sewerage Board* Dr, NeeCarthy said that he appreciated Mr, Vorseaa answering questions* Up* Morse said he was not supposed to answer questions for 'fir* UoCartby, who was the Peabody representative an the Boards Vayor Coffey said tar* Norse was in a very peculiar position* since he was (city . ;laser and also a member of the South Ussex Sewerage Board. He would not want to embarrass his by having anything he said at this meeting wade public* 0r, Vo ernott scald the meeting retards were not to be mado faublioj they were net to be ,given to any reporters* Mr, Maoeban asked why not spend a minion dollars and do a good ,job, instead of the 41900000 the South ltssex Seweerage Ro"4 was asking for* He also asked Str* gorse about the oomparaative amorits of Diesel and other type ovaineaq *rt Morse said be 11100 Diesel sndines altthougU Gone people 414 scot„ but that was sorset 4ngt, that would have to be worked outs a Mrr' Sheehan said he had been told that tato 'prosent sewer systtaaas should scan at half capacity to t full offlclenoyj', he undaratoo4 it, was aloe run ing at ;Cull oapaoitya would the .aatpsndituras Urm Nor$e mentioned bring its down' to half 'oapao1 pre troves said be !thought it swoulda Tie said they had, two probleme, sludge and ;gsreasai It' w" *owing doerri from Peabody, hra NeCarthy aaked If the save corAlttion existed In sal-a ine Ur. Norse saidyes, taut' not as badly'std in Peabody* ' Fie nantlonod severaal firms in baelem that weve ;bad offondersa»- $latterye o and Donnell a't budge. He sant the Routh gsnox $average Board hats no control over the North Rlier; in his opiniorn# the State Department of 1%blic ttaaltsh should be given authority over it. isra Conway asked how Mro Morsel thought the sludge was getting into the mowers. Wr# Trainor said the pipe at Kornis oasse right out; of the beam house. Oro boa's said' the severs were large enough under anwssaaasl cOndi,t ions, Phut they should not be a dumping ,place for evas�tt2iixsg. . Kra tiriffin asked If it stare not drama that the trunk Sewer to the Peabody line was a great big settling basin$ or* Morse replied that he would not Seale thats ;although sometimes It did not eas..,:s settling basin. Dr* McCarthy said$ the sever system seemed inadequate to tete a ganufaeturovaat about; all they were allowed to !tut In was hots waat:ero hr. horse said they were allowed a certain anow.it of !essays but they-went too for and made trouble Cloth for his $carts and tate boards of health* gre Moban said that he and Me* OrLffin had soon sewage *aming out the window* of tan 6riss where it had badkod up and flooded the placer spoiling okIns. Vro Morse said the sewers were adequate but the pumping station was not* hr. dariffin Said he thought it was true Unit sludge was put into the sever to save the expense of claiming; settling 'bas- ii S* era Meehan said the Peabody asnufaeturers spent thousands of dollars.a year for this purposoo Vr, Conway said he sawn truck* loaded with waste going all dray from �F A* C* 't awro neer e* ge understood the" was a new m aci the which could be placed neartho' tintranoe to the sewer and ; Matte out. anything that should not oaten* r* McDermott **14 that aal,thougb all the factories had set- fauns basins. at ;night they opossed asp wA loot: everything, into the rivesr. 3tr. 0arrneray 11110 Nt of a weetiag .hen had attended in Peabody; drat t+C�laard wexnt. Oc Rosas, lookiang for trap doors. He asked how they oould stop this 4uaep108 F, Dr. id0orrmeartts said the cmufootarsars are matins, plenty of money now and can afford to take care of their wastes pro- pearly.' ISr* 4tcaanw47 thought the ps+0b14M teas prohably trying to ,tot help, onoudh :has take the stuff away. Ar. NoCar" a4ld' th*re azre two newer Inspectors In Peabody. One of .the ohief troubles Is tbro stnd town awucsh al-ifte .avid grease into .the ,sewers; if they am atop 'thst, it woatld help to keep the sewev from o2agging* lie said the hman sewage was pretty well token care of e are grown said that if Poaat>ody would 'turn ever as pure river to us at the SaleasMPeaabody lieges it would be up to us to take caro or It frac there. iar* Oriffin said the Maayrftatre Chemical Coo is putting stuff Into the *river„ but they are going to try to pouts it Into the aewerr ' Or* aeras.said the sane problem acid not extst in the waxers teas years ago that does today; the tanneries now use kerosene to clean *kine, which to parts of the reason Mere is as moots grease* r* ooSarthyaeked what camas down the Danvers River* wro dhoehan said the in street in Manvers to not sowed. °ftsro�,Is as new school from whIGh sewage was supposed to go Into a• septic tank; this in not working and the s*waga goets Into the rivers It to turned bj lxuaorIng tides Into north Fiver* krr. Worse did not think It could do muah damage* or* Meehan quoted from as .report made In 1923 by X. Uo trood- novo, Chief braver for the State Getasrtmoat of public Healono or, gorse did not think the situation wase as bead as this report striated* $fir. HoCarthy asked about pumpiz4a to eow"o out to Croat mate, and Inquired It it; o#ws In on the beach*** s -Aro Morse said Haat at time In the past he .had .*seen 'gest Beach oevered with grease malls, but you 4oaft *see much of lot that today bacauss moot of the grate is taken out at the Dr# McDermott said that in 1924he hath asked the State Depart- ment of Pul4le Boalth to examine the clan bWS along the .Palem obares, and even thea they were .all fours .to be contaminated* 1Dr. McCarthy said there was huwAn aoets altae beaches which was Said to come fr*4 the► 'lpunping aetaton, re Norse, dtd not, oonsidaar thin ,poosible; the outlet 'hes, been moven , half ea V4116 Ant beyond Oreeaat Hastoo Tho torose Oslo is now 54w Instead of the marlnal 50"i. the 50" auto had become so aancr�t*%44 it was a+Atuaftly Only tho equivalcae►t of A 22" pip*, Wr. Meehan asked about ftndfn& httmn flith at l bli ,ptraait. Mr. Mores ;earl it was the overflow' tfto the tvunk sauwere ' art i#140han and * Rorsee had name conversation about the also of sortain valvas, the 416poeal or storu'vateer, otot or. MODernott said the w attar had teen talks csaeer pretty thor*ughlyv andproposed aanottaaar meeting its 'a :n0&as tine. br# McCarthy said his Board vould do esvearythLng it could$ and it the Halon card and tbee douth Raaex PAwe a Board wcealr3 do the asses he thought It would help to �ievae the nuisance• qtr, Bac�on asaic*d resat r. Worse, would suggest the Board,do to &aestat the South pssex Sewerage War* in tting more teaade- from the laagl alaature. lira 'Uoreete sod � mayor would take care of that. '. rcD*rftatt Baked, a VOryO O for their co-operation In tri jtaarrasd at t*.. altteutt {�lelr& n THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. . STATE HOUSE BOSTON 88, MASS. e� pay June 1 21, 195 George H. Griswold* Inc. 14 Franklin Street 841e4, blaseaahusetts Gentlemen: Under date of !Ruch 23; 1951, a communication was sent to you offering to review any plans whish you may care to submit for the constsu.ction of pretreatment work# prior to the discharge of the wastes from.. your ,plant into the polio sewers or other works to prevent the continued pollution of the North River from your plant. The Department of Pablio Health also req ted that it be notified without dalay relative to the status a etch plans. 8o far as can be determined-no tiv progress rs appea to have been made In regard to the stre abs n : problem at your establishment. The continued dischar of to#'from plant into the North River is a dlreot io f the law, i . , Chapter 615 of the Acta of 1945 and the ea an# latiam"s tad by the Department thereunder, copse o ch are appended. sofare s t the a relative to this matter to the Attorney s ation r the said act, the Department again requests t it dvise you as to your proposals on or before July , 951. ould ogre souse this matter further you a 1t wi v ion of Sanitary Engineering of the We n of isubl a , 'Room 511AO state House, Boston. Respectfully, Deputy Commissioner C Board of Health ,Salem Bnolosures • �`416i9 CHAPTER 615 AN ACT rYTFNDING THF AUTHORITY 07- TTT-; DEP,PiRTN SIT OF PUBLIC 1 .r LTH TO REGULATE POLLUTION 07 INIuiPTD AND TID1.L ViATEFS PITTEREAS, the deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose to alleviate cromptly existing conditions of pollution, therefore Lhis act is Y.ereby declared to be an emergency lav:, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health and convenience. Be it enacted, etc. , as follows : Section five of ciiapter one hundred and eleven of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the paragraph inserted by chapter three hundred and eighty-eight of the acts of nineteen hundred and forty-one and inserting; in -place thereof the following paragrapho - It shall from time to time, after notice to all persons in- terested and a public hearing, and subject to the approval of the governor and council, prescribe and establish rules and regulations to prevent pollution or contamination of any or all of the lakes , ponds , streams, tidal waters and flats witiin the commonwealth or of the tributaries of such tidal waters and flats ; provided, that nothin contained herein shall affect other powers and duties of the department as defined by any general or special la,a. Said rules and re.-ulations, after being so prescribed and established, shall have the force of law. Whoever after due notice continues to violate any such rule or regulation shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars to the use of the commonwealth. The publication of any such rule or regula,ion made by the department under this section in a newspaper of the town where such rule or reyulati_on is to take effect or, if no newspaper is published in such to:ira, the costing of a c-) )y of Z such rifle or regulation in a public ,dace *,herein, shall belegal notice to all persons ; and an affidavit of such publication or posting by the person causing such notice to be pl.zblished or posted, filed and recorded, with a copy of the notice, in the office of the town clerk of such town, shall be admitted as evidence of the time when, the place w,iere and the manner in which the notice was given. The supreme judicial or superior court, upon the application of the department, or upon the ap,,lication of any party interested, with the annroval of the department, may enforce such rules and regulations, and restrain the use of occupation of the premises or such portion thereof as the department may specify until such rules and regulations have been complied with. Approved July 17, 1945. THE COifI„ICNC;r-.LTII OF i+iASSAC?:USETTS DEP ARTPIENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH RULES AND REGULATIONS TO PREVENT POLLUTION OR COMiIIIINATION OF ANY OR ALL OF THE LAMES, PONDS, STREAI''S, TIDC_.L i7ATERS eND FLATS WITHIN THE COI�IP,IO1VPM'.iLTII OR OF THE TRIBUT..RIES OI' SUCIi TIDAL 1,7AT_,R3 Ai,ID FLATS The Department of Public Health, acting under the authority of Section 5, Chapter. 11l of the General Laws, appearing in the Tercentenary Edition thereof, as amended by Chanter 615 of the Acts of 1945, and every other act thereto enabling, hereby prescribes and establishes the following rules and regulations to prevent the pollution or contamination of any or all of the lakes, ponds, streams, tidal waters and flats within the Commonwealth or of the tributaries of such tidal waters and flats. 1. No sewage and no human excrement or compost containing human excrement, and no douse slops, sink wastes, or waste water which has been used for washing or cooking, or other polluted water, shall be discharged or put into any lake, pond, stream, tidal water and flat within the Common- wealth, or into a tributary of suciz tidal water and flat, except as may be approved by the Department of Public Health when in the opinion of the said Department the 'best practicable and reasonably available means to render harmless such sewage, human excrement, house slops, sink wastes, waste water or other polluted water have been provided in accordance with plans approved by the Department. 2. No garbage, manure, or other putrescible matter whatsoever, shall be discharged or put into any lake, pond, stream, tidal water and flat within the Commonwealth, or into a tributary of such tidal water and flat, except as may be approved by the Department of Public Health when in the opinion of the said Department the best practicable and reasonably available means to render harmless such garbage, manure, or putrescible matter have been provided in accordance with plans approved by the Department. 3. No manufacturing refuse, or waste product, or polluting liquid, or other substance which by itself or in combination with other substances is of a nature poisonous or injurious either to human beings or animals, or any putrescible organic matter whatsoever, shall be discharged or put into any lake, pond, stream, tidal water and flat within the Commonwealth, or a tributary of such tidal water and flat, except as may be approved by the Department of Public Health when in the opinion of the said Department the best practicable and reasonably available means to render harmless such mamifac- turing refuse, waste product, polluting liquid, substance, or putrescible organic matter, have been provided in accordance with plans approved by the Department. 4. No refuse, or waste product, or polluting liquid, or other substance of a nature poisonous or injurious either to human beings or animals, or putrescible organic matter whatso- ever from a tannery, currying shop, or other establishment or place where the skin, wool, hair, or fur, of any animal is treated, or from a slaughterhouse or other building for carrying on the business of slaughtering cattle, sheep, or other animals, and no wastes from a melting of rendering establishment shall be discharged or put into any lake, pond, stream, tidal water and flat within the Commonwealth, or a tributary of such tidal water and flat, in a manner which may be injurious to the public health, or may tend to create a public nuisance, except as may be approved by the Department of Public Health when in the opinion of the said Department the best practicable and reasonably available means to render harmless such refuse, waste product, polluting liquid, substance, putrescible organic matter, or wastes have been provided in accordance with plans approved by the Depart- ment. Vlado A. Getting, M.D. , Dr. P.H. Commissioner Prescribed and established by the Department of Public Health at the Meeting of its Public Health Council held on Tuesday, August 14, 1945. Vlado A. Getting, M.D. , Dr.P.H. Commissioner Approved by Governor and Council on September 19, 1945. Sm-6-'60802,336. THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ' PUBLIC HEALTH 'a STATE IIOUSE, BOSTON 68, MASS. yy,q� ' 114ta�V er 113, iV�aJ. , SIaS+�r�a ll. Gria�olai, Ino. I:r. OaorCa r-. flodsdon, .7r. 14 Franklin :treat uo3cm, Vassachu6otto OtAtlement The ;aeptirtuent of Nblia )geclth Ciithes to confirm the understwidiea„ of Ito Diws rict ;-.n-ineer rolativo to the dias,posal of Industrial roatea from the Suaahlbrwn -Lcather .Go. , . Ina. , et 14 rrwaWrlin f1trect, :alo*n. As ra rears 8.r the . conference atte adod icy the District L. nineer a t;:.a Division of :xxaitery S .inecrlat; of tbia Depart::or t 11 ptrtmont In of the underntandisal; thAt glans will be . ra 'or the collection of industrial x:aastoo rrom the r.-d Leather do.r Jao., and tho diselasrua o.f '^ x*a a 6 to V%101301 scroraCo syet6n ;kae parr : t aanu tzsne^ts i VI-At leather as:uavincaa will ni t d `. a 1= an A.roa Ir r they =y rL d fhair way into t A rt*a R v or ;ts tr;. rias. The trca� Cs t. t it becdvizod, 4a to the probobla ti^. q� rc eTc- �" plans. The Z�epart^�•cnt xrill rovierr a 4 h r'ay be aconteei for the dieposal of thew isa tr tl via to so ed in Section 17, Chapter lll 'of the Ge, r 1 laws thoul sa Ceara t diaaouas thida ratter further or tats dxtio"naa U ot n relative theroto, you sl hind (eo asult it the , vs. io caf UnIterryy Bnc,ineer na of the )q, arts n a Pub f'. Ith,, Ito= 5illd, Mote Ikruab, porton. l;aaspe?atfully, ' Cgaal4:sor• G Gtahlb-nan4 Lcather Co. , Die. 14 Z'rAx*liu .1treot: CRIc= noyrd, of grealth, 5alen * THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 33, MASS. z't'rn::xist 'T'"wstt ` (!tntic=cn. Int'N t`�} rvvvt� P4 Tot, r C:! ya�-4r y \t�� yy1C y Alts p t #n Vl".' city' r fl lcr. YDS i- � 4~]qi(F.A �}II W+�NV,s� cor •J+- I* t1w P*'rte-'nt lml V_Us# t{I V;* lA.^'_'ut7 t*,blll t�.,�t sed miA :j 2i°C �`_=* Aunt into t"lts Q: .tZ '":lit ', irmel - * rc= 11ta of cx'rrn:ftw. t,,Ulq i e.'tzz;v I 1 -'fin � �. . alcor z:r s r�r u2 ti '•; '3?�t't", b,�' ��' .�.. at cs.� � ""c'Fi�lct:� O t�h" tat' the ::i"C9 bo Clbc:tn'mc?. tette, IrcT thl ("'. `1 5 of Z. . 3(" ♦ atS1 V2„' C,Ln,,=.,t m k''1''`tZh"siln '�u.1_ti It bo v.471100?4 C.47Ct dX' pp��Q"� � . ' �""'+ � r� ,,qq�Frt f,iy.: yam,, �w . .- .• • 1 � '� �` ' L.;, i:.1':l�i :i!Z b,rL�• �Mw F'tA!"+YII:'w . 7atsit ul =lcn1t,1 : n-,lm-Tit'; C26 t c} t F "tl!)lla iT-plii, a; ",11.1 attIt€t ::611`1L' r0auti. V'�lcm r5'I.alou-"re e . CHAPTER 615 AN ACT EXTENDING THE AUTHORITY Or THE DEPARTWM OF PUBLIC !L"ALTH TO REGULATL POLLUTION OF INLAND AND TIDAL WATERS WHEREAS, the deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose to alleviate promptly existing conditions of pollution, therefore this act is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health and convenience. Be it enacted, etc. , as follows : Section five of chapter one hundred and eleven of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the paragraph inserted by chapter three hundred and eighty-eight of the acts of nineteen hundred and forty-one and inserting in -place thereof the following paragraph:- It shall from time to time, after notice to all persons in- terested and a public hearing, and subject to the approval of the governor and council, prescribe and establish rules and regulations to prevent pollution or contamination of any or all of the lakes, ponds, streams, tidal waters and flats within the commonwealth or of the tributaries of such tidal waters and flats ; provided, that nothing contained herein shall affect other powers and duties of the department as defined by any general or special law. Said rules and regulations, after being so prescribed and established, shall have the force of law. 1'Jhoever after due notice continues to violate any such rule or regulation shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars to the use of the commonwealth. The publication of any such rule or regulation made by the department under this section in a newspaper of the town where such rule or regulation is to take effect or, if no newspaper is published in such town, the posting of a copy of such rule or regulation in a public place therein, shall be legal notice to all persons ; and an affidavit of such publication or posting by the person causing such notice to be published or posted, filed and recorded, with a copy of the notice, in the office of the town clerk of such town, shall be admitted as evidence of the time when, the place where and the manner in which the notice was given. The supreme judicial or superior court, upon the application of the department, or upon the ap,)lication of any party interested, with the approval of the department, may enforce such rules and regulations, and restrain the use of occupation of the premises or such portion thereof as the department may specify until such rules and regulations have been complied with. Approved July 17, 1945. �l THE COIMTJONI 117"kl,T?I OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH RULES AND REGULATIONS TO PREVENT POLLUTION OR CONTE+It4INATION OF ANY OR ALL OF THE LAKES, PONDS, STREAKS, TIDAL WATERS aND FLATS WITHIN THE COIv1I,ION1.-2,:L117T OR OF THE TRIBUTARIES OF SUC:i TIDAL VIAT;,hS 6ND FLATS The Department of Public Health, acting under the authority of Section 5, Chapter 111 of the General Laws, appearing in the Tercentenary Edition thereof, as amended by Chapter 615 of the Acts of 1945, and every other act thereto enabling, hereby prescribes and establishes the following rules and regulations to prevent the pollution or contamination of any or all of the lakes, ponds, streams, tidal waters and flats within the Commonwealth or of the tributaries of such tidal waters and flats. 