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70-593: The mills refined the plentiful cotton from Alabama fields and, at its peak, devoured 20% of the entire state of Alabama's cotton production. The owners and operators of Avondale Mills were noted not only for progressive stances with regards to the overall well-being of their workers, but also for conditions of child labor that, while common at the time, are today considered abusive. The mills were operated solely in Alabama until Donald Comer released control of Avondale Mills to his brother-in-law, Craig Smith, who helped expand

140-407: A 35-bed facility, that provided medical care for mill workers. Additionally, workers were charged 75¢ each week in rent, while salaries averaged anywhere between $ 12 and $ 20 per week. The mill village also included a dairy and a poultry farm for the benefit of the workers. Home ownership in the mill village was available to families. As of 1947, fully 1,100 Avondale employees had bought their own homes,

210-574: A city commission government, voters elect a small commission, typically of five to seven members, typically on a plurality-at-large voting basis. These commissioners constitute the legislative body of the city and, as a group, are responsible for taxation, appropriations, ordinances, and other general functions. Individual commissioners are also assigned executive responsibility for a specific aspect of municipal affairs, such as public works , finance , or public safety . This form of government thus blends legislative and executive branch functions in

280-404: A commission form of government, such as Bismarck, North Dakota , have a specifically elected mayor. As a form, commission government once was common, but has largely been supplanted as many cities that once used it have since switched to the council–manager form, in which the elected council, presided over by a non-executive mayor, hires a professional manager to oversee day to day operations of

350-578: A confidential out of court settlement. On April 24, 2008, Norfolk Southern was sued by the U.S. EPA for violations of the Clean Water Act, as Horse Creek had been polluted. In a similar lawsuit in Pennsylvania, where a derailed Norfolk Southern runaway train crashed, the state of Pennsylvania sued the railroad for similar violations and won several million dollars for environmental remediation . However, fines may be minimal when compared to

420-613: A kindergarten at the mill, run by his daughters, Mignon, Catherine and Eva. The educational facilities provided by Comer at Avondale Mills far surpassed those offered at other mills throughout America. His schools would often accept children from the surrounding community whose parents did not work at the mills. Comer also established night schools for workers with assistance from the Alabama Department of Education , called Opportunity Schools. Children of employees also received no interest college loans that were generally forgiven if

490-604: A massive cloud of chlorine gas through the facility and the neighboring town. In all, nine people died as a result of the crash. In May 2006, following a settlement agreement with Norfolk Southern Railroad, Avondale Mills' CEO, Robert Williams Sr., announced that Avondale Mills would formally close all of its operations. Over 4,000 people in four states found themselves unemployed as a result. 33°10′58″N 86°15′31″W  /  33.182674°N 86.258525°W  / 33.182674; -86.258525 Graniteville, South Carolina, train crash The Graniteville train crash

560-735: A nationwide ban on child labor. During World War 2, B.B. Comer was appointed to the War Labor Board to help avoid work stoppages. As companies saw dramatically increased profits during the wartime manufacturing boom, workers throughout the United States began demanding higher wages, and, on occasion, walked off the job. To avoid this situation at his own plants, Comer instituted a profit sharing agreement with his employees wherein, by 1950, over $ 12 million had been shared with his 7,000 or so workers. Profit sharing incentives were introduced to nearly all employees in 1941. Employees were paid

630-607: A similar derailment on the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway on January 8, 2005, the United States Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released to railroads a reminder of federal regulations on procedures for turnout operation and safety procedures. Among the federal rules regarding turnouts are: The FRA further recommended that railroads should: Avondale Mills filed suit against Norfolk Southern claiming that

700-446: A standard wage, on top of which their share of the company's profits were added. In 1947, fully 19.7%, on average, of every employees pay check was from profit sharing income. Profits were split between the company and employees on a 50/50 share basis. A Look magazine article in 1949 described the mills as "The Plant That Runs on Happiness." Donald Comer released management control of Avondale Mills to James Craig Smith Jr., who expanded

770-584: A total of 12,580 spindles. Many throughout the south advocated for the region's favorability in the textile manufacturing industries specifically because the south accounted for the vast majority, if not the entirety, of the nation's cotton production. Thus, locating textile refineries near the sources of raw materials made economic sense. The industry gained a foothold prior to the Civil War as mills began opening. In 1860, 1,312 people were employed in textile mills in Alabama. That number plummeted, however, following

