The Jersey City news., 1892-05-17
Poor Look Out for Jersey
City Water Drinkers
This Summer.
BAD NOW AND WORSE SOON
Orange Sewer Outlet Near Our
lntake-NeWark's Sewer
age Project.
THE PASSAIC CITY LAWSUIT.

pollution during the tall, winter and
spring has contaminated great water
supply. When this pollution is con-
tinued during the hot summer months it
is nothing but miracle that disease does
not hold high carnival in the communi-
ties where the poisoned water is used con-
stantly. The condition of the Passaic
River, which furnishes the Inhabitants
Of this city with water has been repeatedly
told, but as it grows worse each year,
each month aud each day. l called on
Water Inspector Thomas Leake yester-
day to ascertain If any of the pollution
had been stopped and II the water would
be more palatable or more wholesome
this summer than it was one year ago.
FROM BAD TO WORSE.
After graphically describing the usual
supply of dead dogs, cats, chickens and
other carcasses that peacefully and un-
molested float up and down the river at
the will of the tide until captured by In
spector Leake. that official said the con-
dltton of the water in the month of April
was very bad for that month and 1t Is no
better at present. Second River which
empties into the Passaic is extremely
filthy from Montclair to its mouth. This
small river receives all of the refuse
from number of hat factories and other
shops aud factories.
The work on the Orange system of
sewerage is being pushed on ahead rap
idlS'and soon this great system which
will drain half dozen cities, towns and
villages will empty its refuse into the
Passaic River. Tue greatest diff1culty
the people OF Orange had had to contend
with in regard 10 this sewer project was
10 obtain permission from the township
of BeIleville to run the sewer through 1t
N
Board for long time was a tie in this
matter, standing three votes in favor of
the scheme and three against 1t. he
csntly the Orange officials succeeded in
breaking the deadlock and the much de-
sired permission to run the sewer through
Belleville was granted.
FLOOD OF SEWAGE.
This action was disastrous one for
this city. The mouth of the enormous
sewer will be at a point only one-tourth
of mile from the Jersey City intake.
This means that vast quantities Of the
sewage of the large territory that will be
drained bv the Orange sewer will be re-
ceived at the jersey City intake, and
brought throuRh the pipes to the
homes Of every person 1nfthe city to
poison and breed disease.
The Fourth avenue sewer OF Newark is
nearly one mile and one-halr below the
Jersey City intake and yet when the tide
is at flood some of the sewage from this
outlet has been found above the intake
which proves conclusively that the people
of this city drank more or less of the
sewage of Newark. 1t does not require
much study TO ascertain how infinitely
worse the condition Of the river will be
when then the Orange sewer pours the
DRAWINGS from Orange, Bloomfield and
Montclair at almost the very gates OF the
intake.
NEWARK OUTRAGE.
This earlv prospective horror is fright
full to think of, but a still greater one is
in contemplation. Newark now has
good and pure water supply from an
other source, and has lost all interest in
the purify of the Passaic water. Newark
now contemplates building new system
Of sewers to drain Woodside and North
Newark, which has become very thickly
populated during the last few years.
There will be sewer in nearly every
street leading to the Passalc
river, and the refuse will
be allowed to flow at will into the water.
These sewers will have outlets but few
rods below the Orange sewer. and the
volume of sewage which will flow into
the Jersey City intake is frightful to
think Of Newark is already discussing
this project and also one for converting
the Gully road surface drain into huge
sewer. Newark never dared TO think of
these schemes when 1t depended upon the
Passaic river Tor it's water, but now that
city is the only one which will suffer,
the officials of Newark are quietly per-
fecting plans to carry out the sewer
schemes.
The only thing that will prevent this
being done ana it is doubtful il this will,
is the result of the law suir brought by
Jersey City and Newark to restrain
passaic from sewering its city and empty
ing the refuse into the Passaic kiyer.
There is a growing belief that tine City Of
Passaic will ultimately win this suit. If
it does, the Passalc River will be immedl-
ately transformed into one huge sewer
outlet which will drain territory fifteen
miles long, inhabited by 100000 people in
round numbers.
THE PAssAIC SUIT.
In regard To the suit pending between
Jersey City and Newark against Passalc,
Professor Leeds and Inspector Leake
have been collecting some very import
ant evidence showing thut row the water
furnished this city is badly polluted by
sewerage. The chemical analysis made
by Professor Leeds shows the sewage
by The quantity Of salts found in the
water.
The first sample was taken at the Nor
ris and Essex Railroad bridge in Newark
at high tide. A great quantity of salts
were discovered in this water. Examine
tion of the water at the Clay street bridge,
Erie Railroad bridge, Standard Oil TAnK,
the Swimming School, the New York and
Greenwood Lake Railroad bridge, all
showed much salts in the water, but it
was noticeable that as the water was
tested it showed conclusively that the
further away from the Newark sewers it
was the purer it became and the less
salts were discovered. AT the mouth
of Second river there was
slight increase of salts again
owing to the filthy condition of this river,
and at Belleville and the Jersey City in
take there was a decrease. but still salts
in considerable quantities were found.
After passing the intake water was tested
ct The Delaware, Lackawanna& & Western
Railroad bridge. Here salts could but
lust be perceived, but continuing up the
river to the Erie Railroad bridge at West
Rutherford the sewage from Passalc
began to MAKE itself felt and salts In large
ouautiIies were found. salts increased
at Kirst Bridge, before the Dundee Dam
was reached. Here the factory district IS
lar.e aud thousands OF persons are en-
Moved along the river. salts at this
point were discovered III great quanti-
ties. Above the Dundee Dam the
same result WAS shown. The dam Is
tight one at tine bottom and it has IN