1. No sewage and no human excrement or compost containing human excrement, and no house slops, sink wastes, or waste water which has been used for washing or cooking, or other polluted water, shall be discharged or put into any lake, pond, stream,. tidal water and flat within the Common- wealth, or into a tributary of suc;i tidal water and flat, except as may be apnroved by the Department of Public Health when in the opinion of the said Department the best practicable and reasonably available means to render harmless such sewage, human excrement, house slops, sink wastes, waste water or other polluted water have been provided in accordance with plans approved by the Department. 2. No garbage, manure, or other putrescible matter whatsoever, shall be discharged or put into any lake, pond, stream, tidal water and flat within the Commonwealth, or into a tributary of such tidal water and flat, except as may be approved by the Department of Public Health when in the opinion of the said Department the best practicable and reasonably available means to render harmless such garbage, manure, or putrescible matter have been provided in accordance with plans approved by the Department. r� 3. No manufacturing refuse, or waste product, or polluting liquid, or other substance which by itself or in combination with other substances is of a nature poisonous or injurious either to human beings- or animals, or ark; putrescible organic matter whatsoever, shall be discharged or put into any lake, pond, stream, :' tidal water and flat within the Commonwealth, or a tributary of such tidal water and flat, except as may be approved by the" Department of- Public Health when in the opinion of the said Department the best practicable and reasonably available means to render harmless such manufac- turing refuse, waste product, polluting liquid, substance, or putrescible organic matter, have been provided in accordance with plans approved by the Department. 4. No refuse, or waste product, or polluting liquid, or other substance of a nature poisonous or injurious either to human beings or animals, or putrescible organic matter whatso- ever from a tannery, currying shop, or other establishment or place where the skin, wool, hair, or fur, of any animal is treated, or from a slaughterhouse or other building for carrying on the business of slaughtering cattle, sheep, or other animals, and no wastes from a melting or rendering establishment shall be discharged or put into any lake, pond, stream, tidal water and flat within the Commonwealth, or a tributary of. such tidal water and flat, in a manner which may be injurious to the public health, or may tend to create a public nuisance, except as may be approved by the Department of Public Health when in the opinion of the said Department the best practicable and reasonably available means to render harmless such refuse, waste product, polluting liquid, substance, putrescible organic matter, or wastes have been provided in accordance with plans approved by the Depart- ment. Vlado A. Getting, M.D. , Dr. P.H. Commissioner Prescribed and established by the Department of Public Health at the Meeting of its Public Health Council held on Tuesday, August 14, 1945. Vlado A. Getting, M.D. , Dr. P.H. Commissioner Approved by Governor and Council on September 19, 1945. JEW r�D _ 4 [THIS S I DE OF CARD IS FZV' X[SDRESS � Board of Health 34 Church St . Salem, Vass . I December 1949 Dear Sirs, In-a communications from the- State -- Dept . of-Public Health, I was told that I might obtain a copy of House No . ,-- 125pof .1935 .from you. This document discusses the North River situation. If you have one available , I would appreciate it if you would send the same to me . Thank you very much. Peter Victory '7 Tremont St . Salem, 'bass . December 15, 1949 hir. Peter Victory, ?3 Tremont Street Salem, Liassachusetts Dear Sir: In repponse to your communication regarding discussions of the North River situation, I will have to inform you that vie have not conies for distr3.bution of House No. 1250 of the acts of 1935 for you. However, I would be happy to have you call at the Board of Health office where we have extensive files on the North River which you may make copies or use to whatever purpose you desire. Very truly yours, John J. Toomoy Agent JJT:1m 19 December 1949 Dr .- John J. Toomey Board of Health Salem, Massachusetts Dear Dr. Toomey, Thank you very much for your kind letter of 15 December, 1949, in which I have been invited to inspect your files which contain data relative to the "Sweet Afton" of Salem, our own (whether we want it or not ) North River. Inasmuch as your files contain information which I am seeking , I shall take the opportunity to visit your office but at some time during the coming year. Thanks again for your kind assistance . Yours truly, Peter Victory 73 Tremont St . Salem, Massachusetts nm-Y'4tl-244UL. * THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS I DEPARTMENT OF A. PUBLIC HEALTH STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 33, MASS. August 19, 1849 IIonomble Joseph. 8. Rarrington Myer of ualem �:aEaedG�.t316ett$ . ]dear Birs The Dapartcsaht of 'Public gealth Is in receipt of your verbal application of August 9, 1948, in rolation to the coverint of the Morth River Canal in :alem in Connection with vhich you have stated that the city of talem desires to salvage the land for use as an industrial center. In response to your request, .the Departt has considered the availablo information and ha oonf, ed with Vays Spofford and 'ihortAlke, 11ripinears, r a y the city of Salem in aormeation with tho grade crus g tion and other work in that airy. The matter of cover t h River C na in rasl.em was considered under a ori o ss of Chapte 4 of the Resolves of 183x4 by a Ja t C ssistins of Department of Public th a t of Public c orks, and their ort pca as lT o Document no, 11:30 of the Legisslat 8 , a c y f which to appended* your attention s rti rly d tad to pages 76 to 77, inclusive„ of repo In th J istt Board's report the opini s a s d the w am le ati.on was anacted for P t ollu of t?i th R ver it will then be time t o er the d Ing a foul materials from this river r onast tiny, a r itis. S no the paoss o of Chapter 618 of the accts of 19 $ an sat c titleds # 6 ending The Authority Of Tus Department of 14 ealth To Regulate Pollution of fn And and Ti raters", this Department has been as active as practicable in prevent- inn the pollution of the North Rives* in Calesm and Peabody said its efforts have been successful except so far as savage asap overflow fro= time to tins, at the "Grit and arsase" chamber located near the falcm-Poabody boundary. An inprovemant in the character of the water of the Dortt► liver has been affected by these activities, and so far an tho Department of Public Health is concerned thio opinion expreesed in 1930 mal noir be ahaneod its favor of obastruOluea, covered conduit provided. the necccosArY flXxancin{; can be undert4k4u. The en&inoers; report on We 'matter refars to a coveared# reinforced concrete coxaWt in the North iiiver about 10 feet in width and 7 feet hirb from the Horth Otr"t F BridCe upstream for a distance of about 4M fest to a point a short distance above the corner of Goodhue Otroat area Oroae Road And filling In the belax0e of the stream at a coat that estimated at C453#000. The conduit would be larcoly on the esouthorly side of the river. This oonduit iao shown oto.• a plan prepared by the Department of 'public Vorks and dated October 1934* It 30 Ace, 01391A* Details Of the proposed conduit are rwhowri on Aes. OU910o Copies of theses plans can doubtless be obtained from the Department of Public w i�oraut. The, Dopartsment Is of the opinion that Baur enZineorsr, Pay# Spofford and Thoradikop could quoits► readily bring the estimates of the Department of Public Works of October 1934 up to date# sus ehasrn Upon tthsaplano abbe sovs►treferredtto ulldsnotointerfere with the operations of the 8eabody»Salezm train *ewer of the South Essex Sewerage District. TZ connection with the Cnede crossing abeolition work now ender way a gate is to be pro- vidad at i'l..a.nt Otreet for releasing, certain quantities of snaage from the rain sower to the North River during the short period of reconstruction of this aswer# it is the pepartmentts understanding Haat this overflow is to be'lett in plana forums as an Waorgenoy overflow in the future and obviously an outlet into the ceoudult would be required. This to also true for such storm *ewers as noir diaohasrae into this Portion; of the ,Worth Mver: Oarafeal consideration should be eivnt 'to the us* sof tics gats in connection with this proposed coxWxIt. Should yota oars to discuss this matter furthsr or obtain additional informtion relative thereto, you should coasult with thor Division of Sanitary " 'inavrina of the Departzent of Public Health,# Room 5J A State Houser, Boston. Itnspootfully„ Commissioner Vaolosure 0 Board of Hsalthp (ulama l°al,r OPoftord & Thorndike 11 De"on Ct.s Boston . 1 • THE COMMONWEALTH OF' MASSACHUSETTS I I pEPA RSid ENF OF ' PUBLIC HEALTH, STATE HOUSE,BOSTON 33, MASS, October 8, 1948 Sir. Villiam, R. Euracicer Goswssisaioner of Public "corks 100 Vashua Street„ Boston Dear Sirs The attention Of the4'Bepartmeat of ?ublic Health has been called to the plans for abolishing the UrlCge Street grade crosvinS over the Boston: and kalne Railroad tracks its the city of Salem, particularly with relation to the rebuild* inn of the 60-Inch main sever of the Mouth Essex sewerage District where this sewer arouses under the railr The Department has caused the locality to be exayineds has aonferrod with enZineasrs of yourdaps d nirinaers of the South Essex Sewerage Board and flus a general plan of the proposed savor reconstructiolx* a pr )posed to replace the existing concrete and iron sect a f the 60-inch sewer with a new" 8(TO as tw On pipe in h ssms location and at the ,mama eie ti " onneaticn t the 'reconstruction of this sewers t e p ad to place ulk- head in the existing to ab e h a road: crossing and to provide an overflow this i se in Eridge street near ;Flint stroe nt th Lida po on of the Horth River, The proposed ov f w. ante Horth River at a point below mean high wa or an a this e r is very flat this q would cause t2ie a go in t21 main e r above Flint Street to durin,, p oda igh t a and would. result iii an ve w at Or a the a em-Peabody line. The rtm. t a informed as to the probable 1 of t ne which kelt' to be needed in the proposed re n recti f the newer. However, the n=arous dif a ties i ely to be encountered in the reconstruction Oft s r cause of various oonduite, water pipes and other true as in this portion of Bridge street may create a canal ole delay in the completion of the work and it is possible that it may be accessary to allow sewage to overflow under the plan proposed for a period of three weeks to two months. Mile this reconstruction and resulting sewage ovwflnrw might be during the colder season of the years the Department of Public health must advise your Depart=ent that this savage is 4 particularly offensive Ono because of the large quantity of tannery wastes from Peaboa7 and Salem which it contains. Jany asimplaints have been made relative to the condition of the Horth liver and several le;ialative inventicationa have been rAda including that reported in nouao =0 of 1030 in vhIch your Dapartcont participated. Under the o.lroausstancas, the Department reoons;ands that consi4eratiosn be Civon to tho construction of a temporary bypass so cr for Ute during the period of reconrstruotion or a permanent corer in a now location Csnerally parallel to the portion of tho sono r tshi.cb In to be reconstructed. Should a temporary bypass be utt*rly imprsoticabld because of other structures which *mad be encountered and the axpensee luvolvasd, the Depart=nt rcoo=ends that the contract and specifications for the reconstruction of the cover be prepared In such a rasAucr as to require they contractor to operate contirmoualy 24 hours as day durIn the period at reseonstruc- tion and that the ceeratge overriowixn3 to tho river be troatod alth chlorine so as to provide a. residual. chlorine, of ZO to CO parts per million. Chould you tare to discuss this mattor further or obtain additional infor=ticxc relative thereto, you should conaul,t vith tho Division of Sancta i rscering set the Depart zczt of Publics Aoaltht Room .&� btato Routs, Boston. 8esspeotf�ly, Ces.o�s,1 a ciocae7r 0 - South rseex 9everege Daar4 Uonorable Jv"aph D. UarrLnrton Myor or i.aitzi Board of ices ub, daleas. u732 ,R ' 6m-10•'47-2196$. ` THE COMM WEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS _ DEPARTMENT OF, PUBLIC HEALTH STATE HOUSE.BOSTON 33. MASS- July 26, 1348 South Essex Sewerage District Fair. Oester L. Nyman, District Engineer Salem, Massachusetts Gentlemena The Department of Public ijealth is in receipt of your communication dated July 20, 1948, with further reference to the proposed sluioe gate for the relief overflow at the grit and grease chamber at the South Essex Sewerage Plant near the Sal -Peabody line. This plan is referred to in the Department's a ication to you dated .June 10, 19480, in which the Department r c emended the further development of the plan previously au ted. a plan now submitted is a duplicate of that referred to th p tment's co=iunication of June 10, 1948, except that in as f geared stand you propose a.hydraulic lift or nder -Th o osed change is a minor modification or .a supple . t device ine en al to the plans of the grit andcease am p oved under do a of January 3, 1946 and. needs no fo 1 ppro al by this Dep nt. ' As indicated in Depar a unication of June 10, 1848, the proposed au tic luice ate ould be in general acoordsnee. vi.th the n e Bug es on in its letter dated April 21, 1948, and t prop ae gate a be operated automatically in such a way as to a it an o rflow ha ed on experience as to the actual vation li ely to re ult i charging of the portion of the se r in on ody. t is understood that it is impracticable s to obt n equi e t t1z present time. Bence you propose a by a a a nder as an to ate, mews of operating the gate the th d of op tion in utomatic as previoualy specified. der th ircumstances, the Department reco=iends the adoption o the herein referred to modified to provide hydraulic means of e i the sluice Prate with the understanding that no cross oonn t will be provided between the proposed hydraulic equipment and any pipes carrying the public water supply and with the further understanding that the gate will be opened only to prevent serious surcharging of the sewer, entitled:The plan herein referred to is dated May 1948 and is l "Commonwealth of Massachusetts South Basex Sewerage District Crease and grit Chamber Automatic Sluice 04ts for Relief overflow Scale 1/2 in-1 ft. &{ay 1946 Fila do 6.60 Ito. 0-251"* Should you care to discuss this matter further or obtain additional information relative thereto, you ahould consult with the Division of Sanitary Engineering of the Department of Public Health, Room. 511.A State Rouser Boston- Commissioner Board of Health Salem GlEbh'r 2 5600-1.44.18420 - i * THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH STATE HOUSE,BOSTON 33,MASS. October 0, 1046 South Fssez Sewerage Board Salem, Kassachuaotts Gentleman: The attention of this Dopartzmnt has been called to offensive conditions in the vicinity of the dump north of FIrAland Street and nest of Varlborou& Road in Salem where grease and sludge obtained from the grease chamber at the Salem Sawa,ge Pump- ing station are being disposed of. It is also understood that leather trimaings and other materials from certain tanneries are bein disposed of at this location and at the time * to scent examinations slightly offensive odora taro notica�ab a to the general vicinity and saw of the materials deposite o ; this dump wore on fire. In addition, the materia re eiig dumped at a point near the headwaters of Strongwat B a tributary of the Uorth 2tivor, in such a way that some of we swterials can be washed into Strongwater Broo 'The question of dual g e a to be Ors from the Borth diver at this location w nsid by this Do r =ant in a catz=unicaticn to Beasra. , p ar and 1horndi e, Con- sulting ,;xigineera for a ty a on ted October S, 1448, and while the Dope t ted i th communication that the proposed site is ea ob 11 i 1 ed, if it should be used for dumping =&to is a dre a from Borth lover the materials should be treated i chlo d of 1 nd covered with suitable matori a Dep t at ex sod t2 opinion that the site she b e only to a dikes aro prepared to-prevent the dfa he e o ny po a o xu►terial Into 6tronwater Ftrook. The artmen commends that you attempt to secure a more a sted re for the dumping, of foul materials taken from your i and ae chamber but that it a more isolated locality cannot a e provision be made for treating the wastes dumped at this coal y with chloride of lime and covering them with suitable erizl during, the warmer portion of the year in order to prevent objectionable conditions. The Department is further of the opinion that if this area should be continued in use for the 4eposit .of foul materials suitable dikes should be prepared to prevent the escape of any of the deposited materials into Stroarvater crook. the Department also recoacends that your Board invoetigate the feasibility of incinerating the grease rnd I other combustible materials from your grit and grease chamber which require disposal. Finally, the Department recommends that If incineration cannot be provided every effort be made to prevent fires in the materials dumped at this location. Failure of your Board to prevent violations of the rules and regulations prescribed by this Department to prevent pollution of lakes, ponds, streams and tidal waters and their tributaries will necessitate action by this Department under the provisions of Chapter 616 of the Acts of 1945. Respectfully, Commissioner C - Board of Health, Salem; Mr. Charles Puleo 245 Highland Avenue, Salem; Representative Joseph B. Harrington Vinter Island Road, Salem. G/Ep/:.r `. c .. . s. -, , w r �f f y.9y61O'TPQ Gs�4YVai9ru w 4 f y w 1 +- f r r ' i r' �1 PROPOSED LEGISLATION - 1945 AN ACT PROHIBITING THE POLLUTION OF THE HOOSICK AND THE HOUSATONIC RIVERS IN THE COUNTY OF' BERKSHIRE, ThE NORTH RIVER IN SALEIv7 IM PEABODY, THE TAUNTON RIVER IN Ri,YNHAM, Ti,UNTON, DIGHTON, BERKLEY, SOMERSET, FREETOWN AND FALL RIVER , kND THE THREE MILE RIVER IN FOXBOROUGH, MANSFIELD, NORTON, TAUNTON AND DIGHTON Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same , as follows ; SECTION 1. Chapter one hundred and eleven of the General Laws 9.s hereby amended by inserting after section one hundr-,d scvanty-five , as most recently amended by chapter three hundred fifty-three of the act of nineteon hundred and forty-one , th:, following section:- Section 1751.. The department is h:;roby authorized and directed to prohibit the entrance or discharge of sewage into any part of the Hoosick and Housatonic rivers in the county of Berkshire, the North River in Salem and Peabody, the Taunton River in Raynham, Taunton, Dighton, Berkley, Somerset , Frcatown and Fall Riv,;r, and the Three aiile River in Foxborough, Mlcnsfiold, Norton, Taunton and Dighton, or their tributaries , and to prevent the entrance c,r discharge therein of any other substance which may be injurious to public health or may tend to croatu a public nuisanco, including all waste or refuse from : ny factory or other establishraont wh�ro persons are oinployed, unless the owner thereof shall use, the. best practicable and reasonably :,-vailablo moans to rendor such waste or refuse harmless . The department shell consult and advise with the owner of any factory or other ostablisru;ient or any municipalitydischarging any substance into the rivers ricntioned in section one or their trib- utari ;s at his or its roq'uost or of its own motion as to the best practicable and r;;asonably available means of, rendering the waste or rofuso therefrom harmless. Tho supreme judicial court or any justice thereof , and the superior court or any justice th•croof , shall have; jurisdiction in equity to nforcc; the provisions of this act and any order made by the department of public hen.lth in conformity therewith. Proceedings to enforce any such order small b- institut,d and presocutod by the attornoy-general upon the request of the dupartm-nt of public health. Who-,v-,r permits the entrance or discharge into any part of the Hoosick, Housatonic , North, Taunton and Three Mile rivers, or their tributaries , of sowago or of any other substance injurious to public health or tending to creat;; a public nuisance shall be punished by a find not exceeding five hundred dollars for each offence. r - •� ' e r �. _ ' i ` t � y f� � ��� 1 .