The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-06
PURIFY THE SEWAGE.
A Plan Proposed which May Render the
Passaic UnobiectionsbIe.

NEWARK, Feb. 6, 1s9L-The examina-
tion in the matter of the Passaic River
pollution was continued this morning at
Chancery Chambers before Master in
Chancery Knight Messrs. Robert Nc
Carter and Col. Price appeared for Newark
and Sentor Griggs and Counsellor Russ for
Passaic. Senator Edwards, who repre-
sents Jersey City in the case, was not
promised TO summon. For this reason,
and also to enable Mr.. McCarter to COM
munIcate with another expert, the case
of Newark and Jersey City was not
closed. An adjournment was taken till
Thursday morning, February l2, at
eleven O'Clock.
Carol Phillips Bassett was sworn and
specially being sanitary work, especially
IN reference to water works He
cited many sewerage systems
In different parts of the country in which
he had taken some interest. especially the
sewage of Long Branch and East
tenn was merely the mechanical
treatment. in order that the sewage
would go into the ocean in such a condi-
tion as not to prove Objectionable to
bathers. In East Orange both the chem
ical and mechanical systems were in
operation. He said the East Orange sys-
tenn was successful in every way. He de-
scribed the various systems of purifica-
ton. He said the East Orange system
had been In operation about three years
and its capacity was J 800 900 gallons per
day. The effiuent, he said compared
favorably with the waters of the stream
into which 1t ran and came within the
river pollution standard.
Referring directly to Passaic, Mr.. Bas-
sett said he had examined Colonel
Waering's plans and was familiar with
them, and thought that plans for the
publication Of the sewage could be de-
signed. He had examined the ground
and neighborhood Monday last and
would suggest the following method:-
The outlet at Aycrigg avenue and the
river, according to the plans, he would
recommend be made one large outlet, all
the other outlets being connected with it.
At this point the sewage could be sy-
phoned over the river to the east bank,
about $50 feet across, where il would
reach south of the railroad track on the
Holsman estate. tract of from thirty to
fifty acres, the character of the
soil being the best possible
kind for irrigation. A pumping
station should be erected on the west
bank of the river, which would force the
water through tanks, affording filtration.
The sewage could then be delivered by
gravity over the ground at the rate of say
1900 gallons per acre per day. The
ground was very porous and it would
only be necessary to establish under
ground drainage at a depth of three or
four feet, which would then allow the
water to flow into the river. The
cost of this outfit would be about
$780, 900 and the yearly expense to run it
about 5000. This would take care of
100000 gallons per day. AS to the
ground freezing in winter, witness said
the sewage was always of AZ to A
degrees and this would not admit of the
freezing of the ground.
As to typhoid germs getting into the
river. he said it wes impossible and that
when the effiuent, after the above men
toned process, reached the river it was
not in any way Objectionable, but was en-
tirely harmless.
The witness described the dangers of
cesspools and said tine reason English
cities had so many sewage systems in op-
Grafton was due to the fact of populated
cities and very few rivers, while in this
country the reverse was the case.