The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-29
FILTHY PASSAIC.
Street and Water Board
Commissioners Inspect
the Source of Jersey
City Water.
TERRIBLE DOORS OF DUNDEE DAM
Putrid Matter Discharged Into the
Stream-"Hooker'' Tables at
Bellevllle a Success.
TERRIBLE DOORS OF DUNDEE DAM

Dundee Dam on the Passatc River. Fresi-
dent Brown and Commissioners kaiser
and Patterson were anxious to see the
dam so that they might form a better
idea of what the dam in the RocKaWay
River water shed will be. as proposed by
the companies competing for the water
contract.
The Commissioners met at Mr.. FAT
terson's home ON West Newark avenue
at nine O'Clock and then started on their
Journey. Commissioner Hooker with
President Brown led the way. ommis
sioner Harding followed, and Messrs.
Kaiser and Patterson brought up the
rear. The Paterson Plank Road with its
five miles of mud, by reason of the Jer-
sew CITY. Hoboken and Rutherford Rail
road tracks, was followed by some OF the
gentlemen. Commissioner Hooker went.
off, however, on his own hook and found
a macadamized road leading into Hack
ensack. AT Hackensack the commissioners
were met by Mr.. David Baumann. the
Wholesale liquor dealer of Montgomery
street. He escorted them to his country
seat. about three miles out of Hacken-
sack. 1t was nearly twelve o'clock when
the officials arrived at Mr.. Baumann1s
home. An hour was spent in looking over
the farm with its one hundred acres.
tTOm a Wen eighty IeSl oCcP' 1hA' DNN
mann drew some water, which. he sug-
gested. it would be advisable to supply
Jersey City with. A little of the sparkling
well water was mixed with a liquid in a
demijohn that Mr.. Baumann declared
was Passaic water. 1t was sampled and
pronounced "just right"
At one o'clock an excellent dinner was
served. The drive had sharpened the ap-
petite of the officials and they did JUS
tee to everything set before them. AT
three O'Clock a start was made for Dun
dee Dam. The drive was a pleasant one
OF three miles through a beautiful coun-
try and over fine roads. 1t was four
o'clock when the dam was reached.
DUNDEE DAM DOORS.
The heavy rain storm of Saturday, to-
eether with the fact that the mills be-
low the dam were not using the water,
caused it to be flowing over the lam.
The dam is about twenty feet high and
the water splashing over it on the rocks
below made a pretty sight: but the
smell which arose from the water was
nauseating. A Mr.. Cadmus, once a resi-
dent Of Jersey City many years ago,
built a magnificent home directly oppos-
lite the dam. He declared, as did also
his son-in-law. Mr.. Zabriskie. that the
SAttCAA 4LCAl 1AC F4oGCI O11AR14o NAAGAl X
close the windows in the house while
they are eating and at night.
Mr.. Zabriskie called attention to the
fact that a few years ago the river used
ITO be covered with sail boats and steam
yachts. Not a boat was to be seen yes
terday. and he asserted that the smell
of the water was so terrible that boating
has been abandoned. Mr.. Cadmus is
compelled to move from his home on
account of the disagreeable odor. He is
building a home in Passaic. He has at
tempted to secure the Indictment of the
officials of the cities which empty their
+. sewage into the river. He has not yet
abandoned the idea of being compensated
for the ruin of his country seat, which
he values at sle0. GOO. He is about to re-
tain ex-Mayor Collins to take up the
case for him.
During spells. he declared, the water
above the dam is covered with slime
and filth. Below the dam the water col
1ects IN pools and stagnates. Yesterday
with the water flowing over the dam,
there was only a small stream of water
running over the rocky bed of the river.
The disadvantage of having the water
flow over the dam after a dry period is
that it carries all the s~tagnant water
and filth that has been collected down to
Jersey City's intake.
TERRIBLE CONDITION OF THE
WATER.
During the week when the thirty-seven
mills below the dam are being operated
it is practically impossible for any water
to flow over the dam. such an eror-
NOUS quantity being turned into the
canal that serves to supply the water
vvhaalc Of tho foaforSaG Tlo a1l.A:zu
of the water as it enters the canal is
terrible. and it is at least rs per cent.
worst after it passes through the mills.
All the factories below the dam are
making the bed of the river a dumping
place for refuse and waste material Of
LINED with houses, and these, too, drain
IN the river bed and there lies and rots
in the river bed and there lays and rots
and testers until such times as the water
flows over the DAM. washes it away and
carries it down stream to Jersey Citv,s
intake.
The situation, as viewed, would prob
ably convert some of the 'cranks'' who
are opposing every step taken for the
acquisition of a new supply of water.
From Dundee Dam the officials drove
along the river road to the Belleville
pumping station. At the point where
tHe supply Canal eHuS q stop was made.
When the thirty-nine mills are in opera
fion the only water that comes down
stream has first passed through those
mills, while the small quantity which
follows the river bed brings with it re-
fuse of all kinds.
At Lodi the officials shuddered. The
Lodi Chemical Works were inspected.
They drain into the river. Rags col
1ected in all parts of the world are
shipped there. cleaned with chemicals,
and the wash water and dye 'stuffs are
quietly turned into the river, and it is a
matter of record that the dye stuff can
be detected in the river even below
Jersey City's intake. The bank of the
river near the works is literally covered
with filthy rags of all kinds and colors.
The water at this point has an inky ap-
pearance, is covered with slime and filth
and has a terrible odor.
HO0KER'S FALLS INSPECTED.
From Lodi to Bellev.lle houses are
springing up on both sides of the river
and they all drain into the river. The
situation is more terrible than can be
imagined by people who have not in
epeoted the river.
Shortly after five o'clock the officials
arrived at the Belleville reservoir.
Commissioners Hooker's a~srating tables,
~. tsr r--t ~