�"t) �._ ''mss'' ti��ti:�uultL�� "E t R�. �. Y * .y�l . + ^fir fe !i:ltit3�:3�! �. vto'- ���(%UOI%2'//2f�72GG/CICG! Z G����1/�1GI.C�lG1l�f1 / �_. • cZ✓ii�I,J> -atc;��01/irk� . January 18, 1945 Gentlemen: Attached is a mimeographed copy of House Bill 143 of the current session of, the- Legislature which is a draft of an act relative to the prevention of the further pollution of certain rivers and streams. This bill has been referred to the Legislative Committee on Public Health and is likely to come up shortly for a hearing. The bill is sent to you, knowing that you have an interest in the prevention of stream pollution, and it is suggested that you- request your representative or senator to advise you as to the date of the legislative hearing. Very truly yours, zv,� / n , Enc. Commissioner r ' •fn 3 .. ,O f „z, 1 ,eoxnlrA CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS g MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY HALL AT z T R SnE01AUNg 10`lPP . EDWARD A. COFFEY, Mayor ARTHUR T. FERGUSON Executive Secretary May 8, 1947 Dr. John J. Toomey Health Department Salem, Massachusetts Dear Doctor: Mr. . Charles E. Page, 17 March St. Ct. has 'com0ained about conditions caused in the North River near March Street, by reason of many persons digging worms. Apparently this condition is causing much , annoyance to the nearby residents. Will you kindly communicate with Mr. Page, , 1 make an investigation and see what can be done to improve this condition. 0V.e-r^y truly yours, yor - Ma/ EAC/St I V y ` n4 ,•/.' ill,y City Clerk' s Office January 26, 1945 At a meeting of the City Council, held January 25, 19450 the follow- ing order was adopted by a unanimous roll call vote and approved by the Mayor, January 26, 1945. ORDERED: That Mayor Edward A. Coffey be and hereby is authorized to file with the General Court a petition and bill authorizing the. City of Salem to borrow money for the elimination of the ,forth kiver pollution, entitled "Salem Pollution Elimination Loan Act. , 1945" and be it further ORDERED: that the action of Mayor Edward A. Coffey in filing said petition is hereby ratified and be it further ORDERED: That Mayor Edward A. Coffey and members of the City Council and Heads of Departments be authorized to appear before any Committee of the General Court to give any information on the matter referred to in the petition and bill. Attest: City Clerk/ RECEiVrO lei a 4 "`•,�. a .1 1 , S " •-' ` :2 y , ` SUPPLEMENTARY MEMORANDUM REGARDING MINIMUM ADDITIONS TO SEWERAGE WORKS OF THE SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE DISTRICT TO ABATE NUISANCE IN NORTH RIVER A joint meeting of parties representating the cities of Peabody and Salem in regard to legislation for abatement of the pollution of the North River and Beverly and Salem Harbors was held on March 21 , 1945, at the office of the Chief Engineer of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. At this meeting the opinion of the Engineering Committee was requested as to the least works needed to abate the nuisance in the North River. This opinion is herewith presented: A. After careful consideration of all data available ; the Engineering Committee is of the opinion that to insure abatement of the nuisance in the North River the following program must be adopted: Item Estimated Cumulative Cost Total (1) Relief sewers in Peabody $1567000 ( 2) Grease and grit tank near Salem—Peabody line 150,000 $ 306 ,000 ( 3) Relief sewers in Salem 755,000 1 ,061,000 The estimated costs are believed to be adequate and suitable for use' in enabling legislation. B. A survey of industrial wastes which must be made as a basis for designing the works required under Item (1) and Item (2) will also furnish a basis for the design of the sewers under Item (3) . Any relief which may be effected by the work under 2 Item (1) and Item (2) is puroly problematical and the Engineering Committee cannot insure that the desired relief will result from these first two steps alone . Such information as is now available indicates that the construction of Item (3) must also be carried out to obtain abatement of the nuisance in the North River. C . When future additional capacity becomes necessary at the Salem pumping station, the operation of the overflow at Derby Street would afford an emergency outlet until such time as improved pumping equipment is provided. The Committee does not believe that this problem requires immediate attention as it does not relate to the North River. ), The need for the enlargement of the grease and grit tank at the Salem pumping station appears to the Engineering Committee to be 'in about the same category as the need for new pumping facilities . METCALF & EDDY By- F. Sherman Chase THOMAS R. CA10 FAY , SPOFFORD & THORINDIEF By- Ralph W. Horne ' March 22, 1945 _ �tS rONDITq CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY HALL. YTfr��C z�MIN�v�� �• EDWARD A.COFFEY. MAYOR November 8, 1945 Dr. William V. !McDermott, Chairman Board of Health City Hall Salem, ToIassachusetts Dear Dr, McDermott : On December 11, 1945, at 2 : 30 o ' clock, a / hearing will be held in the City Council Chamber, Salem, by the State Department of Public Health, on the matter of approving preliminary plans for the proposed grit and grease chamber near the Salem-Pea- t body line. A copy of these plans are available at my office and ,you may examine them by communicating with my secretary, N,r. Harold M. Perkins, or myself. Very truly yours, lVayor EAC : is . REC gNJ \2 r v : . $�/ �_ � • ��j 3 , <\ . [2-,.DI 3500 V45-15568 ,t THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH STATEHOUSE.BOSTON 9$ October 5, 1945 , South Essex Sewerage Board Salem, Lfassachusetts Gentlemen: The Department of Public Health in response to a complaint has investigated a recent overflow of sewage into the North River at Howley Street at. the Salem-Peabody line and the results of this Investigation show that this condition is due to improper operation of the sewerage system of the South Essex Sewerage District. It is the opinion of the Department that the overflow of sewage under the conditions found at the time of the examination was in violation of the rules and regulations adopted by this Department der date of August 14, 1945, in accordance with the provisions o Section 5 of Chapter 111 of the General Laws as amended by Chapte 6L5 of the Acts of 1945. A copy of these rules and regulat4 is appended for your information. The Department roe ds the y effort%con ble be made by your honorable board with vi w removib- structions as may exist in the Pe dy 1 see South Esaex Sewerage District whit be Ing thone herein referred to and that the wor t a a wing these obstruc- tions be carried on contJodoulaq day n ni and Sunday until the obstructions are r v Res c lly, Enelos a Commissioner Copies onorab a dward offey I or of Sa em; o crab J seph Be OlKeefe ay f P abody; M Fr J. McCarthy C sioner of Public Vorks, Peabody; Board of Health, Peabody; Board of Health, Salem; Rep. George Ward Stetson 198 Plympton Street Middleborough TIS COIMIONWEI'iLTli OF MASSACHUSETTS DMOTIME T OF PUBLIC HEALTH RULES AI,-iD REGULATIONS TO PREVENT POLLUTION OR CONTAT.,iINATION OF ANY OR ALL OF THE LAKLS, PONDS, t T Y±^+ - r m - r "r m ��� <i ti$.s.tLR :xl�kU Feral tlJI�3I:v 1T1F �i 1r;:�iON'.�L'.iT�lOR 7 THE TRIBUTFiRIES OF SUCH TIDAL WATERS :OND FL:M The Department of Public Health, actin; under the authority of Section 5, Chapter 111 of the General Laws, appearing in the Tercentenary .Edition thereo , as amended by Chapter 615 of the Acts of 1945, and every other act thereto enabling, hereby prescribes and establishes the following rules and re-ulations to prevent the Pollution or contamination of any or all of the lakes, ponds, streams, tidal waters and flats i^rithin the Conunontrealth or of the tributaries of such tidal waters and flats . 1. No sewage and no human excrement or compost containing human excrement, and no house slops, sink wastes, or waste water which has been used for ras?iing .ar cooking, or other polluted water, shall bo discharged or put into any lake, pond, stream, tidal water and flat within the Co:r.mon- wealth, or into a tributary of such tidal water and flat, except as may be approved by the Department of Public Health ?,hen in the cr:inion of the said Depart_aent the best practicable and reasonably available means to render, harmless such sewage, human excrorivnt, house slops, sink wastes, waste water or other polluted vi for have been provided in accordance with plans approved by the Department. 2 .' No garbage, manure, or othor putrosci.ble matter whatsoever, shall be discharged or put into any lak pond, stroam, tidal water and flat v,ithi.n the Commonwealth, or into a tributary of such tidal water and flat, except as may be approved by the 'Department of Public H:;,,lth when in the opinion oI the said Department the best practicable and reasonably available means to render harmless such garbage, rarure, or putrescible matter have been provided in accordance with pl';1ns approvrA by the Department. IVW 3. No manufacturing refuse, or waste product, or polluting liquid, or other substance which by itself or in combination with other substances is of a nature poisonous or injurious either to human beings or animals, or any putrescible organic matter whatsoever, shall be discharged or put into ,any lake, pond, stream, tidal watr and flat within the Commonwealth, or a tributary of such tidal water and flet, except as may be approved by the Department of, Public Health when in the opinion of the said Department the best practicable and reasonably available means to render harmless such manufac- turing refuse, waste product, polluting liquid, substance, or putrescible organic matter, have been provided in accordance with plait- approved by the Department . 4. Ido refuse, or waste product, or polluting liquid, or other substance of a nature poisonous or injurious either to human bcini s or animals, or putrescible organic matter whatso- ovor from a tannery, currying shop, or other establishment or place where the slain, wool, hair, or fu.r, of any animal is tr;atud, or from a slaughterhouse or other building for carrying on the businoss of slaughtering cattle, sheep, or other anirinls, . and no wastes from a ;i;elting or rendering „stablishmant shall be discharged or put into any Lake, pond, stream, tidal water ,and flat within the Comnonwuo.lth, or a tributary of such tidal water Lind flat, in a manno"r which may be injurious to the public health, or may tend to create a public nuisance, except as :nay be approved by the Department of Public Health wh.on in the opinion of the said Department the best practicable and reasonably available means to render harmless such refuse, waste product, polluting liquid, substance, putrescible organic matter, or wastes have been provided in accordance with plans approved by the Depart- ment . Vlado A. Getting, ?,I.D. , Dr. F.H. Commissioner Prescribed and rstablished by the Department of Public Health .at the Mee'tint, of its Public Health Council held or. Tuesday, August 14, 19,15. Vlado :,. Getting, I.?.D. , Dr.P.li. Commissioner Approved by Governor and Council on September 19, 1945. RECEIVED **v44y t � OCT-€1T45 AN 8608 1=46.-16688 u THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH STATE HOUSE,BOSTON 99 October 30, 1945 Kre E. Ae Herahenson Treasurer and Clerk South Essex Sewerage District Salem, Massachusetts Dear Sir: On Wednesday, October 240 19450 an engineer from this Department examined the sewerage system of the South .Essex Sewerage District in order to ascertain the improvements, if any, in this system since the time of the previous examination on October 3, 1945. The results of this examination, together with results of the examination of the records in the office of the Sorth Essex Sewerage District, show that while the elevatiNthi, f _ow line of the sewer in the South .Essex Sewerage Diatrdiced on October 1 and 9, 1945, from that existing on S6 , 1945, the elevation of the sewage in this syst on , 1945, and again on October 24, 1945, was such to r uha ging of this sewer at all observation poi a Street east of Boston Street in Salem. e. xami at o a that while the gate regulating the over o of ew e rth River at Bowley Street w sed o S e r 26 and October 1, it was open on October 9 a d 4 and tha n spite of this gate opening the sewer we s a ge as h e indicated,. It is the i ion o th a Dep t ent that legal action bythe Sou ex Se or a DIs ri t age t those responsible for matters ei di charg d nto t yetem of that district in a manner so as o str the f ow ov r a considerable period of time and no exult in arly p ve is in conditions so as to prevent over fl f sews, nd in al waste into the North Rivere Under the eir tanees is Department must renew its recommendations sent you un or da e f October 5, 19450 that every effort practicable be made b ur OR with the view of removing such obstructions as may exi t n t Peabody-Salem trunk sewer and that the work towards re mo these obstructions be carried on continuously day and night, including Sundays, until these obstructions are removed. Failure on the part of the South Essex Sewerage District to remove such obstructions must be considered by this Department as negligence on the part of that district and any consequent overflow of sewage must be considered a violation of the rules and regulation* adopted by this Department on August 14, 1945, under the authority of Section 5 of Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as amended by Chapter 815 of the acts of 19450 an act for preventing pollution or con- tamination of any or all of the lakes, ponds, streams, tidal waters and flats within the Commonwealth. Recent examinations by representatives of this Department In connection with various industries along the Worth River indicate that much of the pollution of this river is the result of improper operation of the sewerage system of the South Essex Sewerage District. Under the eireunstanoes, should further inspection by representatives of this Department show continued negligence on the part of the South Sa sex Sewerage District in removing obstructions in the south Essex sewerage system, the Department will have no alternative but to refer the matter to the office of the Attorney General for ,prosecution. Respectfully, Coxwdssioner Copy to Board of Health. Salem Qf�ipf �3 ♦ 1 e SUPPLEMENTARY MEMORANDUM REGARDING MINIMUM ADDITIONS TO SEWERAGE WORKS OF THE SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE DISTRICT TO ABATE NUISANCE IN NORTH RIVER A joint meeting of parties representating the cities of Peabody and Salem in regard to legislation for abatement 'of the pollution of the North River and Beverly and Salem Harbors was held on March 21, 1945, at the office of the Chief Engineer of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. At this meeting the opinion of the Engineering Committee was requested as to the least works needed to abate the nuisance in the North River. This opinion is herewith presented: A. • After careful consideration of all data available , the Engineering Committee is of the opinion that to insure abatement of the nuisance in the North River the following program must be adopted: Item Estimated Cumulative Cost - Total (1) Relief sewers in Peabody $156 ,000 (2) Grease and grit tank near Salem—Peabody line 150,000 $ 306 ,000 ( 3) Relief sewers in Salem 7559000 1 ,0611000 The estimated costs are believed to be adequate and suitable for use in enabling legislation. B. A survey of industrial wastes which must be made as a basis for designing the works required,under Item (1) and Item (2) will also furnish a basis for the design of the sewers under Item ( 3) . Any relief which may be effected by the work under V 2 Item (1) and Item (2) is purely problematical and the Engineering Committee cannot insure that the desired relief will result from these first two steps alone . Such information as is now available indicates that the construction of Item (3) must also be carried out to obtain abatement of the nuisance in the North River, C . When future additional capacity becomes necessary at the Salem pumping station, the operation of the overflow at Lerby Street would afford an emergency outlet until such time as improved pumping equipment is provided. The Committee does not believe that this problem requires immediate attention as it does not relate to the North River. 7). The need for the enlargement of the grease and grit tank at the Salem pumping station appears to,the Engineering Committee to be in about the same category as the need for new pumping facilities . METCALF & EDDY Ry- E. Sherman Chase THONI..3 R. C1JJP FAY, SPOFFORD & THORNDIKE Fy- Ralph W. Horne x1arch 22, 1945 CHIE/C50= REPLY TO WAR DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERS,!J.S.ARMY WASHINGTON,D.C. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS REFER TO FILE NO. CE SP17gR WASHINGTON 28 July 1944• Mr. John J. McGrath, Agent, Board of Health, Salem, Massachusetts. Dear Sir: Receipt is acknowledged of your-letter of 14 July 1944 in which you state that a serious health menace exists in the North River, which flows through the cities of Peabody and Salem, Massa— chusetts, caused chiefly by the discharge of factory waste and occasionally domestic sewage into the stream, and that as this is a tidal water stream the Board of Health is of the opinion that this Department would have authority to correct these conditions in order that public health may be protected. The North River, formed by the confluence of its princi— pal tributary, Goldthwaite Brook, with Proctor Brook in Peabody, flows in a northeasterly direction bordering Salem on the north and west and enters Beverly Harbor just west of the Beverly Street Bridge. From its mouth to the North Street Bridge it averages about one—fourth mile in width between the high—water lines, and its low—water channel carries from three to eight feet of water in a narrow crooked course through about the middle of the flats. Under Chapter 194 of the Acts of the General Court of Massachusetts, 1884, the City of Salem acquired possession of these flats. Sec— tion 1 of that Act provided: IIFor the purpose of abating the nuisance in the city of Salem in that part of the North River lying easterly of North Street, the said city may, from time to time, purchase or otherwise take any or all of the lands or flats in the said North River in Salem lying easterly of North Street, and northerly of the location of the Eastern Railroad, and fill and raise the same to such grade as may be deemed necessary or expe— dient; or said city may dredge any flats taken by it under the authority of this act + .II The ,jurisdiction of the War Department under the Federal laws enacted for the protection and preservation of the navigable waters of the United States is limited and directed to such control F VICTORY BUY BTAAT¢�B W` OND$ STAMP$ 2021 e, Ar so s ' � y � 0 i J CE SPE4'di. Mr. John J. McGrath, Agent. as may be necessary to protect the public right of navigation. In the present case no injury to navigation is indicated. From investi- gations which have been made in recent years, existing conditions in the North River appear to be caused by the discharge therein of liquid sewage. Section 13 of the River and Harbor Act approved 3 March 1899 (30 Stat. 1152; 33 U.S.C. 407) prohibits the discharge into navigable waters of the United States of 11any refuse matter of any kind or description whatever other than that flowing from streets and sewers and passing therefrom in a liquid state". In view of the foregoing, no authority exists for remedial action by this Department. Antipollution bills have been introduced in the present Congress in the form of S. 1986 and H. R. 4741 "to provide for water-pollution control activities in the U. S. Public Health Service, and for other purposes." These bills would establish in the office of the Surgeon General, U. S. Public Health Service, certain responsibilities and duties in the preparation of comprehen- sive plans for eliminating or reducing pollution and improving the sanitary condition of the navigable waters of the United States and streams tributary thereto. They would authorize the Surgeon General to notify State officials to abate pollution that jeopardizes the health or welfare of citizens and if action is not taken to bring such failure to the attention of the President. The bills would further provide for Federal aid in the form of grants or loans to States or other public bodies, and for loans to persons, for the construction of necessary treatment works, and would authorize ap- propriations to provide for the costs of approved projects submitted in the Budget to Congress by the President. Annual appropriations would be authorized for administration expenses of the Public Health Service and allotment to the States for the promotion, investigation, surveys, and studies necessary in the prevention and control of water pollution. From previous correspondence with Mayor Edward A. Coffey it is understood that the City of Salem proposes to improve condi- tions by constructing a settling basin in the upper part of the North River near the Salem-Peabody town line. The tanneries and other factories responsible for the pollution are located above that point, and by cleaning out the settling basin at intervals it -2- CE SPLWR Mr. John J. McGrath, Agent. is expected that the malodorous condition of the lower part of the stream in Salem can be greatly improved. In the administration of the Federal laws for the protection and preservation of the naviga— ble waters of the United States the Department considers the upper part of the North River nonnavigable, and the proposed settling basin may therefore be constructed without a Pilar Department permit. Any works in the navigable portion of the river which the City of Salem might desire to accomplish to alleviate present conditions could be undertaken upon issuance of such a permit. Application therefor should be submitted to the District Engineer, U. S. Engineer Office, Park Square Building, 31 St. James Avenue, Boston 16, Massachusetts, who will be pleased to furnish any additional information desired. For the Chief of Engineers: Very respectfully, GEO. eGO7H�AIa4,Colonel, CEngineers, Chief, Civil Works Division. -3- • •ADDRWSS REPLY TO WAR DEPARTMENT CHIEF OF ENGIN,EERS.U.S,ARMM WASHINGTON,D.C. