The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-10
PASSAIC POLLUTION.
Newark Wants Other Cities to
Join Her in Seeking Re-
lief Through the Legis-
Iature.
[special to .The Jersey city Newg.ol

NEWARK, Dec. TO- 1S97.-The Sewage
Disposal and River Pollution Committee
of the Board of Trade, at the annual
meeting of the full board last night,
recommended that meeting of citizens
be called for December II to present the
general views of the people of this city
to the committee of the State Legislature
that was appointed to hear the objections
and recommendations of the different
communities interested in the matter of
the proposed Passaic Valley sewer. This
recommendation was in compliance with
the suggestions of the Legislative Com
mittee. The report continued as follows:-
I'VE would further report that we have
carefully examined the report of the Pas
saio Valley Sewerage Commission, and
feel that the commission has fully pre-
sented every phase of this subject. We
are therefore led to believe that their con-
clusions suggesting the construction of a
trunk sewer must be followed, or else each
community be compelled to effectually
treat its sewage Independently before dis
charging into the river. We feel that
Newark is more of sufferer by reason
of the rivers pollution than an offender
in causing it. 1t should be borne in mind
that fully one-half of the sewage of New
ark is now carried to the bay on the same
plan as recommended in the report of the
commission and that the balance, which
is emptied into the river, is near it's out
let, where there is a sufficiently large body
of water for its dilution, and whence 1t
soon finds it way to the bay without
causing any great nuisance; and such
slight nuisance as may be caused by New
ark's sewage alone is not inflicted upon
Of
Newark's sewage, which now empties di-
rectly into the river, can be easily carried
by an intercepting sewer without great
expense to the present pumping station.
This would effectually remedy Newark S
share of the offence.
However, your committee realize the
necessity for concerted action of the
communities along the Passaic now af-
fected by the foul condition of the river,
and we feel that while the city OF New
ark can perhaps more cheaply provide
independently for that portion of the city
which now drains directly into the river,
it should not stand in the way of it's
neighbors, and should join with them in
advocating the necessary legislat ton to
understanding that the portion of the ex-
pense to be borne by the city of Newark
will be proportional to the territory with
in the city drained by the works con-
structed in pursuance of such legislation =
Mr.. Lebkuecher, chairman of the COM
nittee, urged upon the board to use every
personal effort to bring citizens general
ly to the hearing, so that the Legisla-
tive Committee should be impressed by
the great interest taken in the matter
by the city, and also to the end that no
excessive apportionment OF expenses
should fall to Newark.
This city, Mr.. Lebkuecher said, lis
not responsible for the pollution of the
river, and it seems to me that Newark
should only be called upon to pay her
own proper share. The nuisance is real
ly caused by the communities above us,
and there is no reason in the world why
our city should be unduly assessed in the
matter