The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-23

of the water from the Tower stream, DIR.
Connolly says, gave on a dlsagreeaple
odor and the colon bacillus was easily OBJ
tained from tubes which had been lnocu-
lated with only this small amount. A
similar result was obtained from the sec
ond sample of Tower stream water, taken
from a point near the junction with the
P~equannock River.
DR.. Connolly also examined specimens
taken from the South Orange avenue and
the Belleville reservoirs, finding more pos
tive evidence OF Contamination in the
water taken from the Belleyille reservoir
than in that taken from the South Orange
avenue place.
During the September visit" DR.. Con-
molly writes, ut was necessary to &c
through the Charlotteburg tract in order
to obtain samples from Timber Brook
and Charlotteburg DAM, and it was inter
esting to notice that the small streams
which had their origin on the grounds
around some of the houses. which former
ly occupied the tract, had almost entirely
disappeared since the destruction of the
houses and vaults.
GAS may be seen from the above series
Of examination the water at different
places along the main streams shows
some slight traces of contamination, which
sedimentation and exposure to sunlight
dispose of to a great extent. This is es-
pecially seen in samples taken directly
from the reservoirs, which not only the
adventurous germs, but also the ordlnar
water bacteria are found in greatly re-
duced numbers. The specimens, how
fS4y 4lOll lllC al III -
contain bacterial life in such great num-
bers, and what is more important. germs
which are not usually found in pure ma
tural water, that special attention is ma
turally attracted to such streams, some
of which contain SO many different kinds
of bacteria and in such large numbers,
that while the amount of water added by
these three streams is very small COM
pared with hat of the Taas} sstearn, yet
additions of such a cha44Sx 41e GER
tainly not desirable, even If they are not
ar the nrRSeOt Tina dqnparo11S Tha nraS-
ent examination failed to discover any dis
tinctly pathogenic bacteria, but the CHAR
acter of these small streams is likely to
A report was made by Chemist H. B.
Baldwin, who made a chemist analysis of
samples of water as delivered at the
South Orange avenue and Belleville reser-
voirs. The report shows that there is no
indication of any considerable pollution.
and that the quality of the water may be
considered as good.
ITO say that pollution is entirely absent,
however, writes Mr.. Baldwin, would b.
a contradiction of fact as shown by the
known condition of the watershed. To re-
port on the relative amount of pollution
existing in the water, as delivered to New
ark, would be an impossibility, with such
a limited examination. and would require
a more or less extended Investigation of
the water coming from various parts of
the watershed"
Well. what does that all amount to,
now that it has been read?'' queried DR..
DisbroW. Seems to me to prove that
the Newark water supply is in pretty
good condition"
That's the way we want it to be, and
to continue" said DR.. Herold. s'These
examinations have been made on account
of objections raised as to the condition of
our water supply. There have been evil
dences of pollution along the line of the
feeders of the supply, but the right to
prosecute the people who polluted the
streams has been lacking until a law
giving hat power was passed by fhe last
Legislature. 1t Is the evident object of
the city of Newark to get the water sup
ply in a pure condition before 1900, at
comes the city's property. These tests
show that the water is comparatively
pure, but the presence of bacillus coli
comnaunis is a menace that must not be
overlooked. If diseases, UGH as typhoid
or yellow fever should come, the same
sources would soon convey into our water
supply the pathogenic germs. Fortunately,
tests. 1t is well that this agitation in
regard to the pollution of the water has
arisen, if for no other reason than that
the condition of the source of the supply
Is now definitely known"
The reports were referred to the Board
of Street and Water Commissioners.
The report of the Hospital Committee
the City Hospital for August was 50, 505.52.
A resolution introduced by DR.. Zeh was
adopAed, directing the house physician at
the hospital, in cases where inSane pa
tents are received at the institution, to
take immediate action for the removal of
the patients to the Insane asylum. There
were eighty-seven patients at the hospital
at the last report, LIS were admitted dur
ing the month, 113 discharged and "a re-
naming at the end of the month.