Document em8GJdqr17awXG1GbKq8ReQd9
J
CEMENT/ASBESTOS PRODUCTS COMPANY
Sales Offices, 2144 Highland Avenue, South / Birmingham, Alabama 35205 Phone 205 324-4551
January 12, 1968
Mr. Charles F. Barber American Smelting and Refining Company 120 Broadway New York, N. Y. 10005
Dear Chuck:
Please find enclosed clippings from the Nashville paper dated August 6, 1967, August 18, August 22, October 20, October 22, November 8 (2 articles), November 30, early December, December 11, December 12, and December 13, 1967. Also various articles as furnished by J-M, and two articles from Mike Messell to me, all pertaining to the same subject.
As you will see in reading, this thing started out with newspaper publicity reflecting on the people responsible for purchasing pipe in Nashville and all the cancer propaganda apparently came as a direct result of the newspaper attack.
Hoping this will give you a deeper insight into the problems as we see them.
Sincerely,
SDW/gj Enclosures
S. D. Weaver Vice President & General Manager
NYO-l/19/68-Copied for: MdiifcseeJ. - w/encs.
KWNelson
" !!
Manufacturers of PERMAFLEX Water and Sewer Pipe ASARCO ELP 0003194
.4ASIIVILLE Tennessean DECEMBER 12, 1967
Hy JIM SQUIRES Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK -- There is no evidence to support a recent, statement by a Nashville doc tor that use ot asbestos--ce ment water pipe might cause . cancer, a noted cancer re searcher said here yesterday.
Dr. George Wright, chair> man of The Institute for Oc1 cupational and Environmental 1 Health, said he did not think 1 such a relationship "will ever : be established."
I WRIGHT. HEAD of the dc-
' partment of medical research
in internal medicine at St.
. Luke's Hospital in Cleveland,
Ohio, said a letter from Dr.
James Snell, an assistant pro
fessor at Vanderbilt Univer-
. sity school of medicine, sug
gesting such a relationship
"apparently arises out of an
incomplete perspective" of
the problem, -
:
:' Wright spoke to nine Metro : councilmcn here to. tour a' ' Johns-Manvillc plant in New-
ark, N.J., a manufacturer of asbestos-cement pipe.
, Snell sent a letter last ' month to Metro waterworks
director Robert L. Lawrence supporting Lawrence's deci sion to prohibit asbestor-cc-
(Turn to Page 12, Column 1> 1
*
"THERE" 1S~ A great up--
- swing in the use of asbestos
Asbestos Pipe, t fiber, but the incidence of *' cancer has actually fallen off." Wright said.
Wright said asbcstos-ccmont
Cancer Tie Hit pipe, consisting of 20% as- ' bcslos fiber, has been in water systems in some areas
(Continued I'rom Page One)
for as long as 30 years. In many instances, Jic said,
meat manufacturers from bid ding on Metro walcrpipc pur
chases. The council committee on
there is no evidence of wear in these pipes to release as bestos fiber.
"After this many years of
purchasing had suggested that
experience, if these fibers'
Lawrence allow nsbeslos-cc-
were to be a source of Meso
menl manufacturers to bid be-
thelioma -- a dramatic tumor
' cause the product is less ex*
-- it would be known," Wright
pensive than the cast iron pipe
staled.
now being used. SNELL WROTE that asbes
"THIS WOULD not escape. . This is not a new point of in
tos is a known cause of can-
terest to the industry." he .
'4ccr and can contaminate
added.
. * drinking water. The physician
Wright said manufacturers .'
;said he did not believe this
ot asbestos products were
fact had been brought to the
among the first to discover
* attention of the U.S. Public
its possible biotogical effects
Health Service.
' and have spent "millions of
Wright, an adviser to the
dollars" in the field.
U.S. Public ' Health Service,
The doctor said he is pre
said the asbestos-cement pipe
paring a written answer to
industry had long been aware
Snell's statement.
of a link between certain ,, "I don't know Snell or his
types of asbestos fibers and
background in this area,"
lung cancer and with Me ' Wright said, "but no doctor
sothelioma, a rare malignant 1 is knowledgeable in all areas.
tumor found on the lung cov
I have spent much of my life
ering and the gastrointestinal * -in this field,- and even I am .
tract.
vlnot."
