The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-27
H0BOKBN'S SEWERAGE
Surveyor Mccain Points
Out Remedies Which Are
i. Absolutely Needed.

At last nights meeting of the Common
Council of Hoboken a communication
from City Surveyor Thomas a.. No
Cam was received with reference to the
sewerage of the lowlands of Hoboksn.
The Legislature last winter authorized
the City Council to issue bonds not to
exceed $l00. 600 in any one year for the
purpose of providing Hoboken with a
complete sewerage system. A Com
mlstee OF the Whole has had the matter
under consideration for some time. The
Council appears afraid to put the plan
into execution without first obtaining the
views OF citizens and engineers upon the
subject. A public meeting will be held
In the Council Chamber on the evening
of Wednesday. August g. Surveyor Nc.
Cam writes OF the sewerage of HoDoken
as fOllOWs:-
The present meadow sewers have but three
outlets-two empty into the d. L. & w. r. r..
canal, the one one from jefferson and Ferry
streets, the other from Park avenue aud Ferry
street, which are practically worthless. The
first is a thirty inch pipe and tho second is au
old wooden box constructed over twenty years
ago by the railroad company and which has no
means of being examined and has never been
cleaned. These outlets terminate into a filthy
canal several thousand feet from the currents
of the liver. The third, and practicticaliy the
only outlet lOr the sewers or the low lands, is
the sewer through Third street.
All the lateral sewers in the Fourth ward, all
in the First and Third wards, west of Bloom
field street. depend upon getting drainage to
The Hudson RIVER through this Third street
sewer, that it is overburdened with an impossi-
b duty appeals to the common sense OF any
one. 1t is the immediate relief of this Thirl
street sewer tnat requires prompt action. And
a sewer through Ferry, from jefferson to the
Hu ison River, Is in my opinion tue quickest.
cheapest and only practical way to BRING tbs
relef about.
AS shown on my plans of 1892. the next outlet
should be built through Fourth street, or, if
preferable. through Fifth street, after which
should follow, as soon as circumstances require,
the one in Eleventh street and the other Ia Fiji
teenlh street. So long as the tidal system pre-
walls Theses outlets are imperative, for a success
full operation of such IL system depends upon
| sufficient outlets TO provide for the entire coa-
tents of the sewers being emptied during the
falling of Il single tide.
If in the future any other system should be
introduced some of these sewers Will serve as
oulfall sewers through which the sewage VIII
discharge into currents of the Hudson River,
anu others will act as outflow sewers, so that
their construction now not only furnishes i'm
mediate relief OF the present filthy condition of
the tidal sewers, bur at the same time provides
adjuncts which may be used in the operation of
any other future system. As soon as possible
provisions should be made for discohnecting
the upland sewers from the lowland mains, so
a., TO prevent the terrible effects OF the over
flow OF the marshes by the sewage from these
upper districts. This is one OF the causes
which give rise to the stencil from the meadows
and which at Tunes pervades the eutire city.
| have spoken thus far only of the outlets of
the lowlaud sewers, but those of the uplands
are also ia need of your serious consideration.
The Newark street one empties at the bulk
head opposite Dukes House" into a narrow
slip. making there a nuisance; it should be- ex-
tended further out into the curreats.
The Third street one, while it remains tn e
main sewer for the First. Third and Fourth
Wards, shoutds be extended to the pier line;
in its present condition it is a disgrace to the
city.
The lone at Eleventh street is on private prop
erty; there have been no complaint, of i5 SO
far, but it Will soon need extending, aud ar
engagements with property owaers as to til.
| right of way should be attended TO.
The Fourteenth street sewer is now o vile
nuisance; it should be extended easterly out of
the currents without delay. At low tide, pas
sengers to aud from the ferry must submit 10
its sickening odors.
The above is a list of all the sewer outlets IN
tho city. The canal OF Fifteenth street. is sim
ply a tide siaiee for the inarshldnds. The gate
at ths cove, as also Two others between PARK
and Willow avenues. are childish, operative
affairs.
The two Quite s, above suggested, will cost
considerably less than Sl0J. 00J. which, at 5 per
cent. interest. is but S5.0G0 annually. an iusig-
nitican mt outlay for au improvement which lies
at the very foundation OF the heath and future
development of not only a portion, but Of the
entire city.