The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-21
PASSAIC POLLUTION.
Seows Dump Refuse and Gar
bage Into the Channel.

There is a continual complaint against
the dumping of refuse and other solid
matter in the channel of the Passaic
River, especially in the lower end of 1t
near the Plank road bridge, below the
bridge. and in the Newark Bay. Nous
ands of dollars have been expended by
the United States government in the
clearing of the channel, yet the greatest
difficulty is experienced in keeping 1t
clear. There are a number of points
along the river where vessels OF only
ordinary draught find 1t impossible to
get through at times.
Only last week complaint was made to
the Board of Trade that scow loads of
| refuse were being taken down the river
at night and dumped. Mr.. James 5.
Higbie, the Chairman of the committee
of the Board of Trade having such mat
tiers in charge, Immediately began an in
| ~vestigation. 1t is difficult to establish
proof of offences of this character, and
the only way it could be traced is
through inquiry at the drawbridges.
1t has been positively ascertained that
| certain scow loads of refuse that left the
city, never went beyond the Bay bridge,
and in some instances not below the
Plank road bridge. Further evidence on
the matter is being collected, and Wnen
the cases are complete any offenders
who are found will be prosecuted under
law. The penalty for such an offense as
| this is very severe.
A reporter made some inquiry along
the river yesterday in regard to this
matter. It was learned at one of the
drawbridges hat for a week or SO prior
to last Tuesday a number of tows were
| fpkan down the river from 9hOVe the
Erie bridge. 1t was said that the scows
three in number, were finally taken down
| empty, which was considered a very cur
ious circumstance, as it was thought
| that if there was no more earth to be
taken down, the scows would not have
| been towed way up the river again. 1t
| seemed to argue that the final loads had
been dumped in the river somewher
| above the various bridges that span the
Passaic between Market street and
| Fourth avenue. The scows that are used
for this purpose are constructed with a
| false bottom and can be opened and the
| contents allowed to drop through into
the water without any one outside know
ing what is being done.
HE OBTAINED A PERMIT.
The reporter worked his way ON up
the river, making inquiry after inquiry
as he went, and finally located the place
at which the dredging was being done,
at Peter Krolls new boa and bath
houses lust above the Triton Boat Club
house. 1t was there learned that Mr..
Knoll had made a contract with a man
named James McSperit of Jersey City,
TO do the work. Mr.. McSperit happen.
ed to be at Kroll's when the reporter
visited the place, though he finished
the work on Tuesday last. He declared
he knew nothing about the dumping
Of refuse in the river. He said he had
made a contract with Captain Miliken OF
Jersey City, owner of the tug William
E. lowering, registered at New YORK,
to tow the scows to Sandy Hook, where
the United States Government requires
all dumping to be done.
IF you knew the strict requirements
imposed continued Mr.. McSpirit IN
further explanation, you would hardly
think it likely that the law would be
violated. I obtained the necessary per-
NIT from the United States Army Corps
In New York, and this was given to
Captain Miliken. Without it he could
not have proceeded with the work. l
have every reason to believe that Cap
tain Miliken did as his contract called
4 IOT, i CGIldI1ily AlO iOSih
contrary"
Mr.. Knoll said that 1900 cubic yards
of earth were removed altogether. 1t
was lone for the purpose of deepening
the water at hls float in front of the
lighthouse. The men were busy just a
week. Mr.. Knoll explained the taking
away of the empty scows at the end
by saying that he had reserved to linn
self the right to say when the work
should be stopped and he had ordered
1t stopped after the scows had been
brought back to his place. Mr.. Kroli
was sure no refuse was dumped in the
river near his place.
DUMPING IS DONE.
Further inquiry was made at some OF
the draw bridges in this city relative to
the time the tug with the scows consum-
ed in going down the river and return
ing. The men in charge of the bridges
were certain that they were gone Ions
enough to go to Sandy Hook ana w rea !
below e and waited for the tide. They went
e gu as WIN 10 make aaS the the f Fl more quickly.
The tug William e. lowering is wei.
known along the river in this t city, IL y
yesterday afternoon. but could not FIND
l him. 1t was IurInGT ledTISu tlldl Auhif
Der of scowloads of refuse were taker
down the river from points along the
river fornt between the Pennsylvania
Railroad bridge and Market street ano
Bridge street. Some dredging was belne
done, it is supposed, at the mouth 81
some of the sewers. One man said that
two scows were taken down on Friday
night and dumped somewhere in the low
er bay. He was positive of this fact fol
he said he had taken particular pains te
make inquiry. and the scows had no,
passed through the bay bridge draw, Il
was also declared that the lowering had
lone some of this work.
al gentleman who is interested in the
NAVIGATION in the river said that he was
positive dumSing was being done, H
said he had Amplained to the Board Of
Trade on more than one occasion, anc
had employed men at his own expense tc
Fo~out on the river in a boat and watch
where there were suspicious circum-
stances. He declared that last year he
had positive evidence that scows were
dumped right into the channel. of the
river. and h made an effort to catch the
Offenders, but his effort failed. This gen
tleman SAYS the boats of his company
frequently run aground, and sometimes
Y. are compelled to await high tide befors
There are two or three places in the
river below the Plank Road bridge where
the channel has filled in and one bao
place Just above the Centre street bridge
Il ri-o,o boats dr. wip~ on1J twelve feet al