The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-24
PROTECTION FOR THE WATERSHED

Potable Water.
The Commissioners appointed by Gov
ernor Griggs to examine into the pollu-
tion of the Passaic River and to recon-
mend a plan of sewage by which the
existing evils might be abolished, have
presented their report to the Legislature.
The document itself is short, containing
less than 5000 words, but there are at
tached to it reports by Messrs A. Fteley
and Charles E. Jacobsen, the engineers
who were consulted; Herbert E. Bald
win, chemist and Richard N. Connolly,
M. D., bacteriologist. There is also ap-
pended draft of an act Providing for
the publication of the rivers and streams
of water within this State and to pre-
vent the pollution of the same
The main report is signed by all three
of the Commissioners, Messrs. William
T. Hunt, Herman C. H Herold, M. D.,
and Elias J. Marsh. It opens with a for
NAL statement of the proceedings taken
by the Commissioners in the performance
of their duty, a matter which Is further
elaborated by Mr.. w. G. Scott, the secre-
tary, in special report. To the main
report is appended a financial statement
showing that of the $4,000 appropriated
for the Commissions expenses, 81, ,435 re-
mains on hand, with some bills outstand-
ing. OF the expenditures s4,S99 for the
engineer and staff was the largest. The
bacteriologist and chemists fees aggre-
gated $500 and the lawyers fees $500 The
personal expenses of the Commissioners
were only $110. Bound in with the report
are large and clear maps of the Passaic
drainage area and the Lower Passaic
sewerage district, also an elaborate
analytical table showing the results of
the chemical analysis of the Passaic
River water. The significant parts of the
main report are in full as follows:-
The Passaic River, taking it's rise in
the hills of Somerset county, flows north
erIy until it is turned eastwardly by Hook
Mountain; it is Joined by the Rockaway
near Pine Brook, and receives the clear
waters of Pompton River at Two
riers of Second and First Mountain, it
bears southerly to the Newark Bay and
the ocean. It divides Union county from
Morris, Essex from Morris, Passaic from
Bergen, and Hudson from Essex. From
its source to the gap of Second Mountain,
it flows through an agricultural country.
with frequent large meadow sections
flooded in high water The river is gener-
ally rather turbid until it receives the
pure mountain streams which collect in
the Pompton; but from that point to
Little Falls, near Paterson, it is q bright
and inviting river. The State has long
recognized two divisions of the river;
that from its source to Paterson as the
Upper Passatc, and thence to Newark
Bay as the Lower Passaic.
The Upper Passaic Valley offers mani
fold attractions for suburban residence,
and is rapidly gaining in population of
excellent characteristics. Throughout the
extent of the Upper Passaic, there Is but
one municipality having a sewerage sys-
tenn; the town of Summit, in Union
county, which discharges an effluent
from filtering beds into the river. This
appears before the river reaches Little
Falls. There are some private drains at
various points. but of no great signif-
canoe. It is apparent however, that the
growth of population in the upper valley
will soon incite other communities to the
adoption of sewerage facilities, and that
the present generally fair condition OF
this part of the river cannot be long
maintained If free access to it be per-
mitted for the purposes of sewage dis
posal.
lage of Little Falls receives the drainage
of several residences and factories there,
and with that the contamination OF the
Lower Passaic may be said to begin
Falls at Paterson, the character of the
river is completely changed; and from
that point to Newark Bay, its pollution
is enormous, constant, and increasing
age befoul 1t daily. The quantity has in
creased with rapidity of late years. while
the development of new towns will add
to it largely. About 100000 persons now
inhabit the district drained by the lower
river, and the growth has been cOntinu-
ous, while there is every indication that
: the increase will go on as long as sani-
tary conditions are favorable.
The two parts of the river, as de-
scribed, present entirely different con-
ditions, and are separated for discussion
IN this report, the more dense1y populated
part being first considered, that of the
Lower Passalc:-
THE LOWER PAssAIc PROBLEM.
The Commissioners In pursuing their
;nvestigation Of the lower Passaic poilu-
ton, heard the testimony of responsible
persons and officials at various points ON
the river from Paterson to Newark. 1t
appaared that the conditions which had
been growing bad up to 1893 had become
worse in 1894, and reached climax in
able relief, extraordinary rainfalls hav-
ing increased the usual flow Of the river
and diluting the sewage. SO as to relieve
lthe nuisance materially. The testimony
referred chiefly to the previous seasons
when the rainfall was below the average
quantity
may be Illustrated in several ways It
is apparent to the eye in the condition
of the river during the summer, in the
aden mua q when ns s to the sgn
gives out foul odors: and Il is demon
strated by every practical test. The
been compelled 10 seek water supplies else
where at large expense, and the in1medi-
ate decrease in zymptic disease IN those
Known how necessary # was. Fish-iife,
exceptirf OF few hardy kinds. has dis