38 SECOND BIENNIAL EEPORT [W. VA. 



May 23rd, 1910. 

 HON. H. G. KUMP, 



Prosecuting Attorney, 



ElTcins. W. Va. 



DEAR SIR: Replying to your letter of the 16th inst., relative to sample of 

 water taken irom the out-put of the Elkins tannery, beg to say that I see no 

 other way to proceed against these people, other than by indicting them for 

 this offense. 



I have also taken occasion to write them, asking that this be corrected, and 

 if not, think I will proceed against them by injunction. 



These samples were taken by my chief deputy, Mr. W. B. Eector, and -for- 

 warded under seal, to the U. S. Fish Commissioner. It seems to me that his 

 evidence, together with letter of the Fish Commissioner, should be sufficient 

 to bring an indictment. I think then we will have to take the deposition of 

 the party at Washington, who made this test, in order to sustain the indictment. 

 Any information or help I can give you along this line, I will be glad to do. 



Yours very truly, 



J. A. VlQUESNET, 



Warden, 



June 4th, 1910. 

 ELKINS TANNERY COMPANY, 

 ElUns. W. Va. 



GENTLEMEN: Sometime in the month of April, I procured two samples of 

 water which flows from your plant, and had same tested by the U. S. Fish 

 Commission to ascertain whether or not there was anything in this water 

 deleterious to fish life. Some days ago I received the' report from the Com- 

 mission, saying that one part of the sample sent them, diluted with 19 parts 

 of water killed fish within three hours; and one part of the sample diluted in 

 30 parts of water, killed fish in two days. 



There have been numerous- complaints made to me, during the time I have 

 been in office, saying that your plant Avas polluting the river, and asked me 

 to take some steps in the matter. It is not my intention to in any way cripple 

 industries in our State, if I can avoid doing so, but I am of the opinion that 

 this pollution can be taken care of without allowing it to enter the river in its 

 present condition. I must insist that some steps be taken at once, to take care 

 of this pollution or I will be compelled to institute proceedings to stop it. 



Many tanneries in the State, that formerly polluted our streams, have made 

 arrangements to filter the pollution before it is allowed to enter the stream, 

 and have reduced the pollution until it is not deleterious to fish life. 



Kindly advise me what steps will be taken to remedy this pollution. 



Yours very truly, 



J. A. VlQUESNEY, 



Warden, 



