The Jersey City news., 1891-08-22
FOR BETTER WATER.
Hydrants to Be Blown Off
BY Way Of a
Change.
SO SAYS COMMISSIONER soMERs.
But That Won't Blow Cats and
Dogs 0ut Of the Passaic Nor
Add to the Volume
Of Water.

The condition Of the Passaic River at
Belleville can be imagined when 1t is
stated that at Jersey City's intake the
water is as black as ink and thicker.
Any person standing Mt the intake for
five minutes would be Mortified by the
great quantity of grease and oil that
passes Into the pumping station. An oc-
casional dead dog or cat can be seen float
ing by, but these things are left for
Water Inspector Leake, who reports to
the Street and Water Commissioners
that he removes all dead dogs.
The odor which arises from the
water, compares in strength to the odor
from the Grand street dump, which
caused an outbreak of typhoid fever and
drove people from their homes for blocks
around. The water at Beileville smells
equally bad. but still Is pumped from the
river to the reservoir, and there remains
subject TO the rays OF the sun, and it has
been remarked that Passaic water, con-
tanning as it does so much animal matter
ana sewage, does not improve by age.
The vile odor arising from the water as
it leaves the river, increases as it Is con-
veyed TO the reservoir, and then out IL
comes to suffering humanity.
The hydrants are never blown of.
1DnAAnlcc4OncA CtlucNos u AdW QatS AkDs
had one on Mercer street blown off For
fully live minutes black mud and greasy
water poured from the bydrant, and there
followed smell which caused the Com
missioner to remark, THAT'S pretty
bad"
At the intake the suction is SO great
that mud is drawn into the pumping sta
tion aud Is forced to the reservoir, and
from there throughout the city. When
the hydrants are not blown off this sedi-
ment settles in the water pipes. and adds
to the smell of the water which has made
more than oDe person sick.
REFORM PROMISED.
Commissioner Somers promises that
the hydrants shall be blown OFT through
the entire city.
improving it's water supply" said he. II
feel positive that purer and better sup
ply could be obtained few miles above
where we are now. The water Is horrible
/ know, but we can't help it. The river
is rapidly becoming receiving basin for
the sewage OF the cities above us, and the
stuff we are drinking is nothing more nor
less than purified sewage water"
At Phil Muldoon's, where great num-
Der Of city officials spend their evenings.
the principal topic Of conversation was
the condition or the drinking water
Copies of THE JERSEY CITY NEWS were
being carefully perused by the officials,
and several remarked that the water was
even worse than had been portrayed in
its columns.
ette last night. When asked him II the
water was tit 10 drink he turned upon me
and said:-
Its disgrace to make even beasts of
the lowest order drink It,"
What do you think will be the result
of drinking such waterf" l asked.
A MEDICAL OPINION.
aOur water now is filthy" he replied
"To drink it means only to jeopardize
your health. To my mind, It is full Of
disease germs. l won't allow my pa
tients to drink it. 1t really is not pot
aLle have boiled a small quantity Of
the water lately, and the smell arising
from 1t is something / clnuot understand
or explain. We know that tho river near
the Jersey City intake is continually full
of sewage water. and knowing this,
look upon Jersey City water as being q
conglomeration of sewage. dead animals
and waste water from factories" "
This gentleman has not touched a
mouthful of Passaic water since June /.
The water is far worse. he says, in June
July, August and September than at any
other time during the year.
The fact that the Street and Water
Commissioners will blow of the hydrants
may have a good effect upon the water.
1t is hoped by the Commissioners that
the mud solid matter will at least be
The employees at Belleville stated yes
terday afternoon that the water was
never in SO terrible condition as it is
now. The Street and Water Commits
sioners will discuss the water question ON
Monday
EVIDENCE OF HoUsEHoLDERs.
number OF householders residing in
various parts of the city have been inter-
viewed by NEWS representatives in rela-
tion to the water. Their testimony is
uniform. They say that the water is bad
at all times, but varies in the degree or its
badness. Sometimes it is tolerable, but
at others 1t is simply horrible. 1t smells
terribly. is badly discolored at times, be-
ing dark brown and not fit even for the
washing of clothes. This latter trouble |
can be obyiated, however, by allowing
the water to run
But the most important evidence Oh
tanned from this source is to the effect
that whenever any member of family s
III, aud physician is called, about the
first order he promulgates is:-"Give the
patient no Passaic water to driLk. If
you do have TO use it, be sure to boil it
first" This is taken to refer to the pa
tient only in most cases. but is a good
rule for all to observe Boiled water is
overcome by shaking the water IN a
large. open-mouthed bottle or pouring 1t
quickly from one vessel to another. This
will restore the lost aeration somewhat
but of course the minerals which have
been deposited along with the sediment
are lost forever.
The better way is to use tea or coffee.
That secures the advantage of boiled
water and palatable beverage at the
same time
But the only infallible rule in regard to
the water as 1t comes from the pipes Is
this:-"Don't drink il" 1t is an easy
rule to remember, and those VINO follow
it will have no trouble
SYMPATHY FROM BELLEVILLE.