Ho pointed out, however, ' SNELL WROTE Lawrence
that asbestosis (a lung tissue Nov. 14, stating he would
disease) and lung cancer are
consider the use of asbestos-
, caused only by inhalation of
cement pipe "a medical haz
certain asbestos fibers in
ard of significant degree" un- '
'' large amounts and over long
til the U.S. Public Health Ser
periods of time.
vice had checked it out com
MESOTHELIOMA, he said,
pletely.
has never been linked posi
Officials of the Johns-Man-
tively with s w a 11 o w c d ,. villc Co., asked about this yes
amounts of asbestos and is terday, said the Public Health
"extremely rare."
* Service is among its custo
"Evidence of research indi mers.
cates that virtually everyone
"We have sold them thou
is exposed to asbestos fibers,"
sands of feet of pipe," said
he said. "In fact, it would ap Jay Baker, product manager.
pear reasonable to assume "I feel certain we will sell
that there is no such tiling them much more."
'<
as not having been' exposed.
THE COUNCILMEN are *
If mere exposure is a cause, scheduled to tour the manu-
we would all have it."
.
Wright cited widespread use
factoring plant and research center today. The company .
of asbestos fibers' in 'insula' lion, electrical wiring and
claims its product will save ..Metro $300,000 a year on pipe
stove-evens and toasters. . ...purchases.
' -.
'(
ASARCO ELP 0003195
r.y JIM .SCH'MIKS
Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK--Eight Metro cou.nciltncn recommended yes terday that waterworks di rector Hubert L. Lawrence allow manufacturers of ashes. tns-ccmcnt pipe to bid on Metro pipe purchases.
; ; ;
The cotincilnien urged that the baits against the firms he dropped alter a tour .of .tin! . Newark. N.J., plant of Johns-
. Mau.svdlc Corp., a mamifaeturer of the asbestos-cement product.
I
`IT'S A SHAME that a
.product this good )hns been kept out of the bidding," said Councilman Frank Griffin. "I see no reason why these manufacturers cannot be given the opportunity to bid for our business."
James I.aPenna, chairman of the council purchasing com mittee, said the tour of the Johns-Mansviilc facility pro duced "overwhelming evi dence that asbestos-cement pine is a quality product and widely used throughout the world."
Joining Griffin and LaPenna in the recommendation were Councilmcn Martin Garrett, John Fox, Mansfield Douglas,
John Driver, Karl Shacklctt and Robert McBride.*
A NINTH councilman mak
ing the trip, Tom Sharp, said he would make no recommen dation concerning the product pending further investigation. Sharp said he wanted to learn as much about the cast iron water pipe now being used by
Metro as he learned about the asbcstos-ccnicnt product dur ing the two-day visit here.
The councilmcn toured the facility at the invitation' of Johns-Mnnvillc officials at no expense to Metro government. The.(inn had previously told the purchasing committee it * was heitig excluded front bid- :
ding because of Lawrence's opposition to the use of ashes- ' los-ccmcul pipe.
The purchasing committee has been investigating Metro's- ` pipe purchasing practices ]
(Teurn to Page 13, Column 1)
(Continued Front Page One)
since a probe hv 7ilK NASH
VILLE TENNESSEAN dis
closed that a single cast iron
manufacturer has gotten all !
Metro water pipe business in
the last four years.
j
THE FIRM. JAMES It. Clow f
k Son, was successful low bid- |j der on alt -pipe contracts, while its three major compcti- , tors were equally successful in the state's other major cities.
Griffin and LaPenna, after viewing quality and durability tests of the asbestos-cement pipe, said it is "apparent" Metro has been "victimized by a lack of true competition among cast iron pipe com panies."
Comparing list prices of asbcstos-ccmcnt and cast iron pipes, LaPenna estimated Metro can save 5525.000 over the next 13. months by allow ing asbcstos-ccmcnt manufac turers to bid against cast iron companies.
"I am not saying we should switch entirely to asbestos- ' cement or that one product is j
superior," ho said. "It is my personal feeling the two pro- j
duels are comparable and all j vendors should be allowed to bid."
LArENNA SAID councilmcn
who toured the plant will pre
sent their findings to the full
purchasing committee later this month. The committee will make recommendations to
the council. Comments from other enun-
cilmcn concerning asbestos-
cement pipe were: John Fox: "I think these 1
firms have a good product and should be allowed t bid. If installed to specifications, the nature of the terrain will not matter." . .... v >..
