The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-03
HOW TO DISPOSE OF SEWAGE
VIZ. Anderson Price writes Another
InfereAlfng Letter on the Pasgatc.

Mr. Anderson Price Writes Another
Interesting Letter on the Passaic.
To the Editor OF 1.-THE Jersey City
News":-
The question of the disposal of the
sewerage of the Passaic Valley is too
important to neglect or delay action
upon, in aid of a due consideration
Of the same, attention is directed to the
proceedings by the State of Massachus-
etts in regard to the sewerage of the
valleys of the Mystic and Charles Riv-
ers.
The area affected was 1870 square miles,
and the population (1Ss7) one-sixth the
population OF the State, about 300, 900.
The State Board of Health was duly
empowered by the State to examine and
report, and experiment stations were es-
tablished to determine the relative value
of hltering, chemical precipitation and
running the sewerage out to sea, as
different methods of disposal.
The results of all these experiments
are available n valuable, and the de-
termination to discard all methods ex-
cept that of running the sewerage out
to sea, would seem to be conclusive
upon the adoption of a similar system
for Passaic Valley.
The typography of the Passaic VAL
ley is in many respects similar to that
of the Mystic and Charles Valleys. The
streams rise in hills of about the same
elevation, and empty into the sea
through bays and tide water marsh.
Massachusetts has shown ~forethought
and prudence which we may well study
and adopt, n without delay; for over
ten years the people around Boston have
enjoyed the benefit of this care. while
the people of the Passaic Valley have
neglected and delayed until a positive
health OF. the community, the protection
of the value of property, every sentiment
and inducement for action should urge
US to act.
The estimated expense of the Mystic
and Charles River Valleys for a pros
from the Engineers report before me,
if crude sewerage be discharged cor
tinuously at tide water, was g, 1872 ss5.
Interest and Sinking fund, III 1'0-V
per cent........ $3.50. 49,. -. :. 1895
Total yearly $2O4, 6S7
was about nineteen miles, and these val
leys are now protected by a system
which is expected to last until 1880.
So the problem is the same, involves
the same difficulties, and about the same
cost. Unlike Massachusetts, we have not
provided against an expected and GER
lolll ool5CA-EAt daIA5O 1 bS 10 PAOo-
ent.
If the State Board of Health has not
the power to act the Legislature should
speedily give 1t that power; the towns
and cities on the PaSsaic should be con-
ferred with and with the admirable sys-
TEN referred to before them, a plan
should readily be adopted and the con-
struction of the necessary work be I'M
der way early in the spring, and another
summer should see us relieved of much
of the evil we now suffer under.
But adoption of such a system is only
one step-another n more important
one should be taken.
Our woods and headwaters should re-
ceive State care and be under State
woods, the streams running near them
become reduced or disappear, and g pres
ervaticn of these woods is perfectly con-
sistent with a proper use of the same by
the owner.
The State should by it's aid encourage
and establish tree culture, and many. q
bare slope would soon become clothed
protection to our waters profit to
the land owner.
The State should instantly resume its
SOVEREIGNTY over the waters, for the
benefit of the people, and the monstrous
doctrine that under the form of corpor-
Observation-Disclosures cam turn to pront the
low of streams .deprivtng the owners be-
low of a use Of the waters-pe slammed
ant forever. A water supply IS a neces-
4;ty and must be had, but that necessity
must not be preyed upon, and 1t is to
.ha State that citizens look for protec-
ton and redress from all forms OF OPP
'resso' a0 ANDERSON PRICE.
Rutherford, Oct. . 1895.