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840-451: Is an acronym for Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response , which aims to promote emergency preparedness among first responders and communities for crashes that involve chemical releases. Part of the reasons for NS's selection for this award were the emergency preparedness training that the railroad held in 18 of the 22 states through which the railroad transports hazardous materials. Texas folk artist Doug Burr memorialized

910-500: The "very enlightened and benevolent" programs available to workers, Avondale Mills escaped much of the labor protests characteristic of textile mills in the 1930s. Many, however, resented the paternalistic nature of the amenities afforded by Avondale. During this time, Comer's views on child labor took on a distinctly more progressive tone. In the early 1930s, he began instituting regulations that prohibited night work for both women and children. In 1934, Comer backed an effort to institute

980-492: The 2005 derailment as the primary reasons for the company's failure. The wreck knocked out the Gregg plant of Avondale mills, which was a key pillar to the survival of the company in a shrinking United States textile market. The plant accounted for 40% of the company's sales. Stephen Felker Jr., Avondale's manager of corporate development stated,"We were prepared to weather the storm of global competition. What we weren't prepared for

1050-558: The Avondale Mills siding was supposed to be set for mainline operation before P22's crew departed for the night, the train's brakeman later told the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that he was "not 100 percent sure" he had aligned the switch for mainline operation, and that he "might have made a mistake." No train operated through the area or used the affected tracks for the rest of

1120-512: The Avondale Mills, and the potential tax revenue that it included, proved critical in passage of the "Greater Birmingham" movement that incorporated many of the outlying suburbs into the city limits of Birmingham. Following an earlier defeat decades before, the "Greater Birmingham" initiative came in 1911 before Governor Comer, who subsequently agreed to the majority of its provisions. Birmingham, in one fell swoop, saw its population swell to 132,685 and saw its land area increase to 48 square miles. With

1190-583: The Graniteville crash in his song "Graniteville" in his 2007 released album On Promenade . The song is fictionalized account of a husband attempting to rouse his wife from sleep to escape the dangers of the chemical spill. NS 6653, the lead engine of 192 that day, was repaired and later rebuilt as an SD60E bearing the number 6900. 33°33′44″N 81°48′31″W  /  33.56222°N 81.80861°W  / 33.56222; -81.80861 City commission government Executive mayor elected by

1260-421: The Graniteville facility caused a massive chemical spill resulting in the deaths of six Avondale Inc. employees. A Norfolk Southern train traveling at speed hit an improperly aligned switch and crashed into a parked locomotive. The crash sent 16 train cars careening into a parking lot next to one of Avondale's data processing centers at the facility. One of the cars, carrying 90 tons of chlorine, ruptured and sent

1330-510: The NTSB issued a report officially blaming the crash on the P22 train crew's failure to reline the switch for mainline operations. The report concluded that neither equipment failure nor crew fatigue or drug or alcohol use was a factor in the crash. It further concluded that the level and immediacy of emergency response to the crash was wholly appropriate for the situation. As a result of this crash and

1400-566: The National Response Center of the chlorine release, Norfolk Southern will pay a penalty of $ 32,500, to be deposited in the Hazardous Substance Superfund. Under the terms of the agreement, Norfolk Southern will provide incident command system training to environmental and transportation personnel; stock nearby Langley Pond with at least 3,000 fish to replace fish killed by the chlorine spill; and post

1470-485: The United States would eventually adopt it. Zueblin also predicted that the system would eventually replace the United States Senate and House of Representatives . He believed the commission system would allow better lawmakers to be selected and that they would be subject to higher scrutiny. However, the council-manager form, which developed at least in part as a response to some perceived limitations of

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1540-462: The abundant cotton fields of Alabama, as well as the transportation infrastructure of Birmingham that allowed for easy transport of their refined materials throughout the American south and the United States as a whole. Southern communities, since before the Civil War, had wanted to introduce new manufacturing facilities as a means of resisting economic domination by Northern industrialists. Industry

1610-544: The alleged CWA violations, to be deposited in the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. The alleged CWA violations, included in an amended complaint filed in March 2009, are for the discharge of tons of chlorine, a hazardous substance, from a derailed train tank car and thousands of gallons of diesel fuel from ruptured locomotive engine fuel tanks. For the alleged Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) violation for failure to immediately notify