Martin Garrett: "Our bigg'est problem is selling it to Mr. Lawrence. I personally think we should let the ceptractors buy the pipe and that both cast i^on and asbcstosccmcnt companies be allowed to.try for the husincss.
John Driver: "I was amazed at Hie strengih and quality of this asbcstos-ccmcnt ma terial, especially after what we had heard locally. I think the company should have the privilege of competitive bid ding. With expenses continu ing to go up, it is advantage ous to us to save tax money."
Mansfield Douglas: "I was quite impressed and am con vinced that the pipe is suf ficient to carry water under the stress and strain antici pated in Metro's system. I see no renon why these com panies arc not allowed to bid."
Robert McBride: "I feel there are places where as- i bcslos-cemcnt might not work j in the local system. At the ' same time there are places } where it will do the job as i good as ca.it iron and at a much lower cost. With a water-sewer expansion pro gram as large as ours, this is' a good place for us to save a substantial amount of money."
ASARCO ELP 0003196
. Co.uncilmen io Go],
On Pipe Plant Tour j;
tty .MM .SqUHtlvS
jSKAN which disclosed that J
Nine Metro cotmcilmcn will f,,'c c:is^ **'on P'P0- company,
l,eave .todia*vffor a ,two-d. ay in-.i`eJavmereys M,B,.eC,trolowp&i.peSocnso,nhtraasc.twom.n,-;*,
spcction tmir of the Newark,;lhc jast (om. yCarS.
|,_
N.J., plant of the Johns-Man-; -phrougii a hodge-podge pat-;*,
vittu Co., a manufacturer of a$'!(ern of bidding, the investign- ,
beslos-eefueiit water pipe.
;[jnn disclosed. Clow lias gotten"
'Hie pipe firm has invited the'all Metro pipe' husiness, .while1lawmakers' in an effort to con-ljts two major competitors have!'
vinee them that the cheaper as-.been e q u a 11 y successful in-'
bestos-eciiicnt product is an Chattanooga and Memphis andj adequate Mihstitute for thetj,, small towns surrounding1,
costly cast iron now being used;Nashville.
j
in Metro's water system.
j Clow has been the low bidder,
Tltf.:. C O M 1* A NY cila ,u`nins.N^asahtvli|l1le(J osanmecveary>lccohn:(tIr(aIiclJt,
Mctio can save So -
n !high on similar pipe in other-
nually by buymg asbestos-.^ o{ [hc sta,e| \t ,he samej.
cement pipe.
'time, companies bidding high-
Robert L. Lawrence, Metro ;n s,'achvil!c consistently under-;
waterworks director, has con-.^ Clow in towns as close as
sistenlly refused to allow nShMurfrceshoro and Columbia, bestos'-comcnt pipe companies^ LaPcnna has proposed widon-
to bid on government P.ur--jng specifications to allow conichases. Ite declined the invita- potion between cast iron andj
tion to tour the plant.
'asbestos-cement manufacturers.!
Making the trip are Council-; Lawrence has refused to do;
men James I.aPenna, Frank'this, saying he has no intention:
Griffin, Earl Shacklett, Mans-:0f accepting an asbestos-cement!
field Douglas, Martin Garrett,'company bid no matter how low!.
Thomas Sharp, John-Fox, Rob-'ihe price. .
!j
er't McBride and John Driver. I
AT TIIE
I.AST council ses-!'
Larenna is ch^rman of
" ,,-^^-4 a pamphlct]:
councils watch o
`iwhich claimed to show the su-i'
tee on purchasmg wh.ch .s "ow| rst h of castiron com.;
investigating Metro's pipe pur-j^ wUh asbeslos<emcnt. .
c ,cs*
| The pamphlet was prepared,
THE 'COMMt T T K E was'by the Cast Iron ripe Research,,
formed and the prohe launched]Association, following an investigation hyj The counciimcn wilt return`to THE NASHVILLE TENNES'-j.Vashvillc tomorrow night.-
ASARCO ELP 0003197
Council Invited
To N.Y. Pipe Study '
Members of the Metropoli York in a company-owned tan Council have been invited airplane.
to go to New York next month
.to study tire possibility of
using asbestos cement pipe
fnr Metro's water system, it
was announced yesterday.
Councilman James J. I.aPenna, chairman of the coun cil's special "watchdog" com mittee for government pur chases, said the invitation had been extended by the JohnsMariviltc Co. which maintains a research center just outside New York.
