New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-12
yPBIN WATER SUPPLIES.

RBIN " liEh NtTfLiEN.
There is more trouble about water in Jersey
City. Not long ago it was thought the matter
had been satisfactorily arranged. a private
company was laying Il new aqueduct TO supply
Newark with pure water from the Pcquannock
River 1t would have a large surplus, enough
In addition 10 existing sources Of supply-to meet
the needs of Jersey City. So bargain was
made for turning that surplus over to Jersey
CITY, and the people Of that community reJoiced
I'm being free. as they thought from the necessity
OF drinking diluted sewage from the Passaic
But now it appears that the new aqueduct VIII
not convey as much water as was expected the
surplus will be small. and millions OF gallons
will still have to be taken daily from the pol
lutcd Passaic All Of which is exceedingly de-
pressing to the people Of Jersey City, but Is not
in the least surprising.
The system Of private water supplies for large
cities is not a good one 1t has been extensively
tried. but almost invariably with unsatisfactory
results. Most municipalities in which it was
formerly in vogue have now purchased the plant
AMI put 1t under public control. and those which
have not vet done so will sooner or later be
driven TO IT, 1t is perfectly evident that Jersey
CITY and Newark would both be far better off
to-day II they had long ago established adequate
municipal water systems Every year they neg
lcct to do so adds TO the difficulty and expense
of making such change. and adds. too to the
danger of cpdcmics and water famlnes. 1here
is an abundant supply Of pure water within easy
reach Years ago they could have secured 1t for
q song Now II has passed largely under the
control Of private corporations, whose vested
rights will have to be carefully regarded. But
tho host thing those cities could do would be at
once 10 take steps for securing Tor themselves
the rights and privileges the corporations now
enjoy For private companies to own ana ad-
minister the water supply Of cities Is almost as
inappropratc rs it would BE- for them TO own
the streets and exact tell al gate at every
corner.
Another urgent need is the protection Of the
Ncw-Iersev watershed from pollution. The Pc
ouannock. Rockaway. Wanaque and other rivers
are now pure and clear but they are seriously
menaccd by the growth Of towns and Industrial
establishments along them. once the faSsalc
WIS also vstal clear Now it is one Of the
foulcst open sewers in IN" world mere are
times when more than half the intak" M Dundee
is sewage The stream above the great falls i
diverted from lis bed into the mains ana drains
If Paterson. and energies below lau'H WIFI III
,he poisonons washngs Of the city. 1t Is scan
dolous that II should he To pour the scwag"
~ a great city into tidrwaicr. a. ~ N"W-l orr
is folly. t. put it mildly. To do 80 on fresh
water stream far inland Is absolutely criminal
II modern civilization can do nothing better WIN
the sewage Of cities than 10 pour IL INTO rivers
10 pollmic and poison them. then II Is idiur'
and the fewer cities IL builds the better. n law
absolutely forbidding the opening OF any dram
or sewer from village. town or city INTO any
stream or lake. ar even the ocean. would be- Il
reasonable wholesome and vastly bcnencrnt a't
o,h.r disposal Of sewage is perfectly pra'-
ticlide. and indeed j. most profitable" witness
what they are doing in Paris and Berlin Inc
sewage II those great cities j. conveyed to "stab
u.bn,,nfs in the suburbs. where by chemical
treatment II Is rendered entirely inon"nSive 7"
rh. senses. and then resolved into It's clements
The solid parts go to fertlllze the land. and the
nuil parr * transformed into water 50 pure ana
sweet that ii might be turned into the city mains
fnr drinking purposes With such examples be-
fore Them and others nearer home. II Is di>-
graceful that the great cities II America should
p.r,i,r longer in their filthy and wa>tcful prac