1680-567: The amenities provided by Comer. The mills' African American workers were noted for being "...on exactly the same basis industrially as the white workers...with the same opportunities to share in profits, to own homes and farms, to enjoy recreational and school facilities and to save their money." Working conditions at Avondale Mills were generally comparable to other textile mills in America. A product of his time, Comer utilized child labor relatively extensively at Avondale Mills. Alabama state law, at

1750-522: The availability of work for all members of the family, income possibilities rose even more. Impoverished black and white workers flocked to the city to work in Comer's mill. Notable among Avondale Mills' achievements were the numerous, uncharacteristic amenities offered to employees and their families. As president of the mills, B. B. Comer continued his tendency towards what has been described as "plantation-paternalism" by maintaining his involvement in many of

1820-407: The children worked became filled with lint from the operation. This got into their lungs, and the children often later developed brown lung disease as adults. Comer's views would evolve along with national attitudes, however, and he would subsequently support a nationwide ban on child labor in 1934. Having assumed management of Avondale Mills in 1907, Donald Comer embarked on a path of expansion for

1890-548: The city. Proponents of the council-manager form typically consider the city commission form to be the predecessor of, not the alternative to, the council-manager form of government. The commission form is now found in less than one percent of American municipalities. This form of government originated in Galveston, Texas , as a response to the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 , mainly for the reason that extra support

1960-427: The commission form, became the preferred alternative for progressive reform. After World War I , very few cities adopted the commission form and many cities using the commission plan switched to the council-manager form. Galveston itself changed forms in 1960. Of the 30 most populous cities in the United States, Portland, Oregon is the only city with a commission government. A 2022 ballot measure to replace it with

2030-462: The company's production facilities in Georgia and South Carolina. Avondale Mills continued throughout much of the 20th century on a path of success. In the early 1980s, the company realized a record $ 300 million in sales. The company endured turbulent times shortly thereafter, however, and lost $ 14 million as sales declined 20%. Over the course of five years, four CEO's came and went until the company

2100-417: The construction of the mills. The early days of the mill were troublesome for Comer and the other principal operators. The first sale of refined materials, placed through a designated selling agency, priced the fabric at 2¢ per yard. The program for the sale of refined cloth from the mills allowed for sales to be made through sales agents without approval or permission of the mill president. Comer demanded that

2170-449: The cotton for the mills. By 1898, Avondale Mills employed nearly 400 people as spinners, weavers and mechanics and, additionally, realized a profit of $ 15,000 (~$ 450,000 adjusted for inflation). in 1906, Comer was elected Governor of Alabama, however he retained presidency of the mills. By 1907, under the management of Comer's son, Donald Comer, the mills had generated $ 55,000 (~$ 1.5 million adjusted for inflation) in profit. The success of

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2240-406: The crash site were forced to evacuate for nearly two weeks while HAZMAT teams and cleanup crews decontaminated the area. Nine people lost their lives in the Graniteville train disaster on the day of the crash: On April 21, 2005, one more death was attributed to the crash. Leonard Mathis, a brick mason in Graniteville, was driving home from a convenience store just after the crash occurred. As he

2310-486: The daily, domestic activities of his employees. While many mill owners throughout America provided their workers with housing at that time, the facilities provided by Comer surpassed the standard in terms of both quality and quantity. Mill workers generally lived in the Avondale Mill's worker's housing communities, worshiped at the on-site church, and sent their children to the on-site school. B. B. Comer established

2380-461: The damage to the surrounding environment. On March 8, 2010, Norfolk Southern Railway Company agreed to pay $ 4 million penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and hazardous materials laws for a 2005 chlorine spill in Graniteville, S.C. Under the settlement filed in federal court in Columbia, S.C., Norfolk Southern will be required to pay a civil penalty of $ 3,967,500 for

2450-438: The damages claims against Norfolk Southern announced that they had reached a preliminary agreement on settlements for area residents and business that were evacuated but did not seek medical attention. In this preliminary settlement, Norfolk Southern would offer each resident who was evacuated and did not seek medical attention within 72 hours of the accident a flat amount of $ 2,000 for the evacuation plus $ 200 per person per day of

2520-477: The day to remove children to work at the Mill.". When demand for textiles was low, the children were allowed to return to school. The children were a source of cheap labor who could be flexibly employed according to the needs of the mill managers. At 12 years of age, children could begin work at Avondale Mills as bobbin doffers. This was a fast-paced job that required dexterity but little technical skill. The room where

