New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-22
NEWJERSEY ENTERPRISE.
RECLAIMrNG THE HoBoKEN MEADOW

| RECLAIMING THE HOBOKEN MEADOW.
CONTEST BETWEEN THE DRAINAGE COMMISSION
AND THE COMMON CoUHCH-THE PLAN OF
| DRAINAGE ADOPTED.
| HObOken is built on an island in the salt
marsh Between the Stevens residence and the foot OF
Bergen Hill there Is section Of meadow land contain
ing square acres which, prior to the removal OF
the Morris and Essex Railroad Company from Jersey
City TO Hoboken, was intersected by several creeks
some OF which OF considerable size When the tracks
were laid, a dyke OF solid filling prevented the tide
water from having free access except In isolated cases.
where small drains had been constructed under the
embankment When these small currents shut OUT
stream from Bergen Hill that came down a gully near
what is now known "a the Ravno road was turned on
to the meadow. Many years IA stream OF consider
able size through this gully, and utilized by
dam, scarcely remembered by the Oldest nhabitant,
and John Van Worst owned and worked a grist-
mill there. The from this gully, and from nearly
400 OF side hill Bergen poured into the low
land. and with the annual rainfall Of 40 inches soon
changed IL from a salt 10 a fresh-water swamp This
not long in presenting unsavory protest to the
n0srils of the people who rapidly pushing their
buildings westward and retaining the swamp. In 1866
the people applied to the Legislature for commission
to drain the swamp but those who were appointed
never did anything, and three years afterward they
threw up their positions and the efforts to relieve the
residents the border OF the swamp ceased. The
value OF tho land did not increase people who were
forced TO live in the vicinity suffered In health and
many who had bought and built obliged
to sell at a sacrifice, and leave the city. To
| make matters worse. the Board OF Public Works OF
Jersey City ordered the construction Of sewer IN the
| Ravne road, and allowed 1t to discharge sewage on
the Hoboken fats. There trees this meadow
and a stencil from 1t that the people could
not tolerate it, though there are no vital statistics
kept in Hudson County to them they became con
WINGED that doctors bills and the death rate were in
creasng by OF it. During the Winter OF 1901
attempts made by residents 10 get rid Of
the nuisance by individual effort and by appeals to the
Common Council, but no official action was taken until
late in 1871, when the Council resolved TO tax each
meadow lot s. per and use the amount so obtained
In defrayng the of drainage. This appeared to be
victory the people, and they paid the bill without
murmur when called upon But no effort was ever
| made TO drain the submerged lands Last
Winter the people determined to 20 to a power
higher than the Council and peoned the Legislature
for redress. bill drawn and presented but IL
seemed to hang fire. The politicians went to Trenton
and tried prevent its passage, but meetings were held
Hoboken at which it said that II the politicians
did drain the meadow the people would FAVOR annex
alton to Jersey City. This seemed TO cause alarm ana
reform was promised. The act provided that Chares
| Chamberlain and John Reid OF HOboken, with john
Frost Of Weehawken, all men or wealth., shonld cols
tue the Commission Inc bill PROVIDED Tor the con con
struction of a main in HObOken and the township
of Weehawkeu. beginning on the central line or JeHeF
sonst al or near secondst aud passing thence through
| the center of JefersOnst. to the middle OF FIJI
| tenth Sxteenth-st, and thence 10 the RIVER
| The Commissioners also authorized to build as
many lateral they might deem necessary for
the proper drainage Of all that part OF the city when
| was under water, but they not empowered To
raise money by for tue construction OF sewers
that being the privilege OF the Common Council ana
| wSyor and Council to build sewers in the territory
known as the Meadow was repealed, and they could
the aouns assessed the land for benefits, and Issue
| bonds. -, r-, d.
mission organize by the election Of John Frost Pres
| dent Charles Chamberlain, Secretary and John Keld
Treasurer. AT the outset they were met by the Com
mon Council in spirit OF hostility The Commissioners
BY the fate Of former attempts at drainage de
| termined avail themselves OF the experience
| OF engineers i'll order that their advisors
| might not lead them astray They selected
the Hon Jacob wear for legal advice Mr.. Weart wrote
elaborate opinion settling forth their power 10 prose
cute the much needed work, ana pay i9f the SAINT IN
certificates OF indebtedness which would become legal
debts the city. Acting under TINS advice tue Com
missoners erected punp-bouse purchased machinery
| Tor pumping, began Work ana had Surrogate ohiI
near the Morris and Essex Railroad track where tue
ferryst sewer discharges ls contents INTO tne l|
The well at the pump-works was made deep enough TO
the low laud, which is two feet below high water
ton. 1000 gallons per minute being drawn from the
wells and the level OF the water on the meadow Dins
very sensDly diminished IL was Iou9u, ho"eNel, Una.
the river had IN some places, ana AS the
level was reduced poured IN rapidly that the engl
Ger WAS sent TO examine the dykes ana ehDahneHts
search OF the leaks The city has kept suces III u
fereut parts OF the dykes in order to allow the Ode free
access 10 clean the meadow, but tue extensive improve
! ments along the waterfront nave rendered theh IN
|
all sinecures and thus saved considerable outlay Tue
entire expense OF the pumping works was sU aud the
| contemplated drains will cost ABOUT 500 more
| This pumping apparatus Will be used lor the
present TO draw of the surface water ana 10
| afford the ground an opportunity 70 haIueh'
| When storms flooded the meadow, the sew
age " hich had putrined and dried freshened ana
washed up. In many the streets leaning 10 ana
bordering upon the wege flooded SO lhat IL was
impossible pedestrians to pass, ana falts were ca
temporzed by those who were not fortunate enough 70
owl small boats This caused fresh indignation To break
out and the COMMISSIONER urged on by the popular
outcry against food OF t made fresh oVertuIes 10
the Common Council They made reqmsitlOn on the
Counc for the issue of $4,000 in bonds, IN order 10 raise
| money and begin the construction or sewers. IDe
re1uisItion wac referred the Finance Committee,
| which consists OF i. W. Heyne Ramon M. Cook, "A
ferry-master and John NJ. Logan, former e0btrac-
| tor and Justice of the Peace THESE men
did NOT apply the Corporation Counsel Tor ADVICE Dt
renorted TO Council that the Legislature had no
RIGHT To create Commission and that the Commission
could nor create debt which the bound 10 pay
Cey closed report by advising tine Council To refuse
| the request OF the Commissioners. The report was
adonted but the aggreyed citizens called on the
commissioners AS coordinate body u proceed
with the work, and give them the rellet Tor
which they have pettloned III vain during the
past nine years. The Commissioners intend TO
st 10 and through Meadowst. 10 the river. at such
depth that IL will drain the meadow 10 wei at the
outlet where pumps will maintain steady current
The result will drain the meadow, and the mai
yidual owners will MI In to the grade when the
regular sewerage plan will be available The expense
will me light when assessed among the lots benehted,
and the result will be rapid advance IN the price Of
property and a decrease IN the death rate.