S. A. Williams to J-M Plant Managers on Dust Collecting Equipment (1931)

A one-page "Personal & Confidential" memo of September 9, 1931, from S. A. Williams, J-M's vice president, to the managers of eleven J-M plants, from Manville and Waukegan to Lompoc and Asbestos, Quebec. Williams reports that after experiments with the B. F. Sturtevant Company, J-M had completed the best type of dust collecting equipment for the pipe covering and textile departments at Manville, New Jersey, with plans under way for the shingle departments. With the Officers Board's approval, each plant was to work out its dust problems with D. C. Renton at Manville and submit a budget proposal.

What it shows

Williams writes that the Manville factory "is probably further ahead on the matter of dust collecting than any of the other plants" and that "now we wish to capitalize on it in all plants." The memo followed the internal discussion of the Manville dust suits (Voorhees memo of July 28, 1931). Fifteen months later Williams asked the same managers what they had actually done (memo of December 20, 1932).

In Johns-Manville's chronology

Johns-Manville's own chronology of what the company knew describes this document as follows:

S.A. Williams (J-M Vice President) memorandum to A.R. Fisher (Manville Plant Manager) and plant managers at other plants dated 9/9/31 discussed the great dust control improvements made at the Manville plant pipe Covering, Textile, and Shingle Departments. States that at the present time the Manville plant is "probably further ahead on the matter of dust collecting than any of the other plants." Williams wants to capitalize on the work done at Manville. He asks that each factory and mine location contact D.C. Renton (Chief Engineer, Manville) regarding its particular dust problems (particularly in the Pipe Covering, Textile and Shingle Departments) and work with Renton on obtaining his approval for projects so that budget proposals can be prepared as soon as possible

Related documents

• E. M. Voorhees to S. A. Williams on Dust Conditions at J-M Factories (1931)