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS CE SPM WASHINGTON 28 July 1944. REFER To FILE No. Mr. John J. McGrath, Agent, Board of Health, Salem, Massachusetts. Dear Sir: Receipt is acknowledged of your, letter of 14 July 1944 in which you state that a serious health menace exists in the North River, which flows through the cities of Peabody and Salem, Massa- chusetts, caused chiefly by the discharge of factory waste and occasionally domestic sewage into the stream, and that as this is a tidal water btream the Board of Health is of the opinion that this Department would have authority to correct these conditions in order that public health may be protected. The North River, Formed by the -confluence of its princi- pal tributary, ,Goldthwaite Brook, with Proctor Brook in Peabody, flows in a northeasterly direction bordering Salem on the north and west and enters Beverly Harbor just west of the Beverly Street Bridge. From its mouth to the North Street Bridge it averages about one-fourth mile in width between the high-water lines, and its low-water channel carries from three to eight feet of water in a narrow crooked course through about the middle of the flats. Under Chapter 194 of the Acts of the General Court of Massachusetts, 1884, the City of Salem acquired possession of these flats. Sec- tion 1 of that Act provided: "For the purpose of abating the nuisance in the city of Salem in that part of the North River lying easterly of North Street, the said city may, from time to time, • purchase or otherwise take any or all of the lands or flats in the said North River in Salem lying easterly of North Street, and northerly of the location of the Eastern Railroad, and fill and raise the same to such grade•as may be deemed necessary or expe- dient; or said city may dredge any flats taken by it under the authority of this act a * *." The jurisdiction of the War Department under the Federal laws enacted for the protection and preservation of the navigable waters of the United States is limited and directed to such control LTORY ADDRESS ftERLY T'�"' WAR DEPARTMENT CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,U.S.ARMY WASHINGTON,D.C. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS RevE.To FILE NtiAA�i._�.__it9�VVfLL.�W��+. •WASHINGTON ftsorsths Agent. ^ 1 as nes be necessary to protect the public right of navigation. in • the present case no injury to navigation is indicated. Fron investi- gations which have been made in recent years, existing conditions in the Porth River appear to be caused by the discharge therein of liquid sewage. Section 13 of the River and Harbor Act approved 9 #larch 1899 (30 Stat. 11511 3) U.S.Ce 407) prohibits the discharge iota navigable waters of the United Statss of »any refuse matter of any kind or description whatever other than that flowing from streets and sewers and passing therefrom in a liquid states. In view of the foregoing, no authority exists for remedial action by this Department. Antipollution bills have boon introduced in the present Congress in the form of S. 1964 and H. R. 4741 nto provide for mater-pollution control activities in the U. S. Public Health Service, and for other purposes." 'These bills would establish in the office of the Surgeon General, U. S. Public Health Servioes certain responsibilities and duties in the preparation of comprehen- sive plans for eliminating ar reducing pollution and improving the sanitary condition of the navigable waters of the United States and stresma tributary thereto. They would authorise the Surgeon General to notify State officials to abate pollution that jeopardises the health or welfare of citisens and if action is not taken to bring such failure to the attention of the President. The bills would further provide for Federal aid in the form of grants or loans to States or other public bodies,, and for loans to persons, for the construction of necessary treatment works, and would authorize ap- propriations to provide for the costs of approved prefects submitted in the Budget to Congress by the President. Annual appropriations would be authorised for administration oxpenses of the Public Health Service and allotment to the States for the promotions investigations surveys, and studies necessary in the prevention and control of water pollution. From previous correspondence with Mayor Rdward A. Coffey_ it in understood that the City of Baleen proposes to improve condi- tiona by, constructing a settling basica in the upper part of the North River near the Salem-Peabody toxo line. The tanneries and other factories responsible for the pollution ars located above that points and by cleaning out the settling basin at intervals it VICTORY BUY WAR xDs AFD STAMPS r Ca SPM W. Joan J. Kcorath$ beat. is ospseted that the malodorous condition of the 'lower part of the. *treat in Salem can be, greatly igprovsd. In the Adadaistration of the Pederal laws for the protootion and preservation of the naviga- ble waters of the United States the Department considers the upper part of the, North idivor nonnavigable, and the proposed settling basin may therefore be constructed without a Crar Departmant permit. Any works in the navigable portion of the river whioh the City of Solan night desire to accomplish to alleviate present conditions could be undertaken upon issuanoo of such a pormit. Application therefor should be submitted to the, District Engineer, U. S. M41noer Offioo, Park Square Building# 31 ,St. Jams Avenue, Boston 16, itassaahusetts, who will be pleased to furnish any additional information desired. Yor the Chief of x4lasars I • ` Very respectfully, n r Colonol, Corps of Zagineors, Chief, Civil Works Division. errs% � ��' � - � � r r ' , h� r�J` ... !ct �_ �"`�� C J r Itf ` � ...T. .. A • a .."�.rr� P• • . .T�`'%eRf x�i a; ! n fr • . . ;. �. ,� a� . 'r•`�' t . as c ` f • . .. ah_, .,. d e . . � .. '�ai� Y - � ,r.h lA.n � ' { a r u .r t July 14, 1944 Mayor-General E. Reybold Chief of Engineers War Department Washington, D. C. Dear Sirs There exists a serious health menace in a rivers, known as the North River, which flows through the cities of Peabody and Salem, Massachusetts. This condition is caused chiefly by the discharge of factory waste and occasionally domestic sewage into the stream. Inasmuch as this is a tidal water stream, this Board is of the opinion that your Division would have supervision, control and the authority to correct what has been termed the most grossly polluted stream in the country. Thanking you for any assistance you may render in order that public health may be protected, permit me to remain Very truly yours, John J. McGrath Agent By direction of the Board of Health. MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CAMBRIDGE, MASS. DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING October 10, 1944 Salem Board of Health City Hall Salem, Massachusetts Gentlemen: The enclosed letter which I am sending to the Qhair- man of the Salem Civic Action Committee on the pollution of the North River is self-explanatory. I hope it will VA be possible for you to designate oncel-I your men to follow up the case with.Mr. Harry Remis in order that f . we may be able .to eliminate the pollution from the Dimond- _ GrIkunkraut Building as he has promised. Very truly yours Murray Horwood, Ph D. MPH/sk Letter lw - � • • 1. � f S w• i + . RECEIVED S 91 t ,ri C Y f s V f s s. Vt C f" C 1 i l , i± October 10, 19" Yr. Joseph Harrington 254 Essex Street Salem, Vassaobusetts Dear Mr. Barrington: You will g*member that in connection with the field work I have clone w#;h the North River, I was able to traoo the serious pollution of Strongwater Brook, a tributary of the North river, with large quantities of liquid wastes containing pigments and other materiat0 ate principle source, � M4MOIy the Say State Chemical Companyls, located in the Dluond-dr+lhArsut Building in Peabody. This material was flowing through open drains leading to a pipe coming from this building which dlst�r.�i�ed a directly into Strongwater Brook. At the time, krltook up the mutter both with the principals of the Bay State Cbemi- oal Company and with the owner of the Dimond-QrVnkraut Build- ing. The latter is Mr. Harry Bemis of .147 South Lynnfield Street, Peabody. Mr. Renals was very cooperative but for one reason or another it was impossible t6 get speedy relief. I am happy to be able to report t,vjt atter talking with him on Monday, October 8, he informed.me that he is taking measures to eliminate this source of pollution to' the North River. Thin will be done by constructing a concrete well in the base- ment of the Dimond-Or�st'akraut Building and providing suitable pumping equipment to Lift. the wastes into one of the lateral* . discharging into the Salem Peabody Trunk Bower. This will keep those wastes out of the North River very effectively pro- vided the South Essex Sewer Board does not .open the relief gates of the Salem Peabody Trunk Sewer to discharge the con- tents of this sewer into the North River as it teas done every year since the construction of this sewer. I ata very nappy to be able to bring the solution of this problem to your attention as it indicates that the elimination of pollution from the Horth River is feasible insofar as in- duatry 1s oonoorned. it30 we are diligent, alert and persever- ing. Hr. Bemis said that it might take as long as three weeks i Mr. Joseph Harrington -2- October 10, 1994 In order to obtain the necessary pumping; equipment at this time but he hoped that this equipment would be available and in operation by the and of October. I am transmitting a copy of this letter to the Hoard of Health with the request that they assume the responsibility for the follow-up work in this case in order to insure the people of Salem the relief which they have been promised. 3 am also sending a copy of this letter to Mayor Coffey who has been so helpful to me during my investigation. Very truly yours, Murray P. Horwood, Ph D. MPH/sk t= rL r dM1f%tror 6 n . '� ra-z r L- :! a.+. - } r_�:%i s+• .Y .a.. ay .#.. '$ t x k s � O ' .,, 4i.v�f'Y.J fr'xI int �.Y1a41 r•- Yi� wfr+ w,aAik -��•�.•1 ' f. A... O- ! }? ..^4 } Y.+ '#y r d` `d$ I e;v{y '.4 11 tyl lJ,'k.".aY" ?"�' , r.«��, ll 1:tit": oil ug "a-u "a— _-.6 3h+' +, ,1;k.E.n'�s>• d•, :;) .,r;rc_ ,fit` fA� F.".5+".# 6,L. :_'' aiD {-:.,,.�.• .yr�. :nn !". 'tr m y� .r i_ '. rbNj ._ ' ... r, � C^ :r a PCS "f a '• -.. rr°i 1 r>x. .71 i r, , �.�. C� -. ,�,._.�... �'fIL.�fi 1 a''� .♦°� ,iJ,ry ar.y..��f� d •1•.I.rnyr L}+#',I + ., -. ' • i i a 9 ` ♦ 5 . 4 1 1 OFFICE OF THE . DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH 47 LOWELL STREET PEABODY, MASS. .• October 2, 1944. Dr. William V. McDermott Chairman, Board of Health Salem, Mass. Dear Sir: Our Board, which is very anxious to help in any way that it can to abate the North River nuisance, would be very much pleased to attend your meeting at City Hall, Room 12, on Friday, October 6th, 1944 at 4.30 P. M. We will also have in attendance those representatives that we feel might be able to assist in solving this very important problem. R;.YA l C!h RRPMcC/D , Board of eath ... ., � .' . � . ���� p 14( �N^a3 ' gy' [i'^i, s, � � v�� aft . �r pC�t®�13�+�= October 2, 1944 • Board of Health Peabody, Massachusetts Gentlemen: The next meeting of the Salem Board of Health is to be held at Room 12, City Hall, on Friday, October 6, 1944 at 4:30 P. M. Realizing that your Board is equally interested in abating the North River nuisance, which is currently the cause of much agitation, we would be pleased to have the members of your Board and any of your employees attend this meeting to discuss methods of solving the problem. Sincerely yours, William V. McDermott, M. D. Chairman WVMcD:dq r� October 4, 1944 Mr. Frank P. Morse City Engineer City Hall Salem, Massachusetts Dear Sir: The Peabody Board of Health has adoepted an in- vitation to confer with this Board about the pollution of the North River at a meeting to be held at Room 12, City Hall, on Friday, October 6th at 4:30 P. M. We would appreciate it if you would find it poss- ible to attend this meeting, as questions may arise about sewers, outlets, etc., with which you are more familiar than anyone in this Department. .Sincerely yours, William V. McDermott, M. D. Chairman WVMoD:dq f October 5, 1944 To the City Council City Hall Salem, Massachusetts Gentlemen: There is to be a meeting of the Board of Health on October 6, 1944 at 4:30 P. M. which representatives of the Peabody Board of Health and other persons have been invited to attend. In case there should be too many persons present to be accommodated in the Board of health office, we would like to have your permission to use the Council Chamber. Respectfully yours, William V. McDermott$ M. D. Chairman dq l CITY OF SALEM. MASSACHUSETTS. y MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY HALL. rs��4mi.eoo: EDWARD A.COFFEY, MAYOR September 18, 1944 Board of Health City Hall Salem, Massachusetts Gentlemen: Enclosed herewith is a carbon copy of a letter addressed to Fay Spofford & Thorndike, authorizing them to make a complete investigation of_the North River Canal in Salem between the North •r Bridge, so-called, and the Salem-Peabody line, and advise the City of Salem as to its present condition and the probable cost of re- moving the material now in the river. Mr. Horne of Fay Spofford & Thorndike expects to start his work in Salem some day the week of September 18th and no doubt , he will communicate directly with you. I would appreciate it if you will cooperate with Mr. Horne in whatever way you can. Very t ruly yours, EAC:fp Mayor Enc. , � ����� � . � . ����\ » . . «k � : . � �f : \ . - ^sem . � . . . , y , � � .py� \ ±�¥ \\ t � ;� . / ����� . : / � � � z uopteobor 16, 1944 Fay Spofford & Thorndike U Beacon ;.treat � Salta, Dissachussetts; rear Sirs. You are cuthoriLed to s_rko r< coL-pl o , tion of the Horth River Canal in :;ales bet-can the h Bri , eo-c.. ed, ; nd the zn1am-Peaboy lis q t �.nd advise tai ty of am as to its present condition rnc3 ov a material nam in the river, At the sssrss�R irae you acca. a her or not an outlets in this canal betNeen the rth bridd the S .e=-?enbodg line are dumping air a material o Th Lalem Boa f Health will assign o nan to your organiza- tion for the rpo oss o wing more ooW.plcrtc directions in the sA4tter. I trill instruct r�ineer Fratb P. Horse to cooperate with you on all =tterao I taauld a .,;est thA you fox:vard to sae an outline Avin; ne a series of steps that ou_.Iht to be undertaken by your organiLation with n vier WA if they rro cor.nloted, the North Fiver auissanoc rill be alininat cd. Y,_Ery truly gauxc, fp yor, 'a • •S � y " _ ~ . ♦ $ Y _ -mud 4. n_ - 1 • r�l 1F TAS jAi c � ~ " ' ~ � Ln�N�1� ":t i � A - Y" • ti"'� O ViAI'13DBa_ i ;A ,o..-i•ts.esss . , THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS' - i DEPARTMENT OF. _ Puabc HEALTH b`TATE HOUSE.BOSTON .y October 3, 1544 ' Ur. Pianfred Bowditch, Director Division of Occrapational Hygiene Department of I,abor.and Industries 23 Joy Street, 'Boston, Massachusetts Deer Sirs In connection with your comrhualoation of August 990 ,1"40 ' relative to a series of cases of pulmonary disease among workors employed In the Boston Street plant' of the Sylvania Electrle -Prop ducts, Ino. , Salem, in 1940 and 19410 the: Departtmsnt ublia Health has caused the premises in question ,to_ be exams a by; cne of its engineers:_. ji to a loca:�bd close'.trithe Nor RS r into which sewage overfl & 'a 04" t,0 time, fr0xa is Peabod ale Bain sewer of tjje , 1V SssW zew�irago bl ict. The river a Ise r polluted b w �`t03tt ar}�geries d . a Indus trlan n is doubtless the ►e€+r'1t�usl7_1Scl to stre m n Hassachu t The . sewage from th d'it' in question a sac r d into the n sower. 3 The tnvsstlggtiati indicat hat a in G', so called, which is. built on piles there a 4- tsu bas nt with a dirt floor which, at times of, e e 0 1 hi t ea, contains water to a depth of several in a b=be t was dry at the time of the examination and o o *am a cowl n be collected. It do not e ' .like y hat the water. collected in this �._ sub-b e t Imes- gb d -enters ilia "basomegnt direat' fr{Om the r ve It to more k t consist of ground water leakage. While h e apps to b a likelihood that the pulmonary . diseas r orted n 1540 and 1541 is due directly to flood or h1th tido co 1 ons 3 e Nbrth River, it is impracticable to advise definite a tter unless samples aro collected for bacterio- loglcal e t st a time of extreme hio tide. This will be- done If you , upon further consideration;. that such an oxamina- tion is worthvbils. By direction of the Commissioner of Public Haslth, Edward Wright Sanitary Engineer Copy to Board of Tiealth Salem e' ^`"6 �.f R"� .,4Y`°Y3.�w �!•r"i�t'�1}P" .. .e i ' r.x # # , , w .-,. ; - • . 3`"�: yrf �`'� i .• ♦ J'.� g'.c+irt I'S, C' . . :, lar t E . ,�^.-'-,y. � �. n ,4..p. .. ' : �' fi•s+gw"w i.Sjy� 'y. � {.ff ',n . wr ";l � Y'a'r•np'"'� a'.'E:h 'r,Yg. e._.�L 3`d':j". fd'`,y..-" - 4'. Y'!+.{,r�ss y ^q.eA ' "' �' FSe4 �` a?. }.� '' P#�[ . .�i�. Yf•'!:.•« „}„�, <t ± .f (. �..� .;a�..fir y;.,, .Z "Y• '' • {` i�„i`'�' i # 8w .AI+.T ^t# 'Y.- i '�. i, e-•#�r_.4 ... �• <` ; P"- 1 �,t,,. 'r�+ .f .Y -4,�•• } ..+• 1_ . b-' �• -',�•�f+.±: 7f ¢l :;�"}1;',. "r L:.' -+ Ri' 1.,:.�1 ,. t fi'++ !^'4 - ,'F �; ,,; . . .;r•,_:M^ K - i 2' ,j# wad A+, 7¢" rp ._� .%±a `.� F i�,. =k, !d �+v. .•tY � '.y 'E- �+s.� 6 .Y " .r r�.i".t!"'�''�."+^4�,µ .q i' A �xt,�.yN-- ..^ i'e ....ay . 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Y^ •^Yf'..♦x.:``i`:x¢' ..13,. .i` �' � -f ,F d-.i �"'C..;t�"ond 'M1 , . ,M # -:K 1"c�'r'..�Y.1. «„ 4".: ;+1 t'�. -/�,µ ''+y¢.Y,�3' I-„ T f d - - e ` ♦ ^•'#� e ��idJw:-Nrllidfi'Fi^2t6:1 .- - t , .. . _ •�•`"'.i1�' :•i^. 4.�•� z ':' r , r p CON 'yrq�4 } �j ( ' �../.ry+•�y���{r,.t' '4 T'1a 4, ONY,Y 014, AtVr:l H `�G ,� )f 2,; V t...:!t iar..[..LQ _ .# A/a x ^�A.!