The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1895-03-29
stO5,OOO EXPENDED ON EXCAVATIONS,
In Addition, It Costs $4,000 Per
Year to Empty Them.
1900 HOUSES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS
Hence, There are 1900 cesspOols
and Priyy Vaults.
RUNNING STREAMS OF WATER DEFILED

RUNNING STREAMS or WATER DEFlLED
The Necessity of Sewers in Morristown
Made Apparent-Facts and Figures
Which Speak to the POint-The Cost OF
Construction and How 1t Should Be
Borne-Easy Terms for Property Owners
Who May Be Taxed Direct-Report and
Suggestions of Mr. Rudolph Herring
Strong Resolutions Presented to the
Improvement Society.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen Of the
Society:
Your committee has the honor to pre-
sent herewith the following report as
the result of its deliberations upon the
very important question of the sewerage
of Morristown.
The committee has been compelled to
limit this report to the general considera-
ton of the necessity for a sewerage sys-
tenn, the best plan for such system, and
its approximate cost. The plans and
details have been left to such officials as
may hereafter be authorized to adopt
and carry out system.
With this end in. view the committee
has sought the best advice within its
reach, and obtainable at limited ex-
expense, and has consulted the works of
eminent and practicable authorities on
the subject.
It has had the benefit and advantage
of being able to call to its aid the pro-
fessional advice of George w. Howell
and Frederic ". Pitney, civil engineers.
For valuable services, very literally be-
slowed by these gentlemen, the commit
tee desires to express its thanks.
In engaging the services of Rudolph
Herring, it secured the advice of an ex-
pert in civil and sanitary engineering
who probably has no superior in this
country.
His report, which accompanies this
paper, will undoubtedly receive your
careful consideration.
Necessity for Sewerage.
From certain facts well known to many of
the citizens of Morristown, and which have re-
Gently come more particularly under the OBJ
servation of your committee. it believes it is
justified in stating that there are many cases
in practice in the disposal of sewage in this
town which are in direct opposition to, and in
open violation of. proper sanitary regulations.
Though at the present time the town is in a
very healthful condition, the committee be-
lieves there is reason for grave apprehension
less this condition may not be maintained, un-
less prompt measures are taken to prevent the
continuance of these practices and a more
thorough system adopted for the disposal of
our liquid waste.
The cesspooI system has been in use for SO
many years In Morristown that in the thickly
populated districts, about the Park and streets
leading therefrom. the ground has become
supercharged with impurities. until the filter
ing power of the soil has become greatly inn
paired, and the result is the entailing of a
heavy expense upon the property owners for
the removal of the house waste.
This expense is increasing each year, not
only because of the increase in the number of
inhabitants. but, in much larger proportion,
owing to the fact that in many cases the avail
able land for the location of the cesspoOls hav-
ing been exhausted and the limits of extension
having been reached, there remains nothing
more for the property holders to do by way of
relief other than to resort to the expensive
operation of pumping into excavators and re-
moving the sewage. as SO much freight. from
the city to some spot convenient to the ex-
cavator man, probably to the injury and an
noyance of the neighborhood
There are in this city at the present time
from 200 to 1.7O0 cesspools and privy vaults.
which receive daily from 100000 to 800, 600
gallons of sewerage. The seepage of the
liquid matter through the soil, or overlooking
from our cesspools, can have but one result
which, from the most favorable point of view,
is evil and injurious. 1t is not theory. but a
well known fact, that the injurious effects of
sewage are at their maximum when the pro-
cess of fermentation is going on and after the
sewage is held without circulation or venti-
lation in closed cesspool. aa
Again, in many cases, especially in the lower
levels of the town, all the house drains and
wastes overflow from shallow cesspools. or are
emptied directly into small stream which
courses through thiokly populated districts.
This last mentioned condition is especially
noticeable in the brook which crosses Pine
street, and flows thence across Elm and
Morris streets, and finally finds its way into
the Whippany River; and Of the brook which
crosses Washington street. EARLY street, Speed
well avenue, and supplies the water which
makes the old pond in the rear of Speedwell
avenue, which pond has now become practi-
cally large cesspool, receiving the house
drainage from very large portion Of all the
dwellings in this part Of the town
1t is believed also that the springs which
rise at the foot of Bank street and form the