The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-04
POLLUTION PROVEN.
Important Expert Testi,
mony in the Passaic
Sewer Hearing.

Special to the jersey CITY News.
NEWARK, Sept 4, 1890. There is no case
in the courts at present that more direct
ly interests Jersey City than that brought
to restrain Passaic city from emptying its
refuse in the Passaic River.
The taking of testimony in the case be-
fore Special Master Walter j. Knight was
resumed in the Vice Chancellor's Cham
bers, in this city, yesterday. In general
1t tended TO show the Justice of the pro-
test made by this city and Jersey City.
Prof. 2. I. Austin was the first witness,
He testified that on August 29th he ex-
perimeDted again to ascertain the move
ment of the tides in the Passaic River
from Passaic city to the intake OF the
water works of Newark and emptied five
barrels of refuse about fifty feet above
the ending of Lafayette avenue at Pas
sale. Inspectors Lynch, Williams and
Mahar, and those with him, followed por-
tions. The tide was just about on the
turn, but had hardly begun to run out.
At half-past nine a. m. he also threw
over 500 or 900 corks. These were fol-
lowed to the intake of the Newark Water
Works and some samples of the water
taken. The refuse followed by Mr.. Will
Jams did not go SO far. That followed by
Mr.. Lynch was little short also.
hORHlbLE EAHlblIS.
The samples were exhibited and the
witness identified them as having been
sealed by him at the time, and delivered
to the inspector. 1t was collected by dip
ping piece of cork which had been Iol-
lowed from the surface and putting it in
a Mason fruit jar and then sealing the
top with paper ana wax.
Another jar containing sample of
floating excrement was shown the wit
ness. It had been followed by Inspector
Lynch, and taken from the river nearly
opposite the Newark intake. They were
put in the river at half-past nine q. m.
and taken out at quarter past one p. m.
the same day. The sample of cork was
taken just about over the Newark intake,
about fifteen or twenty feet from shore.
The other was taken ABOUT ten feet up the
stream. Both were taken within fifteen
or twenty feet of the intake. The tide
runs very swiftly as it turns the corner.
The other cprks foated down and passed
the intake, except a few-a dozen or So
which were caught on the shore above.
The two jars were offered in evidence.
On cross-examination the witness said
the refuse was provided by Colonel Price.
He did not inspect it or examine it, but
saw it dumped into the river. 1t was in
a semi-liquid form and the i've barrels
were thrown overheard within twenty
five feet of each other.
k1ftllPACS Pau IL UlO llfCE On aug q
were followed two and one-half milas,
about half way to the intake. The tests
were made under his directions.
RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS.
Water Inspector Henry j. Mailer testi-
fed he had assisted in the tests on August
81 and 30. The first test was made with
ten cases of excrement gathered by the
Newark Odorless Excavating Company.
The weather was stormy and the water
rough. There was southeast wind
blowing directly against them. The mat
ter was Followed down to the Delaware.
Lackawanna and Western Railroad
bridge. On the 29th the piece wit
the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
bridge and lodged in bushes on shore.
Witness saw some of the corks at Centre
street bridge next day. He then was di-
rected to look after another portion of
the matter that was floating, and took it
from the river over the Newark intake
1t was in comparatively solid mass, and
was dissolved when poured into the glass
jar. They also dumped with the refuse
considerable vegetable matter and it
hoated down with the rest.
Inspector H. j. Mailer corroborated
the testimony of Prof. Austin He said
that on August 21 ten barrels of refuse
were emptied into the river, He followed
it down to the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western Railroad bridge, and then
had to abandon the job owing to the
stormy condition of the river. The ex-
pertinent was repeated on August 80 with
five barrels. Besides this stuff 500 corks,
painted white, were thrown into the
river
Il was directed to follow one piece Of
the refuse, and 1t got stuck near the Del
aware, Lackawanna and Western Rail-
road bridge" said the Inspector.
What became of the corks?n asked
Colonel Price,
"They foated down the river like a
regiment of soldiers, and went past the
water works"
floating down the river?" asked Mr.
Griggs, laughingly.
Yes, sir; on pontoons.'
"But you. didn't have pontoons tor
these corks"
mo, sir. They were made like fiat
bottomed boats"
The inspector testified further that he
observed in the river other pieces beside
the samples. When closely examined by
ex-senator Griggs the witness was not
willing TO swear to any pieces except the
samples, for he only followed the sam
pies.
CUMULATIVE TESTIMONY.
Harvey H. Burriit, mechanical engi-
neer of the Newark Aqueduct Board
testified samples taken from the river
opposite the intake of the water works
and distant therefrom about ten feet.
Inspector Lynch followed and cor
roborated the other witnesses. He fol-
lowed two samples. One was destroyed
by tug boau on the way but the other he
followed to the intake and he took it out
Janitor George w. Williams of the
Aqueduct Board next related how he fol-
lowed q piece of refuse. He kept behind
it not more than ten feet. Owing to it's
rich odor he had no trouble in keeping
track of it. The next hearing will take
place in October unless some other date
sell