LaPenna's committee voted to take the trip to determine if the pipe would be feasible for use here.
COUNCILMAN' Richard
Taylor attacked the invitation
on the council floor, saying, .'
"This is ridiculous . . . this
is setting a horrible precedent
tn offer to take the whole
council and the press and
television to New York."
'
Ho said his committee had .
considered the pipe and had '
recommended Metro continue
to use cast iron pipe. Taylor
said it might he proper for
LaPenna to make the trip,
but not a large group.
"Why do they want to take
you all if they don't expect,
something in return?" he
asked.
"THIS WILL be a work trip and it will not be an enter tainment one." LaPenna told the council. He said it had been estimated Metro would save $250,000 a year by using 'the pipe instead of cast iron
pipe.
For the past 41 j years Metro
COUNCILMAN Sanders x Anglca said he felt council members should see the pro duct for themselves.
"We're down here criticizing this product when we don't know anything about it. Those who have been criticizing it ought to go up there and see if what they have had to say
has bought all its cast iron is correct," he said.
pipe from a single concern-- Councilman Frank Griffin
Clow and Sons -- which has said he agreed with Anqlea,
consistently submitted the low adding, "I read about depart
bid. ment heads being in Hawaii,
LaPenna said alt members in Dallas, in Washington, just
of the council ns well as rep about everywhere. But when
resentatives of the mayor's it comes time for a council
office and the waterworks de man to go anywhere, there is
partment were invited to no money available.
make the trip Dee. 11-12. Councilman Mansfield Doug Johns-Manville, which manu las III said he'felt as many
factures the pipe, will fly the councilmen as possible should councilmcn to and from New .accept the company's offer.
f *7 & 7
ASARCO ELP 0003198
Lawrence
Raps Pipe
Lawrence
Proposals
By DICK BATTLE
;
Robert L. Lawrence Jr., Met-'
ro director of water and sew
erage services, said today in
jhis opinion "there is no com
parison between asbcstos-cc-
jment pipe and cast iron pipe."
Nationally recognized as one of the country's outstanding wa ter system authorities, Law rence blasted proposals by Coun
cilman J a m c s LaPenna to change pipe specifications to al low asbcstos-ccmcnt pipe manu
facturers to bid against cast iron pipe producers to force lower bids on iron pipe.
LaPenna was quoted as stat ing following Tuesday night's council session that he was "not suggesting that Metro switch to the asbestos-cement" but should merely rewrite specifications to
(Please Turn to Page 6, Col. 6) (
-allow the asbcstos-ccmcnt peo licited from an asbcstos-ccmcnt,
ple to bid. Not Comparable
pipe manufacturer which cited possibility of $277,050 "savings'!
Lawrence said "asbestos-ce if Metro shifted from cast iron
ment pipe is obviously not com to asbestos-cement pipe next
parable to cast iron, particularly year.
for use in our rocky soil. Us
Savings Offset
strength is much less than cast iron and it would bo a disservice to the people of this community to substitute this material for cast iron.
Lawrence said the asbestoscement pipe required "great care" in laying. "The "additional cost of laying this kind of pipe
would, in my opinion, offset any
.
"Based on my own experience and knowledge and the expericnee and research of some outstanding engineering con
saving that might accrue from the difference in the cost of the pipe."
sultants, 1 will not recommend LaPenna said the pipe manu
the use of this (asbcstos-ccmcnt) facturer with whom he was in
pipe in our system. I am not correspondence had offered an
going sider
to to
recommend what I con be an inferior material
"all expense firm's New
paid trip" to Jersey plant
the j for|
for use in our system."
members of the council pur-:
The director scored LaPcnna's proposal to change specifica
tions to open up bidding to as bestos-cement pipe with no in
chasing committee, Lawrence and members of his staff, news-' men and any "other interested individuals".
tention of purchasing such pipe In answer to questions from
if it came in on the low bid. the floor, LaPenna said the pipe
"It's not honest, as far as I'm manufacturing firm's offer'
concerned," Lawrence said. "means they'll pick up the tab'
Dishonest
for everything. I didn't ask what 'everything' means, but I sup
"I won't recommend changing pose it means EVERYTHING."
.
specifications to allow bids to be submitted for asbestoscement pipe when I cannot conscientiously recommend pur-
His statement was greeted with laughter but there were no immediate "takers." - -
. chase of this pipe if it comes
in on the low bid. As far as I'm
i concerned that would be dis-
honest. It would also be unfair
to the asbestos-cement people
who might submit bids, to use
them simply to force better
prices on cast iron pipe when
we have no intention of chang
ing the system to asbestos-
cement pipe."
