Document 3Jz84ZEe531vmqG2GyZqd8aby

COPY October 1, 1926. E. W. Webb. Messrs. Spears & Piddle Go. Wheeling, W. Ya. Dear Sirs: I regret the necessity of being obliged to transmit to you. the contents of a recent letter from Dr. Kehoe in reference to your mixing equipment at Wheeling, as follows: "During the recent trip of >r. Kitzmiller, I had him visit Wheeling, West Virginia, and look into the mixing situ ation at that point. I am writing you about it in order > that you may do everything in your power to clear up the situation. The handling of EthyX fluid by Spears & Riddle is abomin able and in view of their present knowledge of the subject is absolutely inexcusable, and unless it is cleared up in the immediate future, I feel that I must make a visit to Wheeling to see that the present arrangement is completely discontinued. There is no possible business arrangement, contract, or agree ment of any kind which makes it allowable for us to assume the responsibility for such a muddle." As you know, we have delegated to Dr. Kehoe the responsibility of seeing to it that mixing of concentrated Ethyl fluid with gasoline at any and all points is carried on in strict accordance not only with his recommendations, but those of the Surgeon .General. He is deeply conscious of this responsibility and fully realizes the importance of having this work done in the most careful and prudent manner. He cannot, in good conscience to himself, or in the perform ance of the duty which those who are responsible for the distribution of Ethyl fluid feel in the matter, wink at a condition which causes him to feel any concern as to the health of the men employed or those who might lawfully be around the place of mixing. Indeed, it v.ould not be compatible with his duty toward your own men for him to fail to report a condition which is so serious as to prompt him to write a letter of the character above outlined. Dr. Kehoe is not and has not been an alarmist and with a letter of this character from him, we have no alternative other than to state that if the conditions are not immediately corrected, we shall be obliged to discontinue the shipment of Ethyl fluid to that point for mixing. HS 000135.5 ^ V 2 Messrs. Spears & "Riddle Go October 1, 1926. We readily appreciate the difficulties you have had from a practical standpoint in abandoning your present method of mixing and substituting our improved system; however, you and we should not allow the mixing to continue under the old plan if it is obviously dangerous to the men employed; it would be far better to discontinue any and all mixing, no matter what the financial loss, than to cause serious barm to come to one or more of your men. In this connection it is needless to say that the poison ing from concentrated tetraethyl lead is not something that manifests itself by one or two absorptions* but is more apt to creep on gradually, sometimes not actually manifesting itself until a person is seriously ill. I appreciate that you do not want anyone to get sick on account of this work any more than I do, and that is the reason why I am so frankly discussing the matter with you and letting you have the benefit of Dr. Kehoe's views on the subject. Yours very truly, 'j