The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-04-17
PLENTY OF WATER.
RockaWay Water Shed Con-
sidered the Finest in
the State.
LOCATIONS FOR STORAGE RESERVOIRS
Ample Supply From the Streams
and Ponds for Jersey City and
the Neighborhood.

Since the Rockaway River has beer
prominently mentioned as a source from
which Jersey City should take its water
supply, it may interest readers OF The
Jersey City News and particularly
those absorbed in the water question,
to read what the recent survey, pre-
scented to the State Geological Board,
has to say about this stream.
In the character of its water shed 1t
bears a strong resemblance to the Pc
~Quannock. also offered to this city. The
river is a Highland stream from source
to mouth, 40 miles in length, and the
area of it's water shed is 1884 square
miles, of which so per cent. is in forest.
1t is considered by experts to be the
finest water power in the state. At
the base of the Highlands. at the west
side of Central Passaic Valley, the river
h a a. rapid descent as it issues from
the plateau. From Boonton to old Boon
ton. Is miles. the total fall is 24o feet,
affording a magnificent water power.
ITS GEOLOGICAL ADVANTAGES.
The portion of the Rockaway River
below Boonton flows through the Red
Sandstone Valley. but 11S square miles
of the water she'd above Boonton falls
is purely a Highland area. ranging from
500 to about 1900 feet in elevation. On
this portion of the stream the valleys
are mostly fiat and very largely covered
with drift sand and gravel. In conse-
quence of this, the water rushing down
from the upper, sleeper slopes does not
find it's way Immediately into the
stream. 1t is largely passed through
the SAND and gravel and thus naturally
filtered. BY reason of it's high eleva-
ton at a point so near to our large east
ern cities, and the fact that its water
shed lies entirely within the State. in
addition to it's typographical and geo
logical advantages the Rockaway RANKS
first among our unused sources of water
supply.
WHERE POLLUTION THREATENS.
Mr.. Cornelius Clarkson Vermeule. con-
sulting engineer to the Bcai4 OF Geo
logical Survey, whose interesting report
point where pollution is threatened at
all seriously that, in his judgment. Dover
and Rockaway are the only places to
has a population of about $500. \ the
latter probably not over 500 OUTSIDE
of these towns the population is widely
scattered, and is largely a mining popu-
iation. By carefully computed tables,
Mr.. Vermeule shows that the mining
population is decreasing. and there IS
no nKeLnOOu sOtEftS lutuIG " Oily SCif
of Dover and Rockaway, has decreased
Is per cent from 1850 to 1890. Since 1880
some large and important mines have
been abandoned, and, in consequence,
the decrease has been at a stu more
rapid rate. The position ef the water
shed is such that the sewage of Dover
and Rockaway may be readily. conduct,
ed out. From these statements it will
be seen that there need be no apprehen-
sion of serious artificial pollu-
ton on the Rockaway, above Boonton,
and that the facilities for removing any
possible contamination are exceptionally
good. 1t is very important to the preser-
walton of the purity of the stream that
the Rockaway should not be used as an
outlet for sewage, as its dry season TOW
is too small to permit of this with safety.
SOME POSSIBLE RESERVOIRS.
According to Mr.. Vernleule's figures
the Rockaway water shed above Boon
ton Falls will supply 7S,000,0 coo gallons
inches. He mentions some places where
storage reservoirs could be built. They
are as follows
Dixon's Pond, with a capacity of a.
100000 gallons: Rockaway Valley, 1850
600 ,galloanssS;s Beach Glen, 1888, goo; Split
and Green Pond, 1.24o, 0oo; Berkshire.
S25, 600, O00; Longwood,. 1859, 900.
for : nj SQUARE miles. To supply the
remaining 1853 square miles, $3.50, 900 gal
Ions will Still be needed, which may
Brook. Mil Brook and in lateral reser-
voirs with no difficulty. Any OF these
reservoirs will supply 666, O94 gallons daily
for each square mile of water shed.
Thus it is seen that at present the
Rockaway has a very considerable