LaPenna, chairman of the
council's new "watchdog" pur
chasing committee, offered the
scheme for pushing down bids
on cast iron pipe. He also gave
every councilman and members
of the press a letter he had so
ASARCO ELP 0003199
%e Buying"^'1'1
Economy Urged
By JIM SQUIRMS Metro Government could
save $.100,000 over the next 18 months by .switching from easi-iron to asbestos-cement pipe in its water system, Metro Council was told last night.
The report came from the council's new "watchdog" committee on purchasing which is now investigating the government's water pipe pur chases that total more than a million dollars annually.
The economy-minded coun cil also: Delayed action on a request by Mayor Beverly Briley for an additional $47,300 appro priation this fiscal year for the operation of his office tintil the mayor submits a list of government spending priori ties. Adopted a Public Safety Committee report which, in effect, issued an "executive
rder" directing the adminis.ralion to call in all govern ment-owned automobiles now assigned for 24-hour use, re(Turn to Page 10, Column 4)
Probe Called
Metro Council directed its Human Relations committee last night to investigate -re ports (hat Metro firemen are being issued firearms.
"I think we ought to find out just who they plan to use them against and for what purpose they are being is sued," said Councilman Mans field Douglas,' in requesting the probe.
Douglas did not comment in detail on his accusations, say ing only that he has received reports that "the fire depart ment is being armed."
ASARCO ELP 0003200
Ill8^1
`^pe-Buying
Economy EySci
{Continued From Page One) from the Johns-Manvillc Co.,
assign them on a limited basis, and submit 30-day re ports to the council on their use.
Passed on second reading an ordinance establishing lees ranging from S100 to $1,000 for licenses to sell liquor by the drink.
Deferred a hotly contested
an asbestos-cement pipe man ufacturer, offering its product at a "savings" to the govern ment.
Based on anticipated expen ditures for cast-iron pipe in 1963, the letter said, the cost would be $277,050 for cast iron and $182,340 for asbestos-ce ment--a difference of $94,710.
proposal to appropriate $10,- I.APENNA SAID further pro
000 for a feasibility study by jections for an 18-monlh pe
outside consultants on the ex riod call for cast-iron pipe ex
tension of Capitol Boulevard-- a proposal already disap proved by the Metro Planning Commission.
penditures of $900,000. The same amount of asbestos-ce
ment pipe, he said, would bo $300,000 less.
Metro's pipe purchasing has Following the session, La been the subject of much con Pcnna said he was not sug*
troversy since an investiga . gesting that Metro switch to
tion by THE NASHVILLE the asbestos-cement but mere
T"'A"ESSEAN disclosed ear- ly rewrite purchase specifi
11 tis year that one pipe cations so that asbestos-ce-.
company, James B. Clow Se ment manufacturers would be
Sons, has won every Metro .allowed to bid.
pipe contract in the last four "If these pipe manufactur
years.
ers are allowed to bid against
Through a hodge-podge pat each other," he said, "cast
tern of bidding, Clow has got iron prices will be lower."
ten all Metro business, while
its two major competitors HOBERT L. LAWRENCE,
have been equally successful Metro waterworks director,
in Chattanooga and Memphis has opposed any broadening
and in small towns surround of specifications because "as
ing Nashville.
bestos might win and I don't
Councilman James LaPen- want it in my system."
na, chairman o the purchas The issue over the mayor's `
ing committee, presented a increased budget request was
letter to the council last night actually settled earlier thisI week when Kenneth Miller, chairman of the council bud
get and finance committee,
asked the mayor for the
spending priorities.
Briley indicated the police department ranked highest on
his list but that his office could not operate effectively without the supplemental ap propriation.
The council cut the mayor's
$210,000 budget request by $69,000 earlier this year, '"anting the mayor some $40,*
' ' less than he bad last year.
THE PROPOSAL WAS de ferred by voice vole last night wii limit controversy.
Although councilman hag gled over minor issues, the only major dispute same as Councilman Robert Lillard made a strong pitch for a $10,000 appropriation for an outside study on the proposed Capitol Boulevard Extension.
Lillard termed the extension * "a vital project" to the life of the downtown area and im plied (hat the Metro Planning Commission did not keep this in mind in recommending against the project.