^4 '♦ Fr.4.. au •# .r SKINNER & SHERMAN - INC '' s E M�i, 4t m1,� EN SNEERS NERVEV l•SKIN NE0. \1 2 y 6 VT GJa , •«�:�TOE ET RBERT L•SMe RMAN ZV A � BURTON O. RICK }d § £ON%Ib S'•_SAE�FI U SETTS n 't`: hepar# CASE No. 29069 June 19 , 1944 Received from the Board of Health of Salem, P:Sass. , on June 8, 1944 Three samples of wastes marked in the following way: ( 1) "Sample taken from North River at Foster St. , Peabody, June 8, 194411 ( 2) "Sample yr2 taken from North River at Foster St. , Peabody, June 8, 194411 ( 3) "Sample taken near Sim' s Factory, June 8, 19441t for determination of physical nature of solids RESULTS OF EXP2 INATION Sample ( 1) : This sample had an odor of lime• or plaster, and was strongly alkaline in reaction to litmus. Large flecks of cotton fiber were present in the sample, and mi- croscopical examination showed the main portion of the floating material to be composed of broken hairs or hairs which had become broken dorm in structure. Some small amounts of vegetable tissue were also present, as were crystals of calcium carbonate. Upon burning the material gave off the nitrogenous odor character- istic of burning hair, and also a heavy black smoke such as oil or fat gives - this smoke probably due to the presence of calcium soap. Sample (2 ) : This sample had a slightly bad odor but was not offensive. On top of the sample there was a large amount of pinkish gray material which when pulled apart stretched in threads like chewing gum. This material was found to be a calcium rosin soap. There were occa- 1 decomposed flesh fibers in the mass, but it was mainly rosin soap. VpQ.COMhq£RC� IU \ hell < 9G z ' "I"IIII it� la (Continued on next page) a- This report is rendered up.. the condition that it is not to be reproduced wholly or in part for advertising or other purposes over our signature or in connection with out name without special permission in writing. yppJl1R c SHE FSA AN -- INCA Ay t�M CHEMISTS AND E N G I N E E R S tdjese`L SspRea a1140, 246 STUART STREET euYtbr. ?lq�ltut�c BOSTON 16 MASSACHUSETTS \\ Ilu �rp�rt CASE No. 29069 -2- June 19, 1944 Upon burning, it gave a very smoky flame and the odor of burning rosin. Calcium was present in the ash, as was to be expected. Sample (3) : This sample had a slightly offensive odor which resembled that of organic sulphur compound. The liquid was neutral to litmus. Qualitative tests showed the liquid to contain chlorides, sulphates, and chromates. This sample had no material floating on the surface, but contained considerable sediment which was found to be well digested organic matter with an occasional hair or flesh fiber. Respectfully submitted, SKINNER & SHERMLN, INC. Burton G. Philbrick Vice-president Board of Health - City Hall Salem Massachusetts Attention Mr. McGrath BGP/bba Qf COMMeR I' This report is rendered upon the condition that it is not to he reproduced wholly or in part for advertising or other purposes over our signature or in connection with our name without special permission in writing. M1I SKINNER & SHERMAN -- INC- p v C H E M I S T S AND ENGINEERS ,fE av YwJ.SIOKNe,p,' vF S "•,•, 246 STUART STREET NP.,kiJa aicp p ` BOSTON I6 MASSACHUSETTS W �i"r;n"�• =� CASE No 29229 July 22 , 1944 Received from Salem Board of Health on July 13, 1944 Four samples of water, marked: "Sample #1. From center of sewer outlet at Howley Street, Peabody." "Sample #2. About 10 feet north of sewer outlet at Howley Street, Peabody." "Sample #3. From center of stream about 20 feet above bridge at Howley Street, Peabody." "Sample #4. T.:orrill Leather Company, Peabody." For examination of all samples and chemical analysis of Sample 7#1. Analytical Results Sample #1 Parts per million Total solids 3700 Suspended solids 16 Dissolved solids 3664 Total nitrogen 232 Organic nitrogen 149 Nitrate nitrogen 0.25 Oxygen consumed 77 Total hydrogen sulphide (H2S) 7.7 Hydrogen-ion concentration - pH 9.6 Physical Examination Sample as received had a pinkish purple color with about a half inch of light sediment in the bottom of the container . Slight odor of hydrogen-sulphide. �p Vic, 9� Examination of the sediment showed it to be very fine organic aterial with a very few hairs and broken down flesh fibers . t py _ few starch grains were also present. �r \ (Cont "d next page) This report is rendered upon the condition that it is not to be reproduced wholly or in parr for advertising or other purposes over our signature or in connection with our name without special permission in writing. SPINNER & SHERMAN � INC� CHEMISTS AND ENGINEERS ME RVEY J•SKIN NER aeERT usrEa mnry 246 STUART STREET .0 a,ory o•aH ueRmK BOSTON 16 MASSACHUSETTS Page 2. RDx� CASe No. 29229 July 22, 1944 Sample #2 Physical Examination This sample was very turbid and had a half inch of light sedi- ment in the bottom of the container. In color it was purplish. The sediment was very finely divided organic matter containing an occasional hair or broken down flesh fiber. The sample was alkaline in reaction, having a pH of 9.6. Sample #3 Physical Examination This sample had the color of a muddy water, and there was but a very slight sediment in the bottom of the container. It had a slight odor of lime . The sediment was extremely finely divided and no fibers were were found. Many starch grains were present. The starch was plentiful enoumh to cause the solution to turn blue upon the addition of iodine solution. The sample was alkaline in reaction, having a pH of 10.8. Sample #4 Physical Examination This sample was very turbid and had a sediment, yellow in color, on the bottom of the container and on the sides . Little if any odor. The sediment contained large numbers of very fine fibers which appeared to be broken down flesh fibers . Chemical tests showed .coma,FRc the yellow portion of the sediment to be a chromium compound. The sample was alkaline in reaction, having a pH of 9.7. lo� Respectfully submitted, •i r Y Salem Board of Health� • —` �� Room 12 SKINNER & 5FLRI,AN, INC . r 5, City Hall, Salem,IvicGrateGrat Att : P,ir. John J. h Burton G. Philbrick BGP:mh Vice-President This report is rendered upon the condition that it is not to be reproduced wholly or in part for advertising or other purposes over out signature or in connection with our name without special permission in wrinng. r r 10�-1.18.8Elt i tr THE COMMONWEALTH OF. MASSACHUSETTS ' DEPARTMENT OF' PUBLIC HEALTH STATE HOUSE.BOSTON August 30, 194 Joseph B. Harrington, Esq. 254 Essex Street Salem, Massachusetts - Dear Sir: In connection with your letter of August 24,+1944, asking for names of establishments which discharge substances into the North River or its tributaries in Peabody and Salem in violation of Chapter 221 of the AetS of 1901, the records of the Department show that the Department' s communication to the Board of Health of Salem, dated June 28, 19440 is predicated on the•finding of eluting matter in the stream both of an origin of industrial waateis and domestic a sewage. Inasmuch as the sewage of Peabody andlem conimins both domestic sewage and industrial wastes the evict vi no f industrial pollution in the. river might be either ass res t o sewage over- flow from the sewers or overflow at inniatrial plc owever, the results of the analyses of vari aam les of the i r and its tributaries, some of which were le 1 'Peabody a p nts above the sewer overflow, would indica a %eb-n' ey co elusively a indua- - trial wastes overflow direct to aeo complete ant in- vestigations by this De nt ha de of the direct discharges `• � of industrial wastes t ee t ex Ina ns indicate that pollution of Proctor Brook oc ur n as ody i olation of the act from the A. C. Lawrence Lea s Compa y nd al o ollution of Strongwater Brook by wastes fr t e pro r farm r occupied by the Diamond- Grynkra om ny in Pe body. Bae"n 19 a 9, representatives of this Department, at t a equest o the ar o ealth of Salem, made certain obser- vatio a f Ind t al wa discharging into the North River and t its tr b arise n Salem and Peabody. These examinations showed that th ate a harged to a tributary of the North River from the pla a stman Gelatine Corporation on February 18, 1938, contains soli nimal matter not held in complete solution. A sample of w e collected on the same day from the plant then or formerly oceupied by the Essex Clue Company in Peabody showed that the wastes contained solid animal matter not held in complete solu- tion* It is possible that data on file in the office of the Board of Health of Salem may be helpful to you, and it is to be r• assumed that your experts can secure additional data showing indus- tries that are discharging wastes into•,#hqjriver or its tributaries In violation of the 1901 act. This Department, through its labora- tories, will assist you in analytical work so far as is pr4oticable, btit the details of the analytical data•to'be used in the courts should be prepared by someone engaged directly by the city of Salem rather than to rely on the chemists of.the Department of Public Health* particularly in vies of the fact that any litigation in- volving the laboratories of this Department would seriously inter- rupt the orderly procedure of our work. Respectfully, Commissioner Copy to Board of Health Salem a 8 . - $, J 11 , � pp//��tt c ��ltli.lt(ui , � � � sr H w l • eC .. .• ( _. 5 .•.f. 1 � ' �Llff' �r1 x w•. � L �.! ..rte• is Y _.. .�- TT l.Y. ...y _ li _ c r . ' - � � . September 9, 194 Vlado A. Getting, M. D., D. P. H. Commissioner of Public Health State House Boston, Massachusetts Dear Dr. Getting. Thank you for your courtesy in having forwarded to this Department a copy of a letter sent to Joseph B. Harrington, Esq. , relative to sources of pollution of the North River and its tributaries. Very truly yours, William V. McDermott, M. D. Chairman dq s �} Permanent injunctions obtained by the Salem Board of Health { as follows; Supreme Judicial Court Case #1245, June 25, 1909 James F. Ingraham, Peabody ✓ if 1244 June 22, 1903 Robert Sims, et als,Salem v " 1243 IT A. L. Kraus Co. Peabody " 1242 if George C. Vaughn , Peabody IT 1241 IT Thayer, Foss Co. Inc. IT 1240 IT Carr Leather, Co. , IT 1239 " W. S. Pigskin Co. " " 1238 " A. C. Lawrence Co. ", It 1237 " Armstrong Co. , IT 1236 " Essex Glue Co. 1235 " American Glue Co. IT ✓ n �JlG1 � [ G-e [" L 4?vc`f7� c^ eer ✓CLQ �f� /•/ ( � CSC e.Cc � _ C r 4�Cf"�%C c._ C Equity proceedings by the Salem Board of Health agii.nst the following: City of Salem vs H. S. & M. Snyder Co. , Inc. , Superior Court, Essex Countt„July 20„ 1921; Bill in Equity 'filed to restrain the defendant from polluting the North River, re- turnable first Monday of September, 1921. Final decree filed July 28, 1921, granting apermanent injunction against the defendant. City of Salem vs Chain Leather Company, Superior Court Essex County, July 23, 1921, Bill in Equity filed to restrain the defendant from polluting the North River, returnable first Monday of September, 1921. The defendant has made certain changes upon its premises which has prevented further pollii.tion. Pending, Dity of Salem vs IU. J, Budgell & Sons, Inc. , Superior Court, Essex County,, July 23, 1921, filed Bill in Equity to restrain the defendant from polluting the North River, returnable first Monday of September, 1921. The defendant has made certain changes upon its premises which has prevented further pollution. Pdnding. r COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS ESSEX, SS. SUPERIOR. COURT IN EQUITY #6654 CITY OF SATMJ V KORN LEATHER COMPANY FINAL DECREE This cause came on to be further heard and it appear- ing that the bill has been taken pro oonfesso, thereupon, upon consideration thereof, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED: That the defendant, ito agents and servants, are enjoined and restrained from discharging into the North River in Salem or any of its tributaries, waste water or sewage containing flesh or other solid animal matter from hides, skins or other materials used by the said defendant in its manufacturing in• dustry without first having removed from said waste water or sewage all such flesh or solid animal matter, not held in complete solution by such method of treatment as shall be sufficient to produce such effect or shall be and remain satis- factory to the Board of Health of the City of Salem; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be taken or con- strued to prevent or interfere with said defendant' s use of the sewers or sewer system of the City of Peabody for and in connec- tion with its business. BY THE COURT (OILES, J. ) / ASST. CLT?RK ENTERED June 24, 1941. C 0 P Y COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS ESSEX, SS. SUPERIOR COURT IN EQUITY #6653 CITY OF SALEM VS. KIRSTEIN LEATHER COUPANY FINAL DECREE This cause came on to be" further heard and it appearing that the parties through their counsel have agreed, hereto in writing, thereupon, upon consideration thereof, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED: That the defendant, its agents and servants are enjoined and restrained from discharging into the North River in Salem or any of its tributaries, nor into any canal through which the waters of said river flow or pass, waste water or sewage containg flesh, hair or other solid animal matter from hides, skins or other materials used by the said defendant in its manufacturing industry or processes; and from allowing any such waste water or sewage to come into said river or canal or into any tributary of said river or canal from any land owned or occupied by such defendant, without first having removed from said waste water or sewage all such flesh or solid animal matter not held in complete solution by such method of treatment as shall be sufficient to produce such effect or shall be and re- main satisfactory both to the Board of Health of the City of Salem and to the Board of Health of the City of Peabody. BY THE COURT (GILES, J. ) ASST. CLERK ENTERED June 26, 1941- 'The foregoing decree may be entered. Attorney for the Plaintiff. Attorney for the .Defendant. C 0 P Y J)o.gt Office Allen&rfinen{ PENALTY FOR PRIVAT TOA P NT OF POSTAGE.59W Dl `4 BUSINESS LL4 l / ' OFFICIAL BUSINESS / �� TF OELIVERIHG Return to - ------ --- --------too- Sbeamr Numbet,l �E E OF eEXD RJ or POO Office Bos_f __________ _ _ � _______________________ �-)- __________________ REGISTERFA TICLE NO. - ----- Post Office------------------------------------ � --------- 'INSURED ARCEL is—�alzL Stafe_,_,_____------____c_-. porm s,A _ Rev,A^1i0 ,. RETURN RECEIPT Received from the Postmaster the Registered or Insured Article, the original number of which appears on o{n the face of this Card. 1 -----------'-1 � (strxat,.e<e,mmefadd..,.«J /� 2 ________________ ____________t_V_!--_-_-- (Slpnalme aJ addrwds ap<nt—As<nt<LavN e,at< add.«<ee'<xame on line ONE oboe) Date of delivery - -----' �-_, 194___ u.s.sovsxxnsx.rxnrrixs omcs to—taazt t_ July 12, 1944 f South Essex Sewerage Board Salem, Massachusetts Gentlement The constant opening of the gate (or by-pass, so called) of the trunk line sewer system at a point in the vicinity of the junction of Harmony Grove Road and Howley Street, Peabody, Mass., which by-pace is permitted to remain open for long periods of time, permits sewage to flow in vast quantities from the main trunk sewer line through a sewer pipe line in Howley Street, Peabody, Maas., Into the North River. The discharging of such a large volume of sewage is an important factor in creating a serious health menace In the North River within Salem boundaries. You are hereby notified that unless this gate or by-pass is kept closed at all times it shall be necessary for this Department to proceed against you as made and provided by law. By direction of the Hoard of Health. Very truly yours, John J. McGrath Agent JJMcGadq L .J SuI7 Igo 1944 Copy to each member of the Board of Health. Enclosed her"Its to a aapy of a letter Bent toUy to tb" South 8eSox 86WO 0430 DOOM .relative to 0106ing the gots at the Soxloy street barifto Sas Peau* very truly 70=40 John J* Wrath Agent Jcfiadq mate. C 0 p Y '. y ��pON DIT4,aO h r . CQ C to of 1$� yXe`xnrt �y 1/ys�_ cl se#ts mgep,M IN OO�P<P gaarb of Penit4 PHU= V. flAr antatt, I. 1-, fdhnirmnn grnnris Pl rn&m Prnq Gagnon :�Jnhn :�J_ �1'Ur CrGB'rnTh, �tASrnt July 12, 1944 South Essex Sewerage Board Salem, Massachusetts Gentlemen: The constant opening of the gate (or by-pass, so called) of the trunk line sewer system at a point in the vicinity of the function of Harmony Grove Road and Howley Street, Peabody, Mass., which by-pass is permitted to remain open for long periods of time, permits sewage to flow in vast quantities from the main trunk sewer line through a sewer pipe line in Howley Street, Peabody, Mass., into the North River. k The discharging of such a large volume of sewage is an ,important factor in creating a serious health menace in the North River within Salem boundaries. You are hereby notified that unless this gate or by-pass is kept closed at all times it shall be necessary for this Department to proceed against you as made and provided by law. By direction of the Board of Health, Very truly yours, (signed) John J. McGrath Agent C Y copy r /� c�coxoliggo a Q P i � .SII o' P n — } o CtV lif 'Salem, '�Iasmrhusetts m ` a �n y♦ �FOIMIN ooa� ,crnrb of Aeultlrji i William P- ,fXrVernmtt, �M.P_, fl,Tllairman l� Aramis 36rafnn Mriuu Gagnon Jnlin J- MrGrat4, Agent July 12; 1944 South Essex Sewerage Hoard , Salem, ,Massachusetts Gentlemen: The. 00nstent opening of the gate (or by-pa3s, so called) of the trunk line sewer system at a point in the vicinity of the junction of Harmony Grove Road and Howley Street, ,Peabody, Vass.p which by-pass in permitted to remain open for long periods of time, permits sewage to flow in vast quantities from the main trunk sewer line through a sewer pipe line in Howley Street, Peabody, Mase., into the North River. The discharging of such a large volume of sewage in an important .factor in creating a serious health menace in the North River within Salem boundaries. You are hereby notified that unless this gate or by-pass is kept closed at all times it shall be necessary for this Department to proceed against you as made and provided by law. By direction of the Hoard of Hen2th. Vary truly yours, (signed) John J. McGrath Agent C2PY COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE DISTRICT SOUTH ESSEX SALEM, MASS. SEWERAGE BOARD P� GEORGE WARD STETSON RECEIV Et) GEORGE F. ASHTON CHAIRMAN _ my 10, M4. TREASURER AND CLERK ALBERT H. RICHARDSON COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS. BEVERLY1 e CHESTER L. NYMAN A. PRESTON CHASE DISTRICT ENGINEER DANVERS FRANK P. MORSE =-3 (� CITY ENGINEER. SALEM FRANK J. MCCARTHY COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS.PEABODY Mr. John J. McGrath, Agent Board of Health Salem, Massachusetts JULVO i Dear Sir: In reply to your letter of July 6th, this will inform you that the samples taken for the State Department of Public Health by employees of this District consisted of five river and brook samples, which we took for the State Department as a matter of convenience, and at' five points designated by them. These samples were not factory samples, and they were taken as follows: J. North River sample at North Street bridge, Salem. v2. North River sample at Howley Street bridge in Peabody. 3. Strongwater 'Brook sample, near the Horrill Leather Co, in - Peabody. 4. Goldthwaite Brook sample at Railroad Avenue, Peabody. 5. Proctor Brook sample at Railroad Avenue, Peabody. As to the Salem Pumping Station, while the efficiency of this plant is law, we are able to pump the daily flow under the present summertime conditions. In extremely wet weather, we could not handle the entire daily flow. Trusting that this gives you the information you sought, we remain Yours truly, SOUTH ESSEX SE�7ERAGE BOARD rer aKd Cl Treasurer July 6, 1944 South Idsex Sewerage Board Salem, Massachusetts Gentlemen: In a communication dated June 28, 194)4., received by this Department from the State Department of Public Health, a copy of which has been forwarded to you, it was stated that the pollution of the Forth River was the greatest ever known to that Department in any open water course. It was also stated that the pollution of the stream is due to the direct discharge of industrial wastes into it from Peabody and Salem and the overflow of sewage from the Salem and Peabody trunk sewer near the Peabody-Salem line. Inasmuch as it was representatives of your Board that recently obtained these samples for the State De- partment, will you kindly inform us at what Salem fac- tories specimens might have been obtained? Will you also inform this Department as to the efficiency of the pumping station at Salem relative to the quantities of sewage that are being pumped on a daily average? Thanking you for an early reply, permit me to remain Very truly yours, John J. McGrath JJMo0:dq Agent f'(e"e r � I,�/ !'C'/%G!%ZG'%GGfrC'll.