2590-545: The day. At 2:38 a.m. on January 6, NS freight train 192 (led by SD60s #6653 and #6593) approached Graniteville at approximately 48 mph (77 km/h). Train 192 entered emergency braking when the engineer saw the improperly aligned switch, but there was not sufficient distance for Train 192 to stop. At 2:39, Train 192 was diverted by the improperly lined switch onto the siding and collided with P22. The collision derailed both lead engines, sixteen of 192's forty-two freight cars, and one of P22's freight cars. Train 192

2660-593: The downturn in conditions. Comer reiterated to Avondale employees the quality of life enjoyed at his mills. Textile workers throughout the state walked off the job 1934 to protest steep declines in wages. In the midst of this larger turmoil, however, only one shift, a night shift in July 1934, walked off the job at any of Comer's plants. Many labor activists considered the Comers, Donald in particular, to be "the one shining light" amongst Birmingham area business owners. Noted for

2730-429: The evacuation. These amounts are separate from any property damage claims. Claims that involve injury or death are not included in this settlement, but are still being negotiated. On May 22, 2006, Avondale Mills ' CEO, Robert Williams Sr., announced that his firm would close all its plants, corporate and sales offices no later than July 25, throwing more than 4,000 workers across four states out of work. Mr. Felker cited

2800-571: The homes of the primary labor pool, that of poor, rural farmers, allowed those farmers to earn higher wages while at the mill than they would otherwise by farming while still maintaining ownership and control of the land. Mirroring conditions throughout the United States, worker hours, production and pay rates all saw cuts during the Great Depression. In 1933, labour organizers in Birmingham began unionizing many industries in response to

2870-415: The jobs were filled for the day from a list of available standby employees. At the end of their scheduled run, train P22's crew parked the train on a siding near the Avondale Mills plant. The train crew contacted the local train dispatcher at 7:53 and 7:54 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) to clear two track warrants that were protecting train P22's use of the tracks. Although the railroad switch for

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2940-459: The majority of which owned them without debt of mortgage. Mill workers were paid in cash, but they could also opt to be paid partially in company scrip to be used in the company store. Truly unique for its time, Avondale Mills offered employees $ 1 of scrip for only 80¢. This, effectively, gave employees a 20% discount on all goods bought at the village store as the village store matched its prices with those of stores in downtown Birmingham. During

3010-478: The mill, offered $ 10,000 (~$ 300,000 adjusted for inflation) as an investment. B.F. Roden, owner of the Avondale Land Company, provided the land for the mill under the condition that the mill be named "Avondale Mills". Comer's experience as a banker, miller and cotton farmer made him an ideal candidate for the job. Shortly after he assumed the presidency, The Trainer family abandoned the project before

3080-415: The mill. Hine noted numerous examples of child labor and abuse of children at Avondale Mills, including that of the 14 and 15-year-old girls Mary and Miller Gilliam. Their father had removed them from school to work at the mills; he had no job at the time. Hine recorded that "none of the children would admit to being younger than 12 years of age ". He wrote, "The Mill bosses...arrived at school anytime during

3150-457: The mills during 1910 and documented his findings with photographs. Hine's photographs and interviews in 1910 revealed that numerous children were employed at Avondale Mills with "mere weeks of education if any." The state law required that children be educated and that none younger than twelve work in factories. At first the children were not "officially" employed, but were recruited to assist their parents in completing strenuous twelve-hour shifts in

3220-596: The mills had even opened, and Comer bought out the family's shares and assumed majority control. Through their efforts, they created the first cotton cloth manufacturing plant in Birmingham. Initially, financing the construction of the mills proved troublesome. With high interest rates and scarce available capital, Comer and the Birmingham Commercial Club took out loans from noted Wall Street banker DuMont Clark, and secured funding from J.M. Lewis of Talladega, Alabama who took out $ 100,000 in bonds for

3290-534: The mills into both Georgia and South Carolina. Walton Monroe Mills Inc. purchased Avondale Mills in 1986. In 1995, the owning firm acquired the textile operations of the Graniteville Company. Disaster struck when, on the morning of January 6, 2005, a train accident outside of the Graniteville, South Carolina , mill caused a large chlorine gas leak from a ruptured tank car that killed 9 people on

