The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-19
THE Vile PASSAIC
Nasty Facts Elected in a
Hearing in This City
ASiatiC Cholera.

The examination in the case Of The
Newark Aqueduct Board against tn,
city Of Passaic to restrain the latter from
emptylng Its sewage into the PassaiS
River went on In Chancery Chambers be
fore Master in Chancery Herbert W.
knight this morning. Corporation COun
sci Edwards appeared for Jersey City
which is assisting Newark in the suit
aud Mr.. McCarter and Colonel Price were
present for the Aqueduct Board. Ex.
Senator Griggs and Mr.. Rust, City Attor.
ney of Passaic, represented Passaic.
The first witness examined was Edlow
W. Harrison, engineer of the County
road. Mr.. Harrison related the expert
ence he has had in connection with the
Passaic River and the rise and fall of
tides, and produced a map which showed
the rise and fall OF the tides of the Passaic
at various points along the river. He ex-
planned that he had been employed 10
force Of the currents and the stages Of
water at various points along
the river. His calculations were
made for the purpose of construct
ing a dam near Belleville in order
TO prevent the pollution OF the water
which Jersey City used. The soundings
aud other facts which were designated by
the map, MIR. Harrison said, were taken
from maps and drawings Of the United
States coast survey. The volume Of
water between the Newark intake and
the Dundee dam he had obtained from
personal work.
SENATOR cRIGGs OBJECTS.
At this point Senator Griggs objected
to this line of testimony holding that al |
that Mr. Harr1ann fQafiHad IN from ha
map ana the work of the New York coast
survey was hearsay evidence.
Mr.. Harrison, continuing, said that the
volume of water rolling over the Dundee
Dam every twenty-four hours was
II, ,379, 100000 gallons. This fresh water
met the rising tide just below Newark's S
intake and prevented the salt water from
going further up the stream. If
this volume Of fresh water
had not flown over the dam
the salt tide would have gone up to the
dam carrying the sewerage aud filth with
it. Mr.. Harrison then explained the
manner in which the result was ascer-
tanned by means of floats which stationed
at various points measured the distance.
By this means he ascertained that the flow
of the stream in six hours in five months
of the year was less than the tide, that
is, in five months of the year the tide went
above the Newark intake, while during
the remaining seven months the salt
water did not reach as far up as the New
ark's Water Works.
THE WATER coMPANYis WORKS.
This closed Mr.. Harrison's direct exam
ination, aud on cross examination by SEN
ator Griggs he said that a dam was to
have been built just below the Dundee
dam, so that the fresh water could all be
thrown into Newark's water works.
Then TO protect Jersey City this dam was
to have been tapped by pipes which would
convey the water to Jersey City's water
works. At high tide Newark's sewage
was swept up the river, and one
of the purposes of the dam was
to keep the sewage from pollut-
ing the water suPply. The total area of
the Passaic water shed. Mr.. Harrison
sad, was 9S1 square miles.
The result of the construction of large
reservoirs n the Pequannock water shed
by the East Jersey Water Company, Mr.
Harrison continued, would be that in the
wet season water would be gathered
SO that in the dry season none to speak of
would come below the Pequannock, but
the general result would be 10 keep up
the general flow of the river. The exam
ination of Mr.. Harrison about closes the
case of the complainants, and testimony
will now be taken by the defence.