� Arthur D. Weston r' 511A July 20, 1944 Director, Sanitary Engineering CID M John J. McGrath Agent = vel` � � < , � 'L ; "a,::e�; " yrs Board of Health , Salem, Massachusetts ,. Dear Sir: Relative to your letter of July 172 19440 an informal investigation by this Division leading up to the Departmentfs communication to your Board dated June 28, 1944 would indicate that if your inspectors continue their observations as to the pollution of the North River in Peabody and Salem, they will find violations of Chapter 221 of the Acts of 1901. This Division will be pleased to provide your Board with any analytical data it has obtained if you so request. Very truly yours, K Chief Sanitary Engineer • r r N T July 17, 1944 Vlado A. Getting, M. D., Dr. P. H. Commissioner of Public Health State House Boston, Massachusetts Dear Dr. Gettings The pollution of the Horth River continues unabated. Although this Department has had an inspector working in Salem and Peabody recently, he was unable to discover any violation which might successfully be prosecuted in the courts. If your Department has a record, as a result of recent examinations, of any factory either in Salem or Peabody discharging waste into the Horth River in vio- lation of Chapter 221, Acte of 1901, and will furnish this Department with such information, we will forward It at once to our city solicitor for court action. Thanking you for your co-operation in this matter, permit me to remain Very truly yours, John J. McGrath Agent JJMoG a dq July 6, 1944 Department of Public Health Division of Sanitary Engineering State House Boston, Massachusetts Attention: Mr. Edgar A. Wright Gentlemen: in compliance with my promise to you of some few days ago, permit me to inform you that at a mee-ting of the Board of Health held recently it was voted to con- tinue inspections of the North River and to bring court proceedings in case sufficient evidence is obtained against any person, firm or corporation. Very truly yours, John J. McGrath Agent JJMoGsdq 1 i f ` CO ren !� sYZna, 112, .E cY�w�P/cs�CvudP/c�i !CZ�077/ June 28, 1944 Board of Health Salem, Massachusetts Gentlemen: In response to the communication of your agent in which he refers to a petition signed by 218 persons addressed to the Mayor of Salem objecting to the pollution of the North River and in which your Board requests an investigation and recommendations of this Depart- ment, the Department of Public Health has investigated the pollution of the North River in Peabody and Salem. i In connection with this investigation, samples of water of the North River and its tributaries were collected and the results of these analyses show that the North River at the time of the examina- tion was grossly polluted and at the mouth the amount of pollution as evidenced by biochemical oxygen demand determinations was the greatest ever known to this Department in any open water course. The investigation of the Department shows that the pollu- tion of the North River is due to the direct discharge of industrial wastes into this stream from Peabody and Salem and the overflow of sewage from the Salem and Peabody trunk sewer near the Peabody-Salem line. While the Department of Public Health has no jurisdiction under existing laws to prevent conditions such as found in the North River in Salem and Peabody, the Board of Health of the city of Salem under Chapter 221 of the Acts of the year 1901 has ample authority to prosecute those persons causing pollution of this stream. The pollution of the North River is a matter which has been referred to this Department from time to time by the authorities of the city of Salem over a great many years and the Department has re- peatedly called the attention of these officials to the absence of its authority to prevent pollution of this stream. The Department has introduced legislation with a view of obtaining the necessary author- ity and in this connection filed a bill which was published as House Bill 1250 of 1935. This bill failed to be enacted. The Department is of the opinion that the pollution of the ]North River under present conditions has reached a stage which is a detriment and danger to the public health, comfort and convenience by reason of the fact that persons living under these conditions suffer Y loss of sleep and experience improper ventilation in their homes. These odors, therefore, are likely to contribute to physical break- downs and thus increase susceptibility to disease. The Department is powerless to assist your Board in the improvement of the North River excepting in the prevention of new sources of pollution es-, . tablished since January 1, 1941. If you know of any new sources of pollution established since January 1, 1941, and will so advise this Department, suitable action will be taken under the provisions of Chapter 388 of the Acts of 1941. The Department recommends that the Board of Health of /Salem take appropriate action with a view to preventing pollution of this stream. Respectfully, Commissioner Copy to South Essex Sewerage Board Salem 2 .x_ , � j RECr"'.lY Et} ..-'. 1 f '��aw i;�t1 Y�� � � � _ , l�yti�'�/IIIJj�� ,f �. .4 '(�F yf a t renn �� alit�V�3ti{t �� � < . `. { rte IOr-1.1Y$YYt '• xr THE COMMONWEALTH OF, ,MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT QF - PUBLIC HEATH L STATE HOUSE.BOSTON South ruesez Sewerage Board Salem, 'Massachusetts Gentismetl: v _ - '• "• Enclosed is a copy of a aasmnunication to the Board of Health of Salem dated June 98, 1944 relative to the pollution of the North River* c Your attention is called to the Depaortment►s c vmunica tion of November 20#. 1942, in which the Department rec .ended that Immediate action be taken by your hoard in accordance its the pro- visions of Chapter 384 of the Acts of 1936 ix Nb ceaent of tho rules and regulations ad;�ptad by your Boaris act. This act provides for prosecution in the courtSar, as canbe determined, no action has• beau taken louc ntly underthis cat. In this connection the De toren ip ion that the cost of individual prelimi t we in tailed, at the various tanneries in tht v 1 of he sh uld properly be absorbedby- the manufa t ers , the protection of the public h in all of this stream, the Department recommends t he South as Beverage Board forthwith enforce its rules an r la io a. Commissioner Copy to rd of a th Enclosure June 29, 1914 Department of Public Health State House Boston, Massachusetts 4entlemens As ,a result of a petition signed by two hundred and eighteen persons residing in the vicinity of the North River in Salem; addressed to Mayor Edward A. Coffey and the City Council, his Honor the Mayor conferred with the Board of Health on May 19, 1944. At the conference it was decided to request the State Department of Public Health to examine the North River relative to its pollution and'make recommendations for remedying the conditions complained of. In order that the situation might be thoroughly understood, Mr. John J. McGrath, our representative, had a personal interview with Ur. Edgar A. Wright of the Division of Sanitary Engineering, who is completely familiar with conditions prevailing in the North River. Mr. Wright felt that the State Department would be willing to co-operate to the fullest extent. By direction of the Board of Health. Very truly yours, John J. McGrath Agent r' .r OFFICE OF THE MAYOR ,'r0o" v m �'Maeod+� PEABODY, MASS. JOSEPH 9. O'KEEFE ��8,yyD20 ii f ��j < tTt MAYOR July 15, 1944. Mr. John J. McGrath ,Agent Board of Health Salem, Mass. Dear Mr. McGrath: I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter and attached report of Dr. Vlado A. Getting of the Department of Public Health. I am referring a copy of your letter and a copy of the report to the proper authorities who must deal with such matters, namely, the Peabody Board of Health. Very truly yours, Mayor. JBd'K/eah. July 14,1944 Hon. Joseph H. O'Keefe, Mayor .City Hall Peabody, Massachusetts Dear Sir: In June 1944 this Department requested the State Department of. Public Health to examine the unsanitary conditions prevailing in the North River. Under date of June 28, 1944, we received a letter relative to this matter from the State Department, a copy of which is en- closed. This report clearly indicates the seriousness of the matter. In addition, we have reliable information that representatives of the City of Peabody are opening the sewer gates at Howley Street, Peabody, Maes. , which permits sewage to flow directly into the North River. In view of the serious menace to the public health and the comfort of our citizens, may, we have your prompt and effective assistance in correcting the fauly con- ditions cited above? Thanking you for your valued oo-operation, permit me to remain Very truly yours, John J. McGrath Agent By direction of the Board of Health. July 13, 1944 Hon. Edward A. Coffey, Mayor City Mall Salem, Massachusetts Dear Sir: This Is to acknowledge receipt of your favor of July 7th relative to this Departments taking legal action against anyone permitting sewage to enter the North River. In reply, we beg leave to inform you that we have this matter under constant consideration and supervision. Enclosed please find a copy of a letter sent on July 12th to the South Essex Sewerage Board. We are taking samples In the river at certain points in Peabody and also in Salem; if we can accumulate evid- ence to warrant court proceedinge, we will take such action. Very truly yours, John J. McGrath Agent JJMoO:dq Enc. Y CITY OF SALEM. MASSACHUSETTS, `"%ITU4 MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY HALLS ( rn EDWARD A-COFFEY. MAYOR July 7, 1944 Mr. John J. McGrath City Hall Salem; Massachusetts Dear Mr. McGrath- I suggest that you contact City Solicitor James Kinsella and instruct him to start legal action against anyone (City of Peabody, South Essex Sewerage Commission) to enjoin them from opening the gates or doing anything to permit sewage from entering the North River. I Very truly yours, 6 � -C'/t EAC:ecp Mayor _ Y JMELEPH+Es ' -PEABODYII66,E ll iRLEc KIRSTEIN LEATHER CO . 1 75 WALNUT STREET BOSTON O�ICE 1225O�N ;BEET PEABODY, MASS . _ LIBERTY (6540 116541 RECEIVED NOTHING TAKES THE PLACE OF GENUINE LEATHER 4 .0,��`C11di2ni� 2 r 1 T.f I June 26, 1944 JUN271944 City of Salem, Board of Health, Salem, Mass . Gentlemen: We acknowledge receipt of your letter of June 20th pertaining to the waste matter flowing from our tannery, and having carefully looked into this we can assure you that there is no solid animal matter, flesh or hair, emptied into the canal from this factory. Very truly yours, KI NjA�R CO . , AZ 7R.7 Tet1e� Office Mgr. A Si R K T: - "' RETURN RECEIPT Received from the Postmaster the P=gisiered or Insured Article, the original number ofwhich appears on the face of this ar 1 — _-------- (S na re or name o/add.vke) (S vYweo) dd.e»e +agmY—Amidanfn add.n+e e'+na on line ONE adore) Date of delivery ___ _ -_� ---------- 194_. v z,caJznrdn Pn�nnxc oarlcc to—vtrzt JSgt Office T3epartment ,PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTA $XQ •�Yii ` OFFICIAL BUSINESS IUI l STMARK DF DE�' U. J0 I Return pp to_____ --------- --------- ME OF SEN ER) Street and Numb .t! orPast Q6c Boz. _________ ------ ------------------------ - ___'-___- ------------- REG TERED ARTI LE No. O/-0- ---- Post O,�ee.-_._------------•--•-------._-_."_'4✓...... _..___ INSURED PARCEL State--------------------- Fern:3806(Rev.Jan.21,1930 � IPA on Receeipt for Registered Artide No. ' ( dJy Reai.tere l 1t It Rest Office indicated inthe Pw ar§ �' du` Fee paid________ een(s C(aes Pas(age__ �0" fD. Declared valve_L'_✓__ Svrehaxge Daid.$_/______ bV Return Tesla t al .r: Delivery restricted to dresses: in person-------or order______ Fee Paid------ Accepting employee will place his initials In apace indicating restricted delivery. POSTMASTER,Per____________________________ (MAILING OFFICE) The sander should write the name of the addreame on back hereof as No identification. Preserve and submit thea receipt in ease of maatry or mealmetion for indemnity. Reaistry Few and Indemvty.Domentic realetry fees mage from 15 cents for Indemnity not ans a lme K as to$1 for Indemnity net..carding$1,000. The fee oa dwer tin ondstered matter without hdrIn c vAua and far whish indemnity is net read is 15 cats. Consols pretmaater as to the Tenable domestic resistry fees and aerehargw and as to the registry fees chargeable on rematerod parcel-peat a.-".fa,fowian..t.- Fees on domeatm reautered C.O.0.mail muga from 25 cerate to$1.20. Indemnity aleires mnet be filed within ave veer(C.O.D.a¢mouaha)from data of rowl'. U.S.aDVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 10-20205 y June 20, 19144 Hirstein Leather Co., Inc. 75 Walnut Street Peabody, Massachusetts Gentlemen': The condition of the flats of the North River in Salem Is the most unsanitary in the history of this stream. This condition is caused in part by the vast amount of waste being discharged into the river from your factory, said discharging of waste being in violation of Chaptdr 221, Acts of 1901 of the Massachusetts Legislature, and of Final Decree #6653 issued by Judge Giles of the Sup- erior Court in Equity, which decree was entered June 26, 1911 and is as follows: "It is ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED That the defendant, its agents and servants are enjoined and restrained from discharging into the North River_ in Salem or any of its tributaries, nor into any canal through which the waters of said river flow or pass, waste water or sewage con- taining flesh, hair or other solid animal matter from hides, aurins or other materials used by the said defend- ant in its manufacturing industry or processes; and from allowing any such waste water or sewage to come Into id1d, river or canal or into any tributary of said river or' canal from any land owned or occupied by such defendant, without first having removed from said waste crater or sewage all such flesh or solid animal matter not held in complete solution by such method of treatment as shall be sufficient to produce such effect or shall be and re- main satisfactory both to the Board of Health of the City of Salem and to the Board of Health of the City of Peabody." This Department respectfully requests that you immediately comply with the above court order and the law in order that further complications may be avoided. Thanking you for your co-operation in this matter, permit me to remain Very truly yours, John J. McGrath Agent By direction of the Board of Health. , ;. RETURN RECEIPT Received from the Postmaster the Registered or Insured Article, the original number of which appears on the face of this Card. - 1 - -------- -------------' ----------------- ----- (5 nature mna�mep/e/'addree+eeJ 2 .C ".- -- -------- --------- ----------- Lf ;reue'e'+at!n�Agml Amdd enter addrem4 name on line ONE abm) Date o deliver I ___�________- 194_7 f v ----- k - ' ` - { t, . [( 1 V y.OOVEPaM[Xi�'0.tM/i 1/NG OFJ. 1e 12421 ,\ ✓" 'J c Volt Office department PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAsOF POSTAGE,AW OFFICIAL BUSINESS , Pas VERING I 1?1 0 0 � I Return to-------- -- — -- - --- ----- Ea' • cNA,As aw s ` Sired and Number,l orPost Office Box_ -------------—------_ - ------— _________ __------_---_______________ 17 REGISTERED ARTICLE /. Q Post Qffice--------- --------------------------------------- INSURED PARCEL State------------- Ie—iz�aT ---''-=----- Fy�.89'O6(Rev.Jan.21,1925) (POSTMARK OF) Receipt for Registered Article No.'d-----! ! • "' Rveht on!at the Pmt Office indicated in the Postmark Fee paid_(!_Y _/)re-Is Class Postage __/_____ , Declared value 1C_� _ rchar8e paid.$________ Return Receipt Fee __ Spl. Defy fee Delivery restricted to addressee: n in person _____,or order pee paid______ Aeceptint.' employee will place°hi3 initia4 apace indicating restricted do' POSTMASTER,per. _ (MAILING OFFICE) The eandm should write th a of the atld mm on back hereof av an idmfJBuEion. Preverva and submit Ehie receipt in nae of o irs or aPri—do,for indemnity. Ranier,Face and Indar ' —Domestic c entry tam n ge from 15 conic for' dernita,not ding ES,u o to value for m em is nod indemnity vg of Paid a The far on dConsul registered rattan without intrmsir vain and lac which losehy ie not to ithe 15 curve. Cohost poe on-gi ie eIn d the epmifir tlammdc far fury fere and ries. Fees and m tc the registry tree c0.D.bia on registered 25 an.. n makagm[or foreign Inas reut Fees on thin a— roar(C.0 C.O.D.red mono from of mvie to 5120. Indemnity claiem moat be filed within ane ymr fC.O.D eiz mouths)from daW o mad m. u.e.40VEaxNExr 4rrlce I0-20305 `J � r June 20, 1944 Korn Leather Company 41 Hardy Street Peabody, Massachusetts Gentlemen The condition of the flats of the North River in Salem is the most unsanitary in the history of this stream. This condition is caused in part by the vast amount of waste being discharged into the river from your factory,, said discharging of waste being in violation of Chapter 221,. Acts of 1901 of the Massachusetts Legislature, and of Final Decree #6654 issued by Judge Giles of the Super- ior Court in Equity, which decree was entered June 24,- 1941 4,1941 and is as follows: " It is ORDERED., ADJUDGED and DECREED: That the defendant, its agents. and servants, are enjoined and restrained from discharging into the.North River in Salem or any of its tributaries, waste water or sewap-Wdff wining flesh or other solid animal matter from hides, skins or other mat- erials used by the said defendant in its manufacturing Industry without first having, removed from said waste water or sewage all such flesh or solid animal matter, not held in complete solution by such method of treatment as shall be sufficient to produce such effect or shall be and remain satisfactory to the Board of Health of the City of Salem; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be taken or construed to prevent or interfere with said defendant' s use of the sewers or sewer system. of the City of Peabody for and in connection with its business." This Department respectfully requests that you immediately comply with the above court order and the law in order that further complications may be avoided. Thanking you for your co-operation in this matter, permit me to remain Very truly yours, John J. McGrath Agent By direction of the Board of Health. �g Vong.. h TK.. a eP T' e RETURN RECEIPT Received from the Postmaster the Registered or Insured Article, the original number of which appears on the face of this Card. ,.7 f j 1 o_n C.L-t e�){�''e �� f' (SiBnafine oT P^m of addrrsa<Q 4 ------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ------- (Synafvre eJ addr<u<e,apmt—A8//rat,hovW rater addrm<e'T name on line ONE abooeJ Date of delivery ------------------_- ___� _, 194_-_� Y.5.40VEPXMEHT PLAINT 40fIlGE ]6-12421 pont Office Pepactwnt PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE TO AVOID PAYMENT OF POSTAGE$300 A OFFICIAL BUSINESS ' POSTMARK OF DEtNERING OFFICE Return to___,A __ G _ -- (wuA P 8� 3> Street and Number,l REGISTERED ARTICLE .Past Office............. ce.._._..-__.. INSURED PARCEL State_.___�_ 'Form 5896(Rev.Jan.21,1035) 24 d I fi F i (POSTMARK OF) ReceiplJor Registered Article No.------------------ v RLiaterad at the Post Office indicated In the Poamah Fee paid___' _____ cents Class postage___ ___ Declared value_T_____ Surcharge paid,$________ Return Receipt£ee Az- SPI. Deily fee _______ ' Delivery restricted to addressee: in person -------or order ______ Fee paid------ _ 4 ✓ Accepting employee will place his initials lit apace indicating restricted delivery.p, POSTMASTER,per________ v.__..__------ (MAILING OFFICE) The sander should write the name of the addressesn book heof ae an identification. Pros, m and submit this reint in of from,or sa.1mreoa for ind...hsr. Reghtry Foes oad lrdemuity.