3360-630: The mills. He built a new mill in Sylacauga, Alabama in 1913 and named it the Eva Jane in honor of B.B. Comer's wife. The opening of the mill was described as "the most important event in the town's history. Donald Comer would later open the Sallie B. No. 1 and Catherine mills in 1919, and the Sallie B. No. 2 in 1926, all in The Mills were generally located in rural areas. Locating the mills so close to

3430-414: The passage of the bill, the city also adopted the commission style of government used until 1963. The improvements to many of the seven outlying suburbs that were incorporated into Birmingham included added transportation infrastructure, better access to social services, and increased sanitation. Avondale Mills had a dramatic effect on the demographic landscape of Birmingham and the surrounding regions. As

3500-406: The people, elected legislative City council Council - Manager Executive leader elected by the council from among themselves Elected mayor and cabinet Executive mayor elected by the people Committee system Executive leader and executive committees elected by the council from among themselves City commission government is a form of local government in the United States . In

3570-417: The price of cotton fell in the latter half of the 19th century, many Alabama farmers found themselves searching for new means of income. Avondale Mills provided steady paychecks and plentiful working hours. While typical farm labor could provide a family with $ 400 annually (~$ 10,500 adjusted for inflation), a single person working at the mills could earn up to $ 700 annually (~$ 18,500 adjusted for inflation). With

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3640-535: The railroad was negligent in its operations through Graniteville and that this alleged negligence was the root cause of the crash. After the crash, Avondale Mills was closed, laying off thousands of employees and paid more than $ 140 million on cleanup and repair expenses. The trial opened on March 10, 2008, in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina . On April 7, 2008, Norfolk Southern and interests representing Avondale Mills, and its surviving entities, reached

3710-603: The resort, albeit not when white workers were present. Known as Camp Helen , the resort included a large main building and several guest cottages strewn about the property. Avondale Mills also provided Camp Brownie, a recreational facility on the Coosa River for workers to enjoy boating and fishing in their off-time. Avondale Mills was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal landscape of race relations in Birmingham. Out of 8,500 employees in 1947, fully 12%, or about 1,020, were African American, all of whom received equal access to

3780-422: The same body. One commissioner may be designated to function as mayor , but this largely is an honorific or ceremonial designation. The mayor principally serves as chairman or president of the commission, presiding over meetings, but typically does not have additional powers over and above the other commissioners. In many cases, the mayor is selected by the commissioners from among themselves, though some cities with

3850-494: The scheme be halted, and mandated that no future sales would be honored without his prior approval. The selling agents balked at his demands and called a meeting of the mills' stockholders to demand Comer's removal from office. The efforts of Frederick Jenks, of Fales and Jenks Machinery Company, kept Comer in office. Comer's staff initially consisted of himself and two other men. Comer wrote his own letters in long-hand script and personally bought, weighed, classified and sold all of

3920-517: The settlement money and leave rather than rebuild the damaged plant. However, G. Stephen Felker Sr. stated "We do not believe that the settlement fully compensates us for the full value of the losses incurred as a result of the Norfolk Southern derailment" and said that the company intends to pursue a lawsuit or seek a settlement against Norfolk Southern. That suit ended with another settlement, for an undisclosed sum. On November 29, 2005,

3990-555: The stamina or physical strength to work long hours." Fatigue on a farm could lead to mistakes, but fatigue in a mill could lead to death. Comer argued that it was the parents of the children who wanted them to work, and that he was simply responding to their demands. Comer also actively opposed child labor regulations that would have curbed his ability to employ minors. In 1900, out of a total of 774 employees, 187 were children aged between 8 and 15. Lewis Hine , an American sociologist and photographer studying industrial conditions, visited

4060-481: The student graduated. The mill village, consisting of 129 houses in Birmingham, Comer provided was also notable for the quality of its conditions. While most other mill villages in America provided workers with outhouses either behind or between worker houses, Comer introduced interior sanitation facilities. B.B. Comer's son, Bragg Comer, supervised the construction of the Drummond Fraser Hospital,

4130-486: The summer, mill workers could enjoy paid vacations at the Panama City, Florida resort purchased by Comer for his employees. Comer closed the mills at different times throughout the summer in order to allow his workers to enjoy the vacation resort at their leisure. In a move truly exceptional for a white business owner in the deeply segregated American south , Comer even provided for his African-American workers to visit

