The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-06-08
Inspector Leake's Report on
the Deplorable Condi-
tion of the PasSaiC
River.
FINANCE BOARD SCORED.
Commissioner Dugan Says 1t Has
No Right to Interfere with bis
Boards Appointments.


Street and Water Commissioners this
morning when resolution was read from
the former Board to the effect that the
appointment of inspectors on improve
ments of any description. unless such in
spectors were prac tical mechanics and
understood the business. would not be
concurred in.
The Board of Finance is organizing
itself into board of control and a lee
turing body. They have no power to say
whom we shall employ. They are equal to
us In power, but not above us. They are
exceeding their power. aud l do not pro-
pose to be insulted by them. Il move
that the resolution be returned to them"
Commissioners Madden aud Cook OBJ
jected to this action being taken. stating
that it was undoubtedly done for the best
interests Of the city.
1--WE are Just as good judges of that
matter" continued Mr.. Dugan, '.as they
are, and insist on having the resolution
returned
Commissioners Somers. uugan and Yoe
vated IN the affirmative, and Commis-
sioners Madden and Cook In the negative.
The same action was taken in regard
to another resolution from the Board Of
Finance, which prevented ashes, clay or
dirt being used In street improvements
10 the future.
A communication was received from
Martin E. Ramsay, of Rochelle, COM
planning OF she deplorable condition Of
the water OF the Passaic, and stating
that Inspector Leake had failed to notify
John IL Braker and Cortlandt Linckman
to disconnect their sewers which were
emptying large quantities of refuse mat
ter IN the Saddle River. Mr.. Ramsay
stated thai great number of houses were
being erected along the shore front and
haf In r.
ations were being made to empty
the sewage water into the River.
Mr. Ramsay offered his services as In
spector. stating that he would prevent
any further connections being made II
the Board would authorize IL. He was
appointed an Inspector, without pay, BY
the unanimous vote OF the Board, aud
the residents of Rochelle who have pri-
vate sewers emptying into the river will
be compelled to discontinue using
them.
INSPECTOR LEAKE's REPORT.
The report OF Inspector Leake upon the
condition Of the water for the past month
reveals a startling condition OF affairs.
The report was as follows:--
To the Board of Street q nd Water Com
Commissioners:
GENTLEMEN-During the past month
the water has been in n bad condition,
large quantities Of oil and coal tar coming
from the Peoples Gas Works OF Newark
and the Citizens Gas Works at Passaic.
have notified both works th at
they must make their receiv-
ing vaults larger. The city Of
Passaic is emptying its sewers into tn
river. They have now nearly four hun
dred connections with the houses and
they are working just as fast as they
Passaic are very busy with this work,
and are doing it as quietly
as possible Mr.. Tindle the
city clerk of Passaic refused
to give me the number of connections
made, but obtained the injunction from
the City Surveyor; he said they did not
want it published.
think something should be done i'm
m ediately II you expect TO stop Passaic
from emptyiDg her sewers into the river,
as it will have bad effect on the water
in July and August. think the
council OF the city of Passaic is playing a
sharp game with Newark and Jersey
City having the case delayed and getting
their connections all made in the mean
time.
Second River has been in a very dirty
condition, all the way to Montclair. They
are going on there with their contracts for
their sewerage system for the city OF
Orange. The Common Council Of Bloom
field has engaged Mr.. Bassett to make
plans for a Sewerage system for Bloom
Held. which will follow the Orange sys-
tenn through Second River into the Pas
saic at BeIleville.
1t is not alone the sewerage of the city
of Passaic that we Will feel the effects
of. but It is all the factories in and
around Passaic that will throw all their
solid matter, as closet matter, into theriver.
They tell me now shat they will knock
holes in their vaults just as soon as they
see that they have the same right as the
city of Passaic, which they certainly
have.
DOGS, CHICKENS, ONE cow.
l had visited during the month New
ark, Bellevllle. Avondale. Rutherford, i,
Ludhurst, Passaic, Garfield. Lodi,
Orange, Bloomfield, Montclair, and Soho.
l have had taken from the river and its
tributaries during the month five dogs.
TWO chickens and one COW.
have notified Mr.. Linh usrt to have his
COW dug up. as he buried her at low tide
right on the bank Of the river, and her
Respectfully,
Il. w. LEAKE.
The report was ordered fled and the
law officers of the city directed to take
Immediate steps TO prevent the further
pollution of the river near the Intake OF
Chemist Phillips reported that he had
analyzed a gallon of water taken from
the foot OF River street, fassalc, SEINE
distance from the outlet OF the Passaic
sewers, and found it to contain larg e
quantities of decomposing animal an d
vegetable matter, which Is highly
Objectionable. A sample of tn Q
water was submitted to the Commission
ers, and the odor emanating from II re-
sembied the smell caused bv the dump
ing OF garbage by the Lehlgh Valley
Railway on the lots at Grand street and
Pacific avenue. The chemist states that
the water at this point Is not potable.
More than year ago the Board of Al
dermen passed an ordinance giving to
the Bergen Heat. Light and Power Com
pany the privilege Of erecting poles and
faying conduits in nearly every street
In the CITY. The head of this
company was said to be Paul Surx
The ordinance has been on the market
since It's passage, but it was never sold.
On a resolution by Commissioners Dugan
It was repealed, as it was considered too
sweeping in its privileges to be on th e
mark ct.
The same Commissioner presented
supplement TO an ordinance which was
passed by the aldermen January Is, VII ich
gave the Jersey City Electric Eight Com
pany power TO erect poles aud distribute
eielectricity as a motive power and
light. compelling them to sub
showing how It proposes distributing
electricity. by what system and for uha {
purposes. The object of this supplement-
s to regulate the distribution OF this