—Domeetic reristry free case from 15 cards for indemnity not ex«eding U.up to$1 for indemnity not exeeeding$1,000. The fee on domemtio reghtered matter without mteiame value and for whish indemnity is net paid Is 15 sante. Cmm-lt postmotor ee to the an uffie dommtm registry faen and surchamen and on to the regbtry fees obargrable on mommerw3' ps ool-poet carluere for foreign muntrfee. Fees on domestic registered C.O D.mail mmee from 25 conte to$120. Indmmmty clause must ba filed within enamor CO.O.D.ma montAW from date of maihua. u.a.navcam,ear imam.esemr 10-20305 June 190 19I'di Board of Health Peabody, Massachusetts Gentlemen: The unsanitary conditions prevailing upon the flats of the North River within the boundaries of the City of Salem are the most harmful in the history of this stream. This river was once termed by competent authority the most grossly polluted stream in the country; the amount of material polluting the stream and the flats has greatly increased since that classification was made. Inspectors of this Department have discovered that vast quantities of trade waste from Peabody factories and the sewer outlet under the Holly Street bridge at Peabody are being discharged into the North River. The sewage so dis- charged is in flagrant violation of Chapter 221, Acts of 1901. We respectfully request that your Board take such immed- iate, effective and definite action as will cause a full compliance with the above mentioned law by all persons, firms or corporations within. your municipality who may be violating it. The effective co-operation of your Department will be greatly appreciated by the citizens of this City and by this Department, and will be the means of protecting public health and according comfort to our citizens . By direction of the Board of Health. Very truly yours, John J. McGrath Agent JJMoG:DQ Ir r r OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH 47 LOWELL STREET PEABODY, MASS. June 28, 1944. Mr. John J. McGrath Agent, Board of Health Salem, Massachusetts. Dear Mr. McGrath: Your letter of June 19th was called to the attention of the Board of Health at their meeting on June 26th. The action of the Board was that the complaints specified in your letter be investigated at once and if these conditions were found to exist, to eliminate them in so far as possible. rer truly yours, Leonard Jones Agen . aLBJ/GD W ���ttdtrui ° i s r RECEIVEn 944M,�} =3 JUN161944 AN REGULATIONS OF THE SOUTH ESSEX SEWERAGE BOARD 1. No corporation, firm nor person shall discharge or cause or allow to be discharged into any sewer under the control of the South Essex Sewerage Board, or any sewer tributary thereto within the South Essex Sewerage District, any sewage, drainage, substances or wastes containing caustic lime in excess of seventy-five parts per million by weight. 2. No corporation, firm nor person shall discharge or cause or allow to be discharged into any sewer under the control of the South Essex Sewerage Board, or any sewer tributary thereto within the South Essex Sewerage District, any sewage, drainage, substances or wastes containing greasy or fatty matters in excess of three hundred parts per million by weight. 3. No corporation, firm nor person shall discharge or cause or allow to be discharged into any sewer under the control of the South Essex Sewerage Board, or any sewer tributary thereto within the South Essex Sewerage District, any sewage, drainage, substances or wastes containing suspended solids in excess of five hundred parts per million by weight. Adopted February 6, 1936. At a meeting duly called by the Board of Health of the City of Salem on the day of July, 19440 it was voted unanimously that the South Essex Sewerage Board be requested not to open the gates of the trunk sewer operated by them, which gates are located at the junction of Howley Street and Harmony Grove Road near the Salem-Peabody line , at any time or under any circumstances unless with the express consent of the said Board of Health. ����� : ���� � . � � ���« . � w § ! �t� : , \ ���;� . ® . ��� © uG 2tY�^ � �^ Fo[m D 28. 5.8-33. 2M. °°N°IT� L� •Qi CITY OF SALEM. b�IMIN °°aT In City Council...........g". aY....25..'................:..............19..44.. Ordered : That the Board of IIealth make an investigation of the source of the polution in the North River and that the Board of Health commence legal action against any and all persons contributing to -the obnoxous odors and nuisance- in the_North- _ _ River. - .- In City Council May 25,-1944 - Adopted unanimous roll call vote ?.nnrove'd by Mayor, May 26 , 1944 ORDER In City Council 19 .. ... Adopted Clerk City of Salem f. .... .. . ... .... .. .. . ....19 Presented to the Mayor for approval j . .. ....... . .. 19 A, d 3A 13 038 City Clerk Approved on .. ....... ... .... .. . .. ...19.. By ........ Mayor Gloucester Mass. July 8th. 1944 RIVER POLUTION---Unchecked! To the Editor of the Boston Globe;- Sir;- In the second column of the July 8th 1944 ( Satl1rdayY is an article headed "River Polution" in Salem Mass. I vist Salem often; but shall avoid it until I am assured that the condition referred to above is remedied. There is no excuse for allowing waste to contaminate the water of the North River, in this day of competent chemists, and the knowledge of the almost perfect remedy for any contamination of flowing water. From personal experience I can assert that if the source of the con- tamination is known, there should be no difficulty in correcting the trouble. Practically the whole of England disposes of the sewage (sewerage) by means of septic tanks, and the great City of Chicago was required to build a large sewage disposal plant, by order of the Supreme Court of the United States. (not the present Court) . , I am familiar with smaller plants which have been and are successful in sewage disposal - If Health Commissioner Getting has permitted the condition to exist at Salem (as described in the Boston Globe) I would advise him to secure expert help to eradicate the trouble. Why delay to correct a trouble which it seems to be admitted, is already a menace to the health.? Yours truly Thos. C. Powell (stet) Salem Maass Health Board, Salem Mass. Dear Sirs;- I do not court publicity, and so send this letter direct to you, tho' originally addressed to the Boston Globe. T,rC.Powell . Y •Y P r .f Y..i =!a � i . fY e ' M ih •-� It -1- NORTH RIVER 1877 / Sewerage facilities for Peabody and Salem to care for the drainage of the North River, 90s Early -- Brought to the attention of Legislature 1895 State made an investigation under special act. 1901 Salem authorized to go ahead independently 1903 work started Oct. 260 1903 1904 Bill in legislature for joint sewer, cost to be apportioned later. Salem then offered perpetual rights in sewer and harbor outfall for $$150,000 -accepted. 1904 CPp. 512 Provided that sewer be large enough for Peabody but with the stipulation that the nature and quanity of sewage to be discharged into and through the trunk sewer, to be regulated by the State Board. 1904 April 6, 1904 $150,000 Peabody to pay as its share. Erection of dam in the North River by Street Railway never approved by B. of H. 1906 Plans approved and sewer constructed. Drainage area &f North River 13 sq. miles. 1907 July 10, 1907 City Council adopted- requiring the Board of Health to notify all abuttors on the North River to cease polluting the stream. Similar action was requested of the Peabody authorities. 1909 11 Injunctions 1913 Sept. 8, 1913 -- Peabody Sewerage Comm. , Andrew N. Jacobs, Benj. F. Southwick, Richard J. Cullen, P. .r. Martin, George R. Underwood; Engineer F. A. Barbour; Town Council .john J. Cahill and Gen. F. Appleton. A committee was chosen to consider the cost and maintainenee of trunk sewer, power house and outfall sewer and apportion cost to community. -2- 1921 April 13, 1921 - wrote Peabody Board of Health regarding Synder Plant at Peabody, polluting stream Wrote State Boa Pd on same. May 199 1921 Local Board asked for conference with Peabody Board of Health By passes, (Irove St.Peabody and Grove St. , Salem North St. , Salem and Fort Ave. Oct. 110 1921 State Board in letter to City Solicitor Declared North River a nuisance. 1921 4 Injunctions 1923 House Doc. #1175 Cannot take samples at line and prosecute City of Peabody 1926 Wrote Peabody Board of Health re river pollution. Local 1928 Sept. 7, 1928 1929 House bill 425 1930 Letters - Mayor Sullivan and Peabody Board. Reply from Murray that they had inspected river and could not find any violation. House 564 - Mayor Bates and City council. 1931 House 1008 - Mayor, City Council and Board of Health 1931 Wrote owners of Peabody factories 1934 If " if Goldwaites Brook main tributary rises in Cedar Pond. Led by Tapley Brook which is the outlet of Brownts and Spring Pond. Water shed 6 sq, miles Proctor' s Brook rises in w, Peabody Water shed 3.8 sq. miles Strongwaters Brook rises in southern part of Salem, one mile east of Spring Pond. 3= Leach and Heckle, Flint St. Helburn Thompson Bay State Chemical Co. Salem Oil and Grease Co. Peter Sims & Sons 8" overflow of sewage due to leak in storm drain on Northerly side of B. & ff. R. R. tracks between Flint St and North St. Crossing. $" Underdrain of sludge bed at Levesseurs 21 x 22 continuous discharge of sewage through storm drain southside of North St. Bridge. 4th report of South Essex shows total sewes cost of $1,805,000 5th report of " " shows Salem Pumpiring Station cannot be considered safe or adequate. Pumping equipment not of proper type or capacity. 7th - 1932 report ditto of above. Suspended matter must be kept of sewer as well as `he river. Pump well not of sufficient capacity. Av.amount pumped in 1934 -- 10 mos. Salem 4;.73 Peabody 5.23 Screen in river 1933 Salem 5.40 Peabody 5.37 Metcalfs & Eddy report $25,000 Harmony Grove- tomatoes Shellfish. �I BROWN'S LETTERS CORP. ' CONSTRUCTION REPORTS INC. New England 38 CNAUNCS STREET ADVANCE BUILDING NEWS s iaybone BOSTON (11) MASS. HUBbard 0830 October 3, 1944 Board of Health Salem Mass. Gentlemen: We understand plans are in progress for some new bulkheads dredging etc. North River, Salem, Mass. We would like to call your attention to our Daily Building Reports in which we have an OFFICIAL PROPOSAL SECTION. Our columns are being used regularly by,various Cities and Towns, Architects and Engineers, States and the Federal Government. We believe your Engineer-Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, 11 Beacon St. Boston, Mass. will be glad to recommend our service. Vie enclose some sheets from recent reports showing the setup and style of type used also a rate sheet giving the cost per line of insertion. When you are ready to advertise on this project or any other construction work may we have your order. Very truly yours BROWNrS LETTERS CORP. CONSTRUCTION �REPORTS � . Clara V. Tyler CVT:vmo Asst. Trees. Enc. Published Daily Except Saturday ¥ � � { . . gI x r DAILY CONSTRUCTION NEWS OF NEW ENGLAND V for the f' BENEFIT OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING TRADE Contractors and Supply Houses depend upon CONSTRUCTION REPORTS INC. for Opportunities to Bid. Have your next PROPOSAL announcement in our columns. PROPOSAL and CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES: IIssue 3Issues 5Issues Per line ------------------------------------$ .40 $ .90 $1.25 Minimum per issue......... .-----------$3.00 DISPLAY ADVERTISING RATES ON REQUEST TERMS AND CONDITIONS Advertising accounts are payable in advance. Commission differential allowed recognized agencies. It is expected that perfect copy, cuts, plates and electrotypes will be supplied. Any expenditures for repairs, mounting, mortis- ing and excessive alterations will be billed at the additional cost. Advertisements are subject to approval by the Publisher. CONSTRUCTION REPORTS INC. 38 Chauncy 4Adkbn=d Street. Boston. Mass. 1000-1-40 , BROWNS LETTERS CORP & CONSTRUCTION REPORTS IN� 38 CHAUNCY STREET BOSTON HUB 0830 4 OFFICIAL PROPOSAL SECTION NOTICE_TQ_BIOCERS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NATIONAL ROUSING AGENCY, Federal Public Housing-Authority, Boston, Massachusetts, October 3, 1944.-SEALED BIDS in triplicate subject to the conditions contained herein and in the contract documents for furnish- ing all labor and materials and performing all work for repairs and alterations to Trailers at War Housing project Mass-19086, Sandwich; Massachusetts, will be received at the office of the Federal Public Housing Authority, Room 419, 24 School Street, Boston S. Massachusetts, until 2,00 e.m. On October 12, 1944, and then publicly opened. A priority rating of AA-3 has been granted _ for this project with respect to materials on the durrent War Housing -Critical List. Attention Is called to the fact that the minimum wage rates as set forth in the Specifications must be paid on this project. Forms of Contract Documents, including Spec- ifications and Drawings are obtainable at the office of the Federal public Housing Authority, 24 School Street, 8ostoh g, MassachusetttS, and may be obtained.by the deposit of $50 for the first set, and $10 for each additional set, to assure its re- turn in good condition within 10 days after the opening of bids, Deposit for plans and specifications In the form of a money order, certified check, or cashier' s check made payable to the Treasurer of the United State's must accompany request for plans and specifi- cations and shall be held until such time as the bidder returns plans and specifications 1n good condition. The right Is reserved, as the interest of the Government may require, to reject any and all bids and to waive any Informality in bids received. Bids will not be considered from contractors wbo, 'ln the opinion of the Contracting Officer, have net made suitable progress or done satisfactory Work In connection with existing contracts with the Federal Public Housing Authority. Receipt Of this Notice to Bidders, by any contractor, shall not be construed as recog- nition by the Federal Public Housing Author- ity of such contractor' s adequate qualifica- tions to perform the work contemplated by the contract documents. Prior to award of contract, consideration will be given to the qualifications of the bidder to determine (a) that an adequate organization and equip- ment required to perform the work without delay will be available, (b) chat the bidder Is technically and financially qualified and has previously constructed developments or structures of comparable size, and (c) that the bidder Is a bona fide experienced general contractor. The successful bidder shall, to the greatest extent consistent with economic- al and speedy construction, utilize the services of qualified local subcontractors and distressed firms, Envelopes containing the bids must be sealed, and identified as BSd for (Project f5um6er and Location), to be opened (Date and Place), and (Name and Ad- dress of Bidder). Bid security In the form of a money order, certifled check or cashler9s check made payable to the Treasurer of the United States, or a satisfactory bid bond on U. S. Standard Form N0. 24, in an amount not less than two percent (2%) of the bid will ce required. SUMNER K. WILEY, Acting for the Commissioner of the Federal Public Housing Authority. October 3, 1944 N - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CVT vo t^ �..4 BROWNS LETTERS CORP. AND CONSTRUCTION REPORTS 1,NC- 38 CHAUNCY STREET BOSTON HUB 0830 OFFICIAL PROPOSAL SECTION CONTRACT NO. S ADVERTISEMENT Notice to Contractors Federal Works Agency Project No. R. 1. 87-164 N City of Newport, Rhode island Separate Sealed Bids for the Paving and Resurfacing of Certain Streets or Highways In the City of Newport will be received by the Commissioner of Public Works of the City of Newport at the office of the Commissioner Of Public Works until threej3:00) Ofcldck P. N. Eastern war Time Augus 14, 1844, and then at a Meeting Of the Board of Aldermen In the Aldermanic Chambers at three-thirty (3-30) o1 clack P. M. Eastern War Tire of the same day, publicly opened 'and read aloud, The Information for Bidders, Form of Bid, Form of Contract, Plans, Specifications, and Forms of Bid Bond and Performance Bond may be examined at the Office of Commissioner Of Public Works City Ball, Newport, Rhode Island and Copies thereof obtained upon Payment of $25.00 for each Set, Any Bidder, upon re- turning such Set On or before date of open— ing of bids and In good condition, will be refunded his Payment, and any Won-Bidder upon so returning such a Set will be refunded $20.00. The Board of Aldermen, acting for the City of Newport reserves the Right to Waive any Informalities in, or to Refect any or all Bids. Each Bidder must deposit with his Bid Security in the amount Of $2300.00 In the Form and Subject to the conditions provided In the Information for Bidders. At- tention of Bidders is particularly called to the requirements as to Conditions of Employ- ment to be observed and Wage Rates to be paid under the Contract. No bidder may with- draw his Bid within forty-five days after the actual Date of the Opening thereof. Gardner C. Eesti n Commissioner of Pubic Works August 4, & 11. 1944 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - N H/CT DAILY CONSTRUCTION NEWS of NEN ENGLAND for the BENEFIT of the NATIONAL BUILDING TRADE BROWNS LETTERS CORP h CONSTRUCTION REPORTS INC 38 CHAUNCY STREET BOSTON HUB 0830 OFFICIAL PROPOSAL SECTION CITY OF MENTON, MASSACHUSETTS NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Sealed pr ppsals- - for CONSTRUCTION OF-SAN- ITARY SENER� in the following locations; Elinor Road from near Walnut St. easterly to end, about 523 feet, Woodcliff Rd. from Elinor Rd, to Alexander Rd., about 265 feet. Roosevelt Rd. from Parker St, to Theodore Rd., about 634 feet. Theodore Rd. from Roosevelt Rd. northerly, about 238 feet, Private land from a point in the Oak Hill Sewer. Sta, 5811- 30.4, northerly and easter- ly, crossing Paul Brook and Parker Street, and extending to Theodore Rd., a distance of about 2370 feet. Private land from end of Elinor Rd, northeasterly and southeasterly to last above named sewer, a distance of a- bout 661 feet. All in accordance with a plan and profiles in the office of the City Engineer numbered and entitled -as follows: „No. 29146, City of Newton, Mass., Contract Plan Sewers in Elinor Road, Woodcliff Rd.. Roosevelt Rd., Theodore Rd. and Private land, May 2, 1944, Ernest H. Harvey, City Engineer. • will be received at the office of Street Commissioner, City Hall, 1oOO Com- monwealth Ave.. Newton Centre, Mass., until 10 A.M., June 15th, 1944 at which place and time they will be publicly opened and read. All proposals must be sealed proposals, made In duplicate Upon blank forms furnished by said Commissioner, one proposal to be de- posited with the Commissioner must be accom- panied by a certified check upon a national bank Or trust company in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the sum of Five Thousand Dollars payable to and to become the proper- ty of the City of Newton If the proposal Is accepted and the bidder neglects or refuses to Comply with the terms of the proposal. One proposal (without check), must be filed by the bidder in the office of the Comptrol- ler of Accounts of Newton, prior to the time set for opening bids. (See Ordinances of the City of Newton Chapter 2,Section 21, as amended.) A sufficient bond for the faithful per- formance of the contract in the penal sum of the contract price will be required. Specifications and terms of contract can be obtained at the office of said Commission- er. Attention is called t0 the fact that mini- mum wage rates for this project are estab- 11shed In accordance with Chapter 461, Acts Of 1935, and are set forth in the contract documents. The Commissioner reserves the right to re- ject either, any, or all proposals, or to accept any proposal or any part of any pro- posal and to award the contract as he may chem to be for the best Interests of the City of Newton. JOHN D. HAUGHEY Street Commissioner June 7, 1944 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - N 68-CT Minutes of the meeting of the Salem Board of Health held in the Council Chamber, City Hall, October 6, 1944. Meeting called to order at 4;35 P. M. by William V. McDermott, M. D., Chairman; all members present, also Mayor Edward A. Coffey, City Engineer Frank P. Morse, Sanitary Inspector Michael J. Trainor, Plmabing Inspector Peter P. Griffin, the members of the Peabody Board of Health, consisting of Ralph P. McCarthy, M. D. , Chairman, Leonard F. Conway and Charles H. Cotton, and Agent Leonard B. Jones and Plumbing Inspector Cornelius F. Sheehan of the Peabody Board of Health. Dr. McDermott said he had invited the Peabody Board to be present to see if there was some way they could co-operate on the North River problem; he did not know how bad it was in Peabody, but it was very bad in Salem. He had been on the Board of Health for thirty-three years; for the first ten he had mentioned in each annual report that the North River was a nuisance and should be attended to. There were certain factors he would like to bring out . We have not been free from violations, our tanneries have done damage; but there is no doubt the nuisance exists above the Peabody line . He said he was not an engineer and could not give details, but we have obtained injunctions against ten or more Peabody factories. We know that the South Essex Sew- erage Board is throwing ,sewage into the river, and the City of Peabody is throwing sewage through a by-pass into the river. He wanted the Peabody Board to come down to see what could be done; he hoped we would be able to do some- thing, although it was a big problem. A short time ago we had taken samples from the Korn Leather Factory, which analysis showed to be contaminated. A. C. Lawrence had a place which overflowed into the river at times. The Mayor had a headache over the whole thing and was trying to clear it up. (Dr. McDermott here read several reports of samples taken from Peabody factories. ) He would like to have a good, free, open discussion and see if we could get anywhere . Dr. McCarthy said the by-pass which had been mentioned was on the property of the South Essex Sewerage Board, although it had undoubtedly been opened many times by the City of Peabody. He understood that the sewer was not in good con- dition, that incrustations were heavy and thick; cleaning of the part of the sewer in Peabody was at least five months overdue. There had not been much trouble because there was not much backflow, but it could easily cause trouble. They were making every effort to see that nothing did happen, but if the sewer backed up the sewage had to go somewhere. He understood that the sewers were not large enough and the pumps were not adequate. 