4200-580: The telephone number for the National Response Center to facilitate spill reporting. Further, the settlement includes a supplemental environmental project (SEP) valued at $ 100,000 to plant vegetation along the banks of Horse Creek to decrease erosion and sedimentation, thereby improving water quality in Horse Creek. On May 24, 2005, Norfolk Southern was awarded the TRANSCAER National Achievement Award for 2004. TRANSCAER

4270-501: The time, required that no children younger than 12 be employed. Many of the families who moved to Birmingham from more rural, farming communities, were accustomed to children working alongside adults, and they expected their children to do the same at the mills. Conditions at mills, however, were quite different than conditions on a farm. "On the farm, children worked hard but at their own pace, with no penalty for stopping. Mill work, however, endangered children because they often did not have

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4340-525: The train and surrounding area. In 2006, as a result of the Graniteville disaster and increased competition from overseas, Avondale formally shuttered its operations. The Trainer family of Chester, Pennsylvania sought to expand their already successful textile operations into the American South to bring their operations closer to the source of their raw materials. The Birmingham region appealed to them chiefly due to its wide labor pool and proximity to

4410-573: The war. By 1870, only 744 people were employed in textile mills. The family contacted the Birmingham Commercial Club, that would later become the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, "...which had been organized in 1887 to encourage trade and create more economic diversification..." in the extraction focused Birmingham region. The Commercial Club agreed to invest $ 150,000 (~$ 4.5 million adjusted for inflation), and civic leader Braxton Bragg "B.B." Comer, having been recruited to serve as president of

4480-613: Was an American rail disaster that occurred on January 6, 2005, in Graniteville , South Carolina . At roughly 2:40 am EST , two Norfolk Southern trains collided near the Avondale Mills plant in Graniteville. Nine people were killed and over 250 people were treated for toxic chlorine exposure. The crash was determined to be caused by a misaligned railroad switch . On January 5, 2005, NS local train P22 (led by GP59 #4622) began its daily operation. The regularly assigned conductor and engineer were both off duty on January 5, and

4550-401: Was an event such as this derailment, which was completely beyond our control." Avondale Mills Inc. reached a $ 215 million settlement with its insurance company for damages caused by the train derailment and fatal chemical spill. Graniteville residents assumed that since the plant would have been fully insured and/or covered by Norfolk Southern's accident insurance, that the owners chose to take

4620-515: Was difficult to develop in Alabama, particularly, however, due to the states deficit of navigable waterways, a relatively unstable banking system which both combined to discourage widespread investment in manufacturing facilities within the state. Alabama was at the bottom of the list in terms of textile production in southern states. In 1852, There were 40 mills in Georgia operating with 80,000 spindles; Tennessee had 30 mills with 36,000 spindles in operation; and Alabama came in last with only 12 mills and

4690-502: Was needed in certain areas. After its constitutionality was tested and confirmed, this form of government quickly became popular across the state of Texas and spread to other parts of the United States . Des Moines, Iowa , became the first city outside Texas to adopt this form of government. University of Chicago Professor Charles Zueblin was a major advocate of the commission plan of government, believing that every city in

4760-410: Was sold to Walton Monroe Mills, Inc. in 1986 for $ 165 million. Following its sale to Walton Monroe Mills, Avondale Mills and Walton Monroe operated as separate entities until 1993 when the two merged to become Avondale Incorporated. In 1996, Avondale Inc. purchased the Graniteville Company, a textile manufacturer out of Graniteville, South Carolina . On January 6, 2005, a serious train derailment at

4830-474: Was transporting chlorine gas, sodium hydroxide and cresol . One of 192's tank cars (loaded with 90 short tons (82 t) of chlorine) ruptured, releasing about 60 tons of the gas. About 30 percent of the load was recovered by industrial responders. Nine people died (eight at the time of the crash, one later as a result of chlorine inhalation), and at least 250 people were treated for chlorine exposure. In total, 5,400 residents within one mile (1.6 km) of

4900-452: Was traveling home, he passed through a portion of the chlorine cloud that resulted from the collision. His health deteriorated from that point on. Norfolk Southern announced that it expected the disaster to cost between $ US 30 and $ 40 million, including the corporation's self-insurance retention under its insurance policies and other uninsured costs, but not any fines or penalties that might be imposed. On May 25, 2005, lawyers involved in

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