He urged that city planners give more weight to the rec- ; ommendations of numerous downtown businessmen who favor the extension.
COUNC1LMEN J a m e s L; ' Warren and Richard Adams joined budget .and finance
committee spokesmen to de feat Lillard's motion and de fer action until the planning commission can defend its position before the entire
.
council.
In a surprising and some what complicated move, the ' council also deferred action on
.a bill that would prevent the unnecessary use of govern ment-owned vehicles.
Instead, it accepted a com
mittee report which provided
that the bill be "held in abey- ; a nee" for 90 days. The report - also recommended that the bill
be amended to provide that any employe found guilty of .
misuse be suspended for five days and that any. department -
head who knowingly allows . misuse be suspended for three ;
days.
MANY COUNCIL observers . indicated they believe the bill to ' be "punitive legislation" outside the legislative powers . of the council.
Although the bill was not ;
actually passed, the commit- '
' tee report directs Col. John j
Sullivan, head of the depart-
' ment of general services, to..
recall all automobiles except ;
those of the mayor, police
chief and fire chief.
j
The report says the automo-
biles arc to be reassigned to
employes designated by do-
partment heads, but that Sul- -
livan is to submit a written''
report every 30 days concern-
ing their use,
oH
In oilier aclion. Ihn council: Directed the planning com mission lo prepare, the neces sary documents to implement the expansion of Urban Serv ices lo the General Services Dislrict during the next four years. Heard Councilman Robert McBride warn that Central . High School is in such de, plorable condition that it could easily be destroyed by fire as Dupont High was Monday night. Passed a resolution offer ing its cooperation to the Met- ] ro Board of Education to as- sure that Dupont students re. sume classes with a minimum of delay. Aulhorizcd the issuance of $87,500 in promissory notes for the purchase of property on Fifth Avenue, North, across from the courthouse as a site for a new Metro Office Build- ing.
11/9/67
Mr. W. R- Bond . Mr. S. D. Weaver
FROM: Mr. I. L. Taylor
ASARCO ELP 0003201
I ASARCO ELP 0003202
NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN JANUARY 19, 1968
, ____ ^
---------------------------- J*/ /l
>/.\73 WL.L i= # "/fr^'^S.Szr/i //#<?
N3istov(ish Opposes
; Asbestos Pipe Use
! By l'KA.VK 1SITTISK
K. RAYMOND Au'gstV'as-f
Dr. Joseph Bislowish, Metro ''health director, recommended ' to a council committee last J.night that asbestos cement pipe
not be used in the water sys. ter here because of "possible ' health hazards."
There is no evidence, Bis-
sistaiit district _ sales manager, for Jotms-Manvitlc Stiles Corp.,j
a manufacturer of asbestos pipe.; said asbestos pipe has been used; for 23 to 30 years in some cities, without adverse consequences, j
"Wc would have discussed," if I wc had been given a chance toreply, U.S. Department of' Commerce figures which show' that the use of asbestos pipe throughout the country has in- `
"There is nothing to prove,"; creased from 21.7% of the busi
he added. That there arc hot ness in 1943 to 31% in 19G3.
agents in cast iron pipe which!! during the same period, the use
towjsh explained, to prove that would cause cancer."
lot cait lr?n P'PC has dropped
the ingestion of asbestos fibers Angst then raised the question from 76.3% to 64.2%.
is not related to cancer. And of whether the "tar which is!| "This indicates that the use
imtit furtner tests arc conducted t,scj for t|lc inside lining of cast,: of asbestos pipe in water sys
to show that no hazard exists, iron pipe is carcinogenic (can-; tems throughout the nation is
the health director added, "I ccr-producing)?"
I accepted/
would not like asbestos pipCj Tiaayyiloorr ccaalllleedd llaasstt innigghhlt's. . The public works committee
carrying water to my house." meeting of the pub.ic works} majc no recommendation last
However, a sates represents-1 committee primarily to permit night on whether Metro should
tivc for a major asbestos pipe, representatives for Clow Corp., purchase asbestos pipe instead
manufacturer replied that cities manufacturer of cast iron pipe, of cast iron pipe.
which have used asbestos pipe for decades show no greater in-
to explain Product is
why they feel their bet.cr than asbestos
Under present policies of [waterworks department, the
the as-!
cidence of cancer than cities; P1*'0,
[beslos pipe representatives are
that don't use the pipe.