2. Dr. McDermott said he had heard as far back as 1926 that the -pumps were not sufficient and could only pump with the tide. Dr. McCarthy said he understood the same condition prevailed today. He asked Mr. Sheehan if any changes had been made at the Pumping:Station since the time Dr. McDermott mentioned. Mr. Sheehan said no changes had been made, and that the sewer had been full about two weeks ago although it was better now. In one case, sewerage backed up into the chimney of a store and they had to wait four weeks for conditions to be right to clean it out; another time, sewage backed up through a closet. Dr. McDermott said he understood that when regular sewage met lime, incrustation occurred. Mr. Sheehan said he believed the cleaning of the sewers was now proceeding pretty well. He explained that from Foster Street down, the South Essex Sewerage Board took care of it; above that, the City of Peabody did. The South Essex Sewer- age Board now had men working on Harmony Grove Road. Dr. McDermott said he had heard the statement made that the lateral sewers in Peabody were not large enough to take care of the sewage. Dr. McCarthy said this condition existed only when there were heavy rains . He said there was no raw sewage going into the river in Peabody. Mr. Griffin said that at Mrs. Murphy' s place, the Lloyd Chem- ical Works, sewage was going directly into the river. Mr. Sheehan explained that this place had been used as a storeroom for twenty years; only for about the past six weeks have men been working there and using the toilet. As soon as he heard about it, he had sewer connections made . Mr. Griffin acknowledged that as soon as Mr. Sheehan had been notified of this condition, he had it taken care of. �)r. McDermott said that the same condition had at times pre- vailed in Salem, and Mr. Griffin answered that it was true. Mr. Conway said he could not understand why someone from the South Essex Sewerage Board did not give any facts about the sewers. He spoke of the amounts paid to them by Peabody and Salem. Dr. McDermott said that what he would like to do would be to get all the tanneries cleaned up, and after that it would be up to the South Essex Sewerage Board. Dr. McCarthy said he was quite sure the raw sewage had been 3, taken care of, and his Board had been doing more work than the Salem Board seemed to think: but unfortunately, tanning was a dirty industry. Mr. Sheehan said he did not know of one place in the City of Peabody where human sewage was going into a brook; there had been plenty, but in the last twenty years he had seen to it that it was taken out. Dr. McDermott said it was the tannery waste we would like to get rid of. He thought the odor was caused by fleshings; bubbles came up which were undoubtedly hydrogen sulphide. People painted their houses, and overnight they turned dark. He asked the Mayor if he would like to speak. Mayor Coffey said he did not wish to say anything for fear it would be interpreted as being political, and he did not want it to be political. He thought that if the Peabody Board of Health would block the by-pass and the sewer over- flowed, it would bring the matter to a head, meaning that the South Essex Sewerage Board was not capable of taking care of it. He was trying to get an opinion from the City Solicitor relative to closing another by-pass in Salem. He realized that blocking the gate would cause trouble in Peabody, but it would be fairer to have the trouble in Peabody. Dr. McCarthy said they could not tolerate closing the gate very long or they would drown in the sewage. It would take a long time for the South Essex Sewerage Board to build bigger and better sewers. Dr. McDermott asked Payor Coffey if the material from the Peabody section of the river would not be apt to flow into Salem if we followed our plan of dredging the canal; the Mayor answered that it would. Dr. McDermott asked if it would be possible for Peabody to clean their part at the same time. Mr. Cotton said he supposed their section needed dredging. Dr. McDermott said although many people were opposed to dredging, in his opinion it would never be cleaned up until the dredging was done; it would not stop contamination, but it would stop the condition which existed at the present time . The canal was last dredged in 1917. Mr. Conway said that $18,000 had been spent in Peabody in 1936 to clean the brooks . Mr. Cotton asked if colored water did any harm; Dr. McDermott answered that in his opinion it did not: Mr. Brown mentioned that tremendous amounts of lime vgent into the brooks at the upper end. 4• Mr. Griffin showed some samples which were taken from the bed of the brook in Peabody. Mr. Trainor said that about a week ago he saw sewage run- ning into the river from the Cox Leather Company, where he had never seen any coming out before . Dr. McCarthy asked if it was raw sewage; Mr. Trainor said that it was, and he had heard that they pumped it out every Friday afternoon. Dr. McDermott said we had sent an inspector up to Peabody, and he took a sample from Korn' s, which analysis showed to be contaminated. He said the trouble was to be there when they opened the outlets; it was a hard job to catch them at it. Dr. McCarthy asked if they had a settling basin at the Cox Leather Company. Mr. Sheehan said they did but it was not in use. Mr. Griffin said he thought all the Peabody leather factories had settling basins. Mr. Sheehan said there were sixty or more. Mr. Sheehan said that sewage from the Peter Sims factory was running into the river a short while ago. Mr. Conway said that both Salem and Peabody factories were putting sewage into the river. Dr. McCarthy said his Board would pledge all their efforts to prevent the factories from putting anything into the river. Mr. Conway asked if the Salem Board had any suggestions as to what they could do. Dr. McCarthy said that just because a man was a manufacturer, he had no right to pollute the river. Dr. McDermott asked if Salem factories were not all taken care of. Mr. Griffin explained about Sims' ; their engineer said the waste was going into the river because the sewer would not take it. Mr. Sheehan said that what happened at Sims' was exactly what happened in Peabody; the sewers were not large enough to take care of all the sewage. Mr. Griffin asked if A. C. Lawrence did not have two sections, one of which was connected with the sewer and one with the river. Mr. Sheehan said he did not know. Mr. Griffin said that was how it was explained to him. Mr. Trainor explained where it was located, near the crossing. Mr. Sheehan said there were two inspectors ( sewer inspectors ) in Peabody, and he only knew about the disposal of human sewage. 5• Mr. Griffin said that Korn was a perpetual violator. Mr. Sheehan read a section from a report of the South Essex Sewerage Board about opening the gates. Mr. Griffin said to ask Mr. Morse about that. Mr. Morse said he had been listening with interest and had heard a great deal of criticism directed against the South Essex Sewerage Board, which he thought was unfair and unjust. He believed everyone had a wrong impression. The South Essex Sewerage Board had no gates or valves which they controlled; the one in Peabody was a Peabody gate, not a South Essex Sew- erage Board gate. He said Peabody had a member on that Board. The reports of the Board showed that their pumps were inade- quate, but this condition existed because legislators from Salem and Peabody opposed it when they asked the Legislature for money to increase pumping capacity. They could not build a new station without additional authority. They were going in again this year and hoped to have the support of Peabody and Salem. They would probably be thrown out again for lack of funds. Mr. Conway asked if they would be able to take care of the sewage if they received the money for new pumping equipment. Mr. Morse replied that they could take care of it today if the tanneries would take the sludge out of it. The Mayor and Pyr. Morse had some discussion at this point about grease in the sewers. Mr. Morse said the South Essex Sewerage Board had regulations about placing grease in sewers, but the manufacturers did not care about regulations; they pulled the boards aside and let it go into the sewer. Mr. Griffin said that was not his experience; he asked whether or not the grease had any commercial value . Mr. Morse said the grease was of no value, but it should not go into the sewers, and if the sewers became plugged, who was to blame, the South Essex Sewerage Board o:' the tanneries? He considered it very unfair to criticize the South Essex Sewerage Board for not increasing the pumping capacity when they had not been allowed to do so. Several members of both Boards said they had not heard this situation explained before. Mr. Morse said he had seen caustic lime as thick as his arm coming out of Peabody sewers. Mr. Conway asked if the sewers were big enough at present. Mr. Morse answered that they were; he also said they had been to the Legislature several times for money for new pumping equipment. 6. Dr. McCarthy asked how much money was needed for this purpose . Mr. Morse said he thought they had asked for $125,000 or pos- sibly $150,000. In his opinion, you would never clean up North River until you cleaned up the source, and the tanneries are the source . Dr. McCarthy asked if he considered it possible to clean up the condition entirely in a tannery city. Mr. Morse said that he did, and that it must be done in Salem as well as Peabody. The last time the Public Health Committee of the Legislature came down to view the river they found it clear, because the factories had shut off; before that, a net had been spread across the river and it showed all the evidence in the world. The Committee found sewage going into the canal from a pipe on Mason Street which had only recently broken and had not been noticed; it was immediately repaired, but the Committee had received an unfavorable impression. Mir. Conway said that he was situated near one of the brooks In Peabody and noticed that the water was much clearer on Sundays when the factories were shut down. He asked what the South Essex Sewerage Board would do to correct conditions if they received the $150,000; would they be able to prevent sewage from backing up into Peabody? Mr. Morse said it would not back up now if the factories were forced to ',peep the sludge out. The question of opening the gate at Howley Street, Peabody, was brought up again. - Mr. Trainor said he saw an employee of the South Essex Sewerage Board standing; over the gate, watching the sewage come out; at that particular time, the gate was open for three days . Mr. Morse insisted that the South Essex Sewerage Board had no gates. Mayor Coffey asked if when the sewage from the lateral sewers reached the .main sewer, the pressure was greater in the latter, was not the gate opened to relieve the pressure? Mr. Morse replied that this was true, and the same condition existed further down. Dr. McDermott asked if he understood Mr. Morse to say that the South Essex Sewerage Board could take care of the sewage now if the wastes were kept out. Mr. Morse said yes, except at abnormal times . Dr. McDermott asked if there would still be an odor if only domestic waste went into the river. Mr. Morse said yes, but it would not be the same smell; most of the present objection- able odor was caused by fleshings . Mr. Morse said the gate at Howley Street was not on the trunk sewer. Mr. Griffin said the map showed it to be on the trunk sewer. 7. Dr. McCarthy asked why the South Essex Sewerage Board did not give any explanation of their position, after all the talk there had been. Mr. Morse said he had no right to speak for the Board. They had a conference with the Peabody city government a few years ago; the city government had seemed very co-operative and en- thusiastic, but later they opposed the proposal. The South Essex Sewerage Board also had held meetings to which they in- vited the manufacturers, showing them what they were up against, but the manufacturers only laughed at them; now the Board was going to bring them into court. Dr. McCarthy said they should; he would not wait another minute. Mr. Morse spoke of caustic lime causing two inches of corro- sion in the sewers; the tanners said to build another one, which would cost $160,000. He said again that the sewerage system was adequate except for the pumping station. Mr. Sheehan asked about pumping on incoming tides. Mr. Morse said they pumped regardless of the tides, .according to the depth of sewage in the sewers. Their well was only about three feet below the intake, which was not enough; they wanted a free outlet at all times, which they did not have . But the plant is old; it was built in 1905. Mr. Conway asked Mayor Coffey if he had opposed giving more money for pumping facilities when he was in the Legislature. Mayor Coffey said he ,had voted for the bill; he considered it very unfair to make the general accusation that Salem and Peabody representatives had voted against it without mentioning which ones had voted against it. He said the bill was licked because there was a fight, and it would be licked again because they were already fighting with the South Essex Sewerage Board. Dr. McCarthy said that he appreciated Mr. Morse' s answering questions. Mr. Morse said he was not supposed to answer questions for Mr. McCarthy, who was the Peabody representative on the Board. Mayor Coffey said Mr. Morse was in a very peculiar position, since he was City Engineer and also a member of the South Essex Sewerage Board. He would not want to embarrass him by having anything he said at this meeting made public. Dr. McDermott said the meeting records were not to be made public; they were not to be given to any reporters. Mr. Sheehan asked why not spend a million dollars and do a good job, instead of the y$150,000 the South Essex Sewerage Board was asking for. He also asked Mr. Morse about the S. comparative merits of Diesel and other type engines. Mr. Morse said he liked Diesel engines although some people did not, but that was something that would have to be worked out . Mr. Sheehan said he had been told that the present sewer system should run at half capacity to get full efficiency; he understood it was now running at full capacity. Would the expenditures Mr. Morse mentioned bring it down to half capacity? Mr. Morse said he thought it would. He said they had two problems, sludge and grease; it was coming down from Peabody. Dr. McCarthy asked if the same condition existed in Salem. Mr. Morse said yes, but not as badly as in Peabody. He mentioned several firms in Salem that were bad offenders-- Slattery' s and Donnell & Mudge. He said the South Essex Sewerage Board had no control over the North River; in his opinion, the State Department of Public Health should be given authority over it. Mr. Conway asked how Mr. Morse thought the sludge was getting into the sewers. Mr. Trainor said the pipe at Korn' s came right out of the beam house . Mr. Morse said the sewers were large enough under normal conditions, but they should not be a dumping place for everything. Mr. Griffin asked if it were not true that the trunk server to the Peabody line was a great big settling basin; Mr. Morse replied that he would not say that, although sometimes it did act as a settling basin. Dr. McCarthy said the sewer system seemed inadequate to the manufacturers ; about all they were allowed to put in was hot water. Mr. Morse said they were allowed a certain amount of leeway, but they went too far and made trouble Both for his Board and the boards of health. Mr. Sheehan said that he and Mr. Griffin had seen sewage coming out the windows of tanneries where it had backed up and flooded the place, spoiling skins . Mr. Morse said the sewers were adequate but the pumping station was not . Mr. Griffin said he thought it was true that sludge was put into the sewer to save the expense of cleaning settling bas- ins. Mr. Sheehan said the Peabody manufacturers spent thousands of do'lars a year for this purpose. Mr. Conway said he saw trucks loaded with waste going all day from 9 • A. C. L"awrencels. He understood there was a new machine which could be placed near the entrance to the sewer and take out anything that should not enter. Dr. McDermott said that although all the factories had set- tling basins, at nigh: they opened up and let everything into the river. Mr. Conway spoke of a meeting he had attended in Peabody; the Board went to Kornis, looking for trap doors. He asked how they could stop this dumping. Dr. McDermott said the manufacturers are making plenty of money now and can afford to take care of their wastes pro- perly. Mr. Conway thought the problem was probably trying to get help enough to take the stuff away. Dr. McCarthy said there are two sewer inspectors in Peabody. One of the chief troubles is throwing too much sludge and grease into the sewers; if they can stop that, it would help to keep the sewer from clogging. He said the human sewage was pretty well taken care .of. Mr. Brown said that if Peabody would turn over a pure river to us at the Salem-Peabody line, it would be up to us to take care of it from there. Mr. Griffin said the Bay, State Chemical Co. is putting stuff into the river, but they are going to try to put it into the sewer. Mr. Morse said the same problem did not exist in the sewers ten years ago that does today; the tanneries now use kerosene to clean skins, which is part of the reason there is so much grease. Dr. McCarthy asked what came down the Danvers River. Mr. Sheehan said the main street in Danvers is not sewered. There is a new school from which sewage was supposed to go into a septic tank; this is not working and the sewage goes into the river. It is turned by incoming tides into North River. Mr. Morse did not think it could do much damage. Mr. Sheehan quoted from a .report made in 1923 by X. H. Good- nough, Chief Engineer for the State Department of Public Health. Mr. Morse did not think the situation was as bad as this report stated. Dr. McCarthy asked about pumping the sewage out to Great Haste, and inquired if it came in on the beaches . Mr. Morse said that at times in the past he had seen West Beach covered with grease balls, but you don' t see much of 10. that today because most of the grease is taken out at the pumping station. Dr. McDermott said that in 1914 he had asked the State Depart- ment of Public Health to examine the clam beds along the Salem shores, and even then they were all found to be contaminated. Dr. McCarthy said there was human waste along the beaches which was said to come from the pumping station. Mr. Morse did not consider this possible; the outlet has been moved half a mile out beyond Great Haste. The force main is now 54" instead of the original 30"; the 30" main had become so encrusted it was actually only the equivalent of a 12" pipe. Mr. Sheehan asked about finding human filth at Webb Street. Mr. Morse said it was the overflow from the trunk sewer. Mr. Sheehan and Mr. Morse had some conversation about the size of certain valves, the disposal of storm water, etc. Dr. McDermott said the matter had been talked over pretty thoroughly, and proposed another meeting in a months time. Dr. McCarthy said his Board would do everything it could, and if the Salem Board and the South Essex Sewerage Board would do the same, he thought it would help to relieve the nuisance. Mr. Gagnon asked what Mr. Morse would suggest the Board do to assist the South Essex Sewerage Board in getting more funds from the Legislature. Mr. Morse said the Mayor would take care of that. Dr. McDermott thanked everyone for their co-operation in attendings the meeting. Adjourned at 5:55 P- M- Attest: Clerk