3 ms·

it does not appear to have been a power plant, it was likely a coal gasification plant

• 8bitsrule 8y ago
  "The power plant helped light Waycross from 1916 to 1953. Along the way, it discharged coal tar—a thick, black byproduct of converting coal to fuel—into the canal system. Prolonged exposure to coal tar has been linked to various types of cancer...." The first half of the article also calls out multiple toxic organic chemical contaminants from several operations including a railroad and a waste-processing plant ... severe enough to require Superfund remediation. In that era ('Better things for better living through chemistry') most people were unaware of the dangers of industrial chemicals in the air, water and soil. They got little press, at least until 'Silent Spring'.
  • Aloha 8y ago
    Coal Tar is the prime byproduct of coal gasification- the timeline is right too, most coal gas plants were shut in 45-55 timeframe.