The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-14
TO RECLAIM THE MARSHES.
PLAN FOR THE INCREASE OF NEW
ARK's WATER FRONT.

Incidentally II would Danish jersey EHosaui-
tocs-RAper Read last NiGht before New
nrk'a board or Trade By &. G. Vsrmeule
The Benent to the Grenter Newark.
About sixty members OF the Newark Board OF
Trade met In the Boards rooms last night to
listen TO the reading Of a paper on tho reclama-
ton OF tho extensive salt marshes east and
south OF tho city. 1t was tho work OF
Z. u. Nermeule, an engineer who has
long been Identified with the State Goo
logical Board. After the paper was road
AN Informal discussion Of tho matter was in
dulged In, and Il vote OF thanks was given to tho
author. A collation. followed. In the paper 1t
was pointed out that the greater Now
ark, mado up OF towns Immediately ad.
jacent and essentially one community, has
apopulation of $50, 900. ranking as tho eighth
city OF tho Union. After referring to the fact
that between the Orange Mountains and tho
Hudson River within tho influence OF the
marshes there is a population OF practically
100000 people. tho speaker said:
The tide marshes extend right through tho
heart OF this metropolitan district In a broad
belt four miles wide, forming a worthless tract
OF $1,000 acres, unsightly, unfit for habitation.
breeding mosquitoes and cutting of business
from the wator front. On account Of its very
hatness, II this district should no improved, It
Woulu p9 humlraOly adapted 10 become tho
commercial and manufacturing centre of tho
metropolitan district"
Tho great possible value of the new water
front acquired by Newark through the improve.
ment OF her lido marshes was pointed out, and
the ease with which lve and n half miles of
good water frontage could be improved to q
depth OF fifteen feet OF mean low water. The
city was urged TO acquire this land, build
wharvos a. fast as they were needed, and lease
them, as New York has done.
But, In order to make this water front val
liable, IL was added. 'or to create n market for
any important part of the tide marshes, we must
some sanitary conditions for the whole meadow
district. This may be t DO done by building
dykes to exclude the tides, cutting main Gitches
and draining of tho water, at first by sluices
be taken Immediately to bring the whole area
under cultivation to u sufficient extent to get
rid OF, ~staEnant pools OF water and tho rank
growth Of worthless vegetation which now
every year to the decayinR vegetation.
When we come. TO consider the legal and
financial methods by which this Improvement
shall be effected, we have a difficult problem;
much more SO than tho engineering question.
The following Is offered as a tentative sugbCs.
ton: Let the Legislature appoint a drainage
commission empowered to issue twenty-five
year bonds. to condemn land for construc-
ton. and to build the dikcs. main bitches. and
pumping plants. also to maintain and operate
the same indefinitely. Let interest charges on
tn" bonds and sinking fund charges sufficient
TO retire them ~ the end Of twenty-five years be
assessed ont.hnlf upon the land drained and
one-half upon the surrounding metropolis
tan district, Assess operating. expenses
power to prescribe comprehensive plans for the
Improvement OF the Who'll" water front and tho
nayigable channels md TO establish bulkhead
and pier lines and street grades. Leave all the
property or, to the municipalities. subject to
these plans