LENNART A. Kahlander, gem not permitted to bid on con-'S
BISTOWISII MADE his rec- erat,s.alcs manager for the cor- tracts for supplying pipe to the *
ommeudation to the council's P"1.*0": sP.ok.c for. a. hoiJr local government..... .
.public works committee, headed
'c.r,
`(he-ad'
.i
.by Councilman Richard Taylor. ^"tafl,,L,UnS15 ,Cfst ,,ro"
'.The public works committee, P P' ,"s,2? ?JS5J *'d f *
. chasing committee, has been tjon-
H
studying the relative merits of Taylor sharply limited dis-
asbestos ana cast iron pipe.
cussion of questions raised bv
Nashville has used cast iron August, competitor of Clow
pipe exclusively, although it is Corp., and would not allow the
more expensive than asbestos asbestos pipe representative to __pipe, for at least 40 years in. _ _ . ................ ..... .......
the water system here. Robert'give a full presentation of his
I,. Lawrence Jr., Metro water- views.
*;
works director, has defended \y. j. Hayes Jr., direct sales
the practice on grounds cast representative for Johns - Man-
iron pipe is better.
ville, said he thinks most of the.
Bistowish, in raising the qties- adverse comments about asbes-
-tion relating to a possible health, tos pipe could have been refuted
hazard inherent in asbestos if Taylor had permitted otiicrs
pipe, said it is a proven fact the freedom he gave. Clow repthat inhalation of asbestos fibers'resentalives in speaking out.
can cause cancer.
"We were not given an oppor
"We do know that you can Utility at this meeting," Hayes
get cancer by inhaling asbestos added, "to make a presenta
fibers," he added, *'b u t we tion or offer a rebuttal to the
aren't certain about the inges-jquestions raised
tion of fibers -- there have been1
. no studies to prove it doesn't IE V.'B HAD been permitted
cause cancer.
to speak out, we would have
"U is my understanding that shown asbestos pipe has been
such studies are now imderway.Juscd for many d`ecad`es i`n aTn
and perhaps they will shed some'parts of the nation, and uscecd
Vlig-lh.tt o- n .t1hi?e__q___u__e__s__t_i_o__n_ . But to my with great success....................................................................... _____
.
mind, there arc tco many un-
' answered questions at this time
about asbestos oioe."
ASARCO ELP 0003203
NASHVILLE BANNER JANUARY 17,1968
By DICK CATTLE
:has asked the Nashville Acad-Jwe .can assure follow up
__-1tl ~ _
r-..J .>'.*Amv rtf iVTorlirtirirt fhrrtii'th Jfcl^arrt
**
rl^
tem "until more evidence can'^ipe-
. '-
/ Dr. Bistowish said a study of .
be developed'' concerning any The board in other actions influenza cases involving cm- {
health hazacd from .asbestos fi this morning voted to add ployes at a. local industrial
ber: measles vaccination to the itn plant indicates a new strain of 1 .
Dr. Joseph Bistowish, director munizations required for ad flu virus, "A-2 Taiwan" was !
of health, said the board "has mission to schools, nursery the cause of much of the re- J
instructed me to recommend to schools and day care centers. cent flu epidemic.
. ' ]
Mr. Lawrence (director of wa ter and sewerage services Ro
Delays Clinic
He said clinical evidence '
The board delayed opening of might develop another ' strain,)
bert L. Lawrence) against the use of asbestos pipe at this time until we can get more evidence. We want more information about it before we can make a firm decision." . - 7-. . '
a public health clinic in the Edgchill Urban renewal proj ect pending "discussion of sev eral problems . . . including the level of indigency and how
but "we know this new (A-2;
Taiwan) strain has been prevat'ir.l here based ou the small number- of cases checked at oqg.Jndustrial plant."
Councilman James LaPenna has'becn urging that bidding be opened to allow purchase of asbestos-cement pipe.
, Rejected Plea
Lawrence, who is responsible
for specifications on materials,
has rejected LaPenna's sugges
tions ou the basis cast iron pipe
is superior to the asbestos pipe
in tcnsiie strength and suit
ability for use here.
'
Several medical experts have
suggested _ the possibility that
the ingestion of asbestos fibers
from the use of asbestos pipe
might be a cause of intestinal
viccr.
Dr. Bistowish said he atso-
f
ASARCO ELP 0003204