The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-02
PASSAIC FILTH.
Sources Of Pollution Above the
Jersey City Intake 8 Dis
gusted Residents.

When in May, 1892, the Passaic River
was finally abandoned as a source OF
water supply by Newark, all its inhapl-
tants breathed a sigh of relief and from
the minds Of most of the citizens the
thought of the river as a possible men
ace to health passed away.
While the danger has been greatly
lessened, it is still present, and every
year the increasing population, the ex-
tension of present sewerage systems ana
the building of new ones by the cities
and towns along the river increase the
volume of filth which has converted this
once. beautiful stream into little better
tina an open sewer.
The present protracted drought, caus-
ing an abnormally low water level has
brought the matter again forcibly to the
front, and the local boards of health
from several of the towns up the river
nave appealed to the State Board for
relief. A meeting was held in Trenton
last week with the result that a COM
mittee was appointed to present a bill
to the next Legislature which should
prevent further pollution.
Rising near the centre of the southern
boundary of Morris county and flowing
siEuously in a general southeasterly di-
rection, mostly through a thinly settled
farming country, and with the single ex-
ception of Little Falls, passing no city
or town of any size, the Passaic River
enters Paterson in a state of great
purity.
WHERE POLLUTION BEGINS.
just above the Great Fails nearly all
the water, except in times of freshet, is
diverted into a power canal where it
serves the ouble purpose of turning the
wheels of many mills along his course
and also of carrying off their refuse AS
the water returns to the main channel
through aBhe various tail races 1T has
lost its original purity and is now foul
with factory wastes and the sewage
from the thousands of operatives in the
mills. This is the beginning. From this
point to the southern boundary of the
city large sewer discharge
their liquid filth into the stream, and
Paterson does not begin to nave a COM
plete 5sy stem of sewers yet.
1t is needless to enlarge on the dis
gushing details of the story. From here
well down TO the lower end of Newark,
almost to the bay, with only short in
tervais between, the river receives sue
cessively the sewage from Pas5aic City,
Rutherford. Orange. Bloomfield, Mont
clair, Kaarny, Harrison, East Orange
and Newark, representing il All a popu-
lation of some 225,0c0 people actually us
ing the river as a public sewer; this not
including another 1865 40 resident in the
district. but as yet without sewer faeil1-
ties, or the Aplndreds of factories of all
kinds. which discharge their refuse OF
variSus degrees of nast;ness directly into
the water.
General interest In the polluted condi-
ton of the Passaic River is widespread
and people in all parts of Essex and Hud-
son Counties speak OF the present condi-
ton of the river with disgust and no IT
tie anger. Those residing along its banks
on either shore are vigorous and out
spoken in their denunciation of the in
ertness of the Newark and New Jersey
authorities.
long been celebrated for, their picturesque
beauty and their owners are naturally
loath to leave their homes In many IN
stances these abiding places have de-
scended from generation to generation,
so that all the family traditions gather
about the old places, making them doubiy
w~ithstanding all this. it is known that
many of these old places have been de-
serted by their occupants on account OF
the Increasing filth and odor arising from
the river at every tide.
Some of those who remain in the old
homes are in that state of mind where
the most radical and violent means OF
producing a change is welcomed. Among
suggestions. made by these old residents
was the calling of a mass meeting of all
residents of the river road. from Ches-
ter avenue up to the Passaic bidge. An
other said hat a vigilance committee
should be formed and a subcommittee
appointed to take ummar measures
against those responsible for continued
misuse of the liver.
Beginning at Chester avenue. on this
side of the stream. and along the River
side road. the residents are in an angry
frame of mind