The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-06
State Geological Survey
Sends an Interesting
Report to the
Governor.
TO EMULATE HOLLAND
Engineer Vermuele on Dykes
Financial Profits and Abo-
lition Of Mosquitoes.
Spsctal to the Jerssp citv Nsars.

Survey of the State has submitted to
Governor Griggs a mass of valuable in
formation bearing on the Hackensack
and Newark meadows. Engineer c. g.
Vermeule has prepared a large map show
ing where these meadows should be
dyked and where canals should be cut.
The map has just been finished, and
the Governor has had it all explained to
him by State Geologist Smock and Engi-
neer vermeule. The Governor has also
met the State Geological Survey and dis
cussed the several schemes for the inn
provement of the meadows in the vicinity
OF Newark and Jersey City. He will de-
vote part of his message to some SUCCESS
lions on this important matter.
It is stated on good authority that the
Governor is going to devote further study
to this subject; believing with the State
Geologist and the Geological Survey that
these lands are too valuable to remain I'M
productive and a menace to public
health State Geologfst Smock visited
Holland on purpose to study the system
of 'iyking and pumping there, and to
bring the subject properly before the
people he lac the map prepared which
is now being inspected by the Governor,
but Which will in all probability be du-
plicated for the next report of the Sur
vey.
Some OF the facts contained in Engineer
Vermuele's report are exceedingly inter-
esting. He says:-Underlying the 1900
acres of marsh is a mass of alluvium
mixed with peat, wood and other vege-
table matter, more OF less decayed. The
depth of this accumulation ranges gener-
ally from seven to fifteen feet. There are
large areas where it is less than eight
feet, while twenty feet is reached in some
places. The marsh raises a luxuriant
crop of worthless sedge and salt grass,
reaching often to a height of six feet.
and which adds every year largely to the
~decaying vegetable matter. The natural
level of the surface is three or four
inches above mean high tide, but the
whole is frequently overlooked, and such
extremeNtides as that of the second week
of last October cover it to an average
depth of eighteen inches.
Owing to their almost worthless char
acter and the neglect which naturally
follows, there is a growing tendency to
accumulation of nuisances of all kinds
manure piles. garbage dumps, slaughter
houses, ~fat-rendering establishments. and
lately an unhealthy and undesirable popu-
iation is beginning to be crowded upon
them. Twelve lines of railroad cross the
marshes, six of them trunk lines. and the
IMPRESSION made is unprepossessing. Here,
too, is the birthplace of the insect SO
typical of the enterprise and activity Of
New Jersey-the MOSQUITO.
IS the simplest and most effec-
tive remedy for all this? There is but
one. The marshes should be drained. IF
this large area Is made available for bet
ter purposes it will be cared for and will
increase IN value like the ~neighboring up
Ing which, at first sight, II appears to he.
fhere has always been some discussion
as to the proper methods by which to re-
fn M. this lapd; It has been suggested
hibftiye: The method which has been
successfully adopted elsewhere should be
applled here-mainly- ~embanking, dyking
ana removed OF the water by pumping.
Even IL these marshes are filled up for
city purposes pumping will still have to be
resorted to. as there will not be suficienf
fan to sewer an drain the district by gray
fty. Filling to the extent of six feet will
cost an average of $500 per acre The
area can be embarked and pumping works
installed for about 81, 000,0 900, or less than
$40 per acre.
las the taxable value Of the neiahborine
districts, which we have outlined. is about
SS,0D. wv, GOO. the cost of his Improvement
could readily be borne, ever If it presented
no return other than improved sanitary
conoitlons ana q MITIGATION of the mos
quito pest. 10 make the Improvement of
me sIea a sanitary benefit the whole
area Snouiq as rapidly as possible be
brought under cultivation.
H work as urged as g sanitary meas
VI, ~. Deslees une advantages indicated
ias saeue u une Hackensack with its
talse low y wafer LOT navigation. and
me vaIue Of the meadows for business
g pssp mu e PC apparent to all. The
1881 Woutu pc less valuable Tor trade,
pus pne greal scenic beauty OF its banks
usaCe purposes.
10 une Wesl. as 1ar as Orange Noun
galls mes wnat VIM continue TO be a choice
res.9eaice alstrict. Here n river should
oe ueseiopsu ny q mne OF marginal parks
aHu paTkWays e~xtenulng from NeWar to
Faterson. Wnsh the fassaic River Come
MISSION mas succeeded in rtdding this
stream OF the great volume of sewage
when now makes Y q thing to be Stunned
such a treatment as we nave suggested
VIII MAKE " tne greatest ornament OF the
MeITopolilan disfnct;
it appears 20 me THAT q wise method of
district including all these marshes, APP |
po1nl a state commission, give It authori-
" 70 issue bonds or assess the cost On
urroundln communities and then have
as mucn az possiple or me marsh land
puIcnaSSu ~ or otherwise,
men T. g q ts al not 50 held 2 reasonable
: should 70 be assessed $ Then let e compre-