The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-12
PASSA|C POLLUTION
The Great Chancery Fight
Begun Before Master
Knight in Newark.
MILLIONS AT STAKE.
If Passaic City Sewage Goes Into
the River the Belleville Plants
Are Rendered yalueless.
EFFECTS OF TIDE AND CURRENT

and Passaic cities, present yesterday, in
the Chancellor's Chambers, at the former
city Special Master in Chancery Walter
z J. Knight had begun to take testimony
in the matter of the application of the
Newark Aqueduct Board for an injunc-
sion to restrain Passaic city from empty
ng its sewage into the Passaic River,
md thus polluting the w ater that sup
plies Newark and Jersey City, the only
supply the two cities have. This city is
as much interested in this suit as New
ark, and the proceedings at the examine
tion yesterday will be read carefully by
all who desire pure and wholesome
water
The city of Newark was represented by
T~ionel E. l.. Price. counsel TO the Aque-
\ ct Board, and Robert H. McCarter.
Ex-senator Griggs and City Counsel
George 2. Rust guarded the interests of
Passaic city. Before the proceedings be-
fore the Master were formally begun the
lawyers in the case retired to an adjoin-
ing room and discussed in private the
case. The DoW-Wow was secret.
George Il. Gray was the first witness
called Dy Newark to show the condition
of the Passaic River. He said in his tes-
timony that he was superintendent of the
Aqueduct Board and had been connected
Will JLlo DUdTu OUtCidlly 6lRuU duu Ouc-
half years. Mr.. Gray did not know very
much about pollution. as Colonel Price
soon ascertained, but he did know great
deal concerning the cost of the present
water supply and the dependence OF the
people of Newark and Jersey CITY upon
The Passaic River for it. He testified
that for twenty-one years Newark had
been supplied with water from this river,
and at present Newark had no other
source Of supply and is absolutely depend
ent on the Passaic River.
COST OF THIS SUPPLY.
1.-THE cost of the water works that are
used to obtain this supply from the river
is over $1,000 ,000,'' said the superinten-
dent. He added, there are twelve acres
of land at the pumping station, one mile
above Belleville The property has a
frontage of 900 feet on the river. AT the
receiving reservoir, situated one mile
west of the pumping plant, the Board
owns nineteen acres of land. The capaci-
ty of the receiving reservoir is 14,000000
gallons. The water is pumped into this
reservoir by four pumps through two
30inch pipes. These pipes are each 6,000
feet long. Two of the pumps are OF
5,000,0 600 gallons capacity each and the
other two each 100000, though they can
be run at a greater capacity. The two
latter pumps have lately been running at
rate of 10,500,0 900 gallons. The pumping
station property contains two receiving
basins and several brick buildings. The
city is supplied by two mains. one thirty
inches i'll diameter and the other twenty
four inches. These are five miles in
length.
The witness stated that the daily aver
age consumption OF water for the last
year was about 100000 gallons. The
largest supply in one day during that
time was 1876, 1894. In June of the pres
ent year the average daily supply was 49,
594, COO, and the highest on any one day in
the month was about 21,000,0 900. Four
fifths of the inhabitants OF the city take
the water.
2he annual revenue derived by the
Aqueduct Board from the sale of this
water for the last year was about 1866, 600.
The income this year should increase, on
account of new consumers, about $4,000.
After naying the expenses of the Board
the surplus is designed to go into The sink
ing fund to pay the bonds OF the Board at
maturity. About So, 500, 600 of bonds are
outstanding at the present time.
WASTE OF PROPERTY.
When cross-examined by ex-senator
Griggs the witness said thai only during
the last three or four years the Aqueduct
Board has paid expenses and interest on
its bondsand that no surplus has gone
into the sinking fund. "The tide at the
pumping station rises and falls from
three to four feet and the water is not
SALT" said Mr. Gray, in answer to ques-
tion put to him by the ex-senator from
Passaic.
'sIf.'' said ex-senator Griggs, "the Pas
sale River should be destroyed by pollu-
tion, what would be the result to the
Aqneduct Board?"
"The pumping plant would be q waste
of property as it would be entirely use
less"
HAS the Passaic River ever been pol
lutedg' the ex-senator inquired
"On, yes in 1SSl-2-3 the pollution of the
Passaic was considerable by the manu-
Lxx& 81 fts,,D
the Aqueduct Board has abated it to a
very great extent"
Don't the sewage of the city of New
ark pollute the water at the intakeY'
asked ex-senator Griggs in his most per-
suasive manner.
sNot that am aware OF, replied Mr..
Gray.
WHAT ENGINEER JACOBSEN KNEW.
The next witness called was Charles Z.
A. jacobson, who for fifteen years has
been the civil engineer of the Aqueduct
Board. He corroborated Superintendent
Gray's testimony in relation to the
pumping plant and the other property
controlled by the Aqueduct Board, and
added that the pumping station is three
and a half miles from the city OF Passaic.
The city contains four and half square
miles and Is being severed under the
Waring plan, which carries the house
sewage separate from the storm water.
The witness had seen but one sewer there
under construction and that was in front
of Main avenue station. Witness said
that was surface water sewer He said
that in Passalc there were over
1000 inhabitants, school OF about
400 children and 100 factory employees.
The witness believed that about $4,000
gallons of house sewage was enptied in
the Passac river every twenty-four
hours by the river system Of sewerage.
Under the Waring plan all the house
sewage is designed to empty into the Pas
sale, but witness said he thought that in
the Waring report there is some mention
made Of pumping IL across the Passaic
river and eniptying it into the Hacken-
sack river.
..In your opinion, as hydraulic and
civil engineer, is it not possible to dispose
Of this sewage in some other way than to
empty iG in the PassaicT asked Colonel
Price.
This was objected TO by Ex-senator
Griggs, and tedious legal battle Of
worus followed. When this was ended
ind Passaic's pride took back sea t
Ihe witness was permitted to answer the
question.
"Yes," said the witness. lit could be
pumped iato the Hackensack." Further
N Mr.. jacobsen said the plans OF tho