The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-08-21

August IA, iss0.................... 100
August II, o90....-............... 1l0 ~
August IA, 1871. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ITO
This shows that the water is actually
lower than ever before because the
scarcity comes from natural causes and
not from leakage and waste. 1t Is very
probable that it will reach much lower
figure, although Mr.. Brown assured me
there was no danger of water famine.
When / asked him why water was so
scarce in Bergen he said it was because it
had been found necessary TO deer ease the
pressure in that section, but that the in
convenience would be only temporary
one.
THE SHORT SUPPLY
A member of the Street aud Water De-
partment explained the scarcity of the
water in this way. He said there are but
three mains leading from Belleville to
High Service and they are insufficient TO
supply the demand on them. Two are
fhirty-six Inches in diameter and one is
but tweuty inches. There should be
another thirty-six inch main laid. Those
now in use have been in service for many
years and were laid when the population
was much less and the demand for water
for motive power was not nearly so gen.
eral as at present.
My informant said that pumps at Belle
vile frequently filed the reservoir so
that il overfowed, the three mains being
insufficient to carry awHy the water from
the reservoir as fast as it was pumped In
it. When an overflow occurred the pumps
were stopped until the water was lowered
sufficiently.
What do you think of the quality of
the water we user" / asked.
"lt is horrible; 1t Is not fit for a living
being to use, and am certain The NEWS
Newark dispatch yesterday, containing
the exclusive information of the great
prevalence of typhoid fever in that city,
was correct A city can not use Passaic
water now and avoid an epidemic"
left my informant and sought further
information at Newark. Here l found
every one cOndemning the water, from
the Board of Health down TO the washer
women.
Health Officer Titus said that the many
cases of typhoid fever were caused by the
Passaic water. He said that the hydrants
order to flush the mains, but on account
of the low condition of the river the
authorities were afraid to do this.
People were frightened one or two
years ago by a doctor who said all the ty-
phoid comes from wells. Many of the
latter were closed up. and now the people
must drink the river water. Wherever
there Is good well in yard in this city
the people have not reported q single case
of typhoid fever.
''All that the people can do,' DR.. Titus
said. is to boil the water well before
water as possible, even in cooking. The
best thing Newark could have now is a
very heavy rain storm and a big fresher
to flush out the river. It is fortunate for
this city that the new water supply will
be ready next year before the hot sea-
so1."
Mayor Haynes said the citizens of New
ark now see that new water supply, for
which he had worked for years, cannot
come,too soon. The West Jersey Water
Company, knowing the condition of the
river water. is dong its best to lay the
big mains to the Belleyilie reservoir so
that Newark may get supply of noun
tain water by next spring.
S.I use filter on the tap from which
water runs into BATH" a citizen said,
sin the hope of keeping the water clean
for bathing. But the fiith passes through
the filter, and il the water is left in the
bath over night, covers the bottom with
sinking slime. Such water is not fit
TO drink. / am afraid to give it 10 my
horse"
The people in Harrison complain about
the condition of the water also. One
resident Of that town said the water over
there Is SO full Of slmy dirt that it
stinks.
There have been since Monday in New
ark -thiriy-three cases OF typhoid fever,
four OF which were fatal. On Monday
thefe were thirteen cases, on Tuesday,
nine; on Wednes lay, two; and today,
nine. Last week four fatal cases occurred
during the entire week.
The number of cases is considered ex-
ceprionally large and physicians are
giving a timely warning that people
Should take proper care of themselves.
IL Is considered particularly important
that sufhcient precautions be taken i'll
regard 10 the water used for drinking
purposes.
AT THE RESERVOIR.
The reservoir water this morning
seemed worse than 10 lad ever been be-
fore. When people turned their faucets
on a sickenfng odor arose from the water,
and il It were allowed to stand for a short
time it was noticed that there would soon
be deposit of fine particles of matter
Several causes are assigned for the con-
ditiou of the water. One Is that the Pas
sale is now very low.
This morning Nelus reporter visited
the banks of the strean In the npper part
of the city, where there are a few docks.
A disRgreeable smell appeared to arise
from the banks where the water had re-
ceded and there was Derceptible odor
from the stream. The trouble is believed
To he due also largely to the additional
pollatien to the stream from the towns
alnng the bank.
llr. Frankendorff reports six typhoid
fever cases in the Fourteenth ward He
claims the water is the main cause of sicK
ness In that locality.
HOW NEWARK PEOPLE LIKE IT.
Superintendent Marsh OF The Street