The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-09-04
OUR WATER is A MOSAIC
Pastor seudder Says 1t Drives
Self-Respeeting People Out
Of Town.

In the Tabernacle on Sunday night, the
Rev. John L. Scudder gave the usual
prelude to his m AS the reverend
gentleman had been enjoying good water
at Shelter Island, where his vacation
was spent, he gave his congregation MS
views upon our city drinking water. The
subject was as he termed it:-"Jersey
Cfty's Filthy Drinking Water and he
said concerning it,
Jersey City wants water that is fit to
drink. 1t has been quaffing diluted sew
age long enough. Whether Passatc River
water is provocative of typhoid fever or
other diseases in this city | leave the
physicians to determine, but any one
with a common pair of eyes and nostrils
can discover that the liquid that we are
compelled to drink is filthy and repulsive.
The unadorned fact is that the Passaic
Riveris the sewer of both Paterson and
Passaic, the outlet for the offscourings
of these growing cities. Its nastiness is
heterogeneous; a mosaic, so to speak. OF
diversified stenches, %colors, and degrees
of dirtiness. Contribution of liquid and
solid pollution flow into it from thousands
of private sinks. Disgusting refuse gets
into it from dye works, chemical mills,
tanneries, bleach houses, rag factories,
and other industrial establishments of
repellent natures. And this combination
Of vileness is what the free and enlight--
ened people of Jersey City are expected
to drink without or protest. An
Individual minus the three senses OF
sight and taste and smell might indulge
in such potations without apprec1atl1ig
the wrong he is doing himself. but the
stomach of the average normal civilized
man rebels against the introduction OF
this foul liquid into his system;
IT HAS HURT OUR CITY.
eOur present water supply is an insult
to the taxpayers of this city, for it com
pels them to pay for a liquid which is
little less than a nuisance, while 1T re-
duces the value of real estate by drlv1ns
? selfrespecting people out of town. assaic
River water haswofully damaged this city
in times past, and it will Increasingly
damage it in years to come unless we
obtain a fresh supply of d~rinkable water.
THE existing conditions fall With eSpec
ial severity upon the poor. The Wealthlef
classes can afford to buy ~hve-sailon Jars
of imported water for a DOLLAR but TINS
luxury is beyond the reach of the multi
tude-God pity thefn-who are forced to
drink this dinsy colored, ooorlfero,s
stuff or go withuRt. They cannot purr
chase expensive filters and go into the
nurifying business for themselves. A few
of them run arosnd with pitchers TO
ancient pumps or catch rain water IroEn
their roofs, or resort to some such priIn-
Itiye and independent mode of water sup
ply.
when we think of invalids and SICK
little. children in the poorer districts VINO
are compelled to put this nasty water
TO their lips. our pity turns into righteous
wrath, INC with great plainness of
speech we demand from the proper au-
thorities a new supply of water. Passatc
River water might have answered the
purpose half a century ago, when Fat
erson M Passaic were small towns,
but it will not do today. We care not
where the water comes from, but come
1t must n come it shall.
maintain the popularity he has rightly
earned in the past, he will give instrdc-
lions to his Street and Water Board, TO
advertise for proposals at once. 1t thi'
juncture delay is dangerous to his repu~
tation, and a failure to take active meas
lres will convict him of apathy and a
lack of regard for the best interests Of
the people. The issue IS here and it must
be met. The present agitation will re.
solve itself into the simple question OF
new water or a new Mayor.
When Mayor Wanser was asked what
he had to say in reply to Mr.. .Scudder
this morning. His Honor smiled and
said:-"Nothing. 1 can't help it. l don't
care.o