The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-20
PASSAIC POLLUTION
Board of Trade Listen to
Addresses On the Old
Time-worn Subject.
THE SOUTH COVE GRANT PROPERTY
William D. Edwards Relates the
History of the Gift and Makes
Suggestions for Its Use.

Board of Trade last evening heSeiS'
George Phillips and H. B. Simmons OF the
Passaio Valley Mutual Protective Asso-
citation made a statement as to what steps
nave been taken by that association lor
the prevention of the pollution OF ehe
Passaic River, and ex-senator w. y. Ea-
wards explained the situation in TINS city
in relation to the South Cove grant. a.
both subjects are of great public inter
est there was an unusually large attend
ance of the member of the Board.
Mr.. Phillips said that three years ago
steps were first taken to stop the poliu-
ton of the Passaic River and seek re-
lief outside the Legislature. The source
of the pollution was principally the manu-
factories along the river at Paterson. Ap-
peals were made again and again, Dut
without effect. 1t was then decided TO
apply to the Legislature, and when a
commission was appointed to investigate
and If feasible formulate a plan OF sewer
age, it was thought something good wound
result, but they were disappointed. Ihe
citizens of Passaic then concluded to or
ganize a protective association. winch
commenced with twenty-five members,
and since has lone all in its power TO
effect the desired purpose. The assocla-
ton found that it had a big contract on
hand, as it had the opposition of the East
Jersey Water Company and other cor
porations whose interest lies in keeping
the Passaic water impure.
But we knew we had our Constitutional
rights" Mr.. Phillips said, land we Will
try hard to maintain them. We cannot
say that we expect any relief from the
Legislature, but we will put forth every
effort to accomplish the one object we
have in view: the preservation OF our
lives and the protection of the health OF
our families.
VIVA we are after is relief and that
we expect to get. We expect to purify
the Passaic River before We get through.
We want pure water flowing past our
doors and will eventually adopt some
means through which this pollution VIII
be stopped. 1t has been proposed to Apply
for fnjunctionS against the sources OF
pollution and if this fails then other
means to secure our purpose will. be re-
sorted to. Several plans have been sug-
gested to carry out the object OF the
association, many being in favor OF a
system of sewerage, but it matters little
what plan is adopted SO long as we get
what we want-a stoppage of the pollution
and a supply of pure water. The only
relief the people of Paterson believe they
can get is by removal of the Dundee
Dam, but there is no positive assurance
that this would bring about the desired
results. However, the Passaic assocla-
ton will earnestly make every effort 10.
stop the pollution of the river and achleVe
the object of the people. to get pure
water; asking in their effort the co-opera--
ton of citizens Of all places in the state
who will be benefited by its success.
Mr.. H. b. Simmons, also a member OF
the Passaic Association, was called upon
TO express his views. He said that 1t was
the purpose of the association TO compel
Paterson to SO conduct its sewerage that
it will not empty into and pollute the
river, no matter how they do It. "a lew
years ago the Passaic water was as pure
as crystal, and the river full of FISH, and
one going into the bath tub filled with
that water would come out refreshed, but
now he would be lucky to escape being
scalded. The bad odor of he river can
now be smelled half a mile.
Paterson has given out a contract for
the construction of a sewer in what they
said Mr.. Simmons. iThis is what we are
Irying to stop, as it will empty the sew
age into the river, and therefore we ask
cooperation, as our object is just as ben,
eficent to one place as another. The benz
eft arising from the publication OF the
Passaic will amount to millions. Passaic
mas dlT6dQy vOltQ ~ dlSpOSc VI la oCnCl-
age by cremation or some other way than
running it into the river; in fact. this
mater has been made an issue in the com
ing election, the candidates for state
Senator being pledged to supper some
measure to secure the desired relief, but
they don't mean to do what they pre-
In answer to a question if these suggest
any plan of relief, Mr.. Simmons said he
thought the best method would be to run
a sewer from Paterson through the salt
rnoadQWc tn RufhPrf0rd and PmnfyE at
Woodside. Other plans are projected, but
could not be carried out without the con-
D Dun ee Dam Would be y Of no n,as BENEFIT. as
the bottom of the river was higher at
that point and there was no current to
carry off the pollution.
THE manufactures" Mr.. Simmons
continued. ARE mostly located on a canal
running from the river with drinks. which
the morning the accumulation in them
runs down into the river and the smell
from the water is intolerable. On account
o or 5ert e adjacent t ft ehe has aas dsprec hltea
In value. Lots which brought 81. 800 each
twenty years ago can now be bought for
SS2o0; even sons lots which were sold for
$3.50. Paterson would like to annex Pas
saic TO help them pay their taxes.
The East Jersey Water Company is
and 1t Is necessary that something be
done at once to purify the Pas3aic. or
this SectlOn Will De left without q Suffi-
cient water supply. The report of the
pollution commission was a d~etrt1nent to
those having business or living along the
Passaic. / was in the ice business, cut
ting ice from the river, but the business
was ruined by the report. as 1t killed off
all family trade"
A resolution offered by J. A. Dear was
adopted rendering the hanks of the Board
TO Messrs. Phillips and Simmons for the
Information supplied by them as to the
objects of their association and heartily
rrDnn u E1AsH ~1a-- AZ
Al copy of the constitution and bylaws
of the Passaic Association was referred
TO the Legislative Committee.
MIR. Edwards next made an interesting
statement as 30 the status of the South
Cove grant, howin by maps the location
and dimensions of the land under water
Belonging to the city. He said that very
few people knew what the rights of Jer-
sey CITY are. Simply speaking" he went
of the strea1p belongs to the State. This
has always been recognized by the gov
ernrnent Of the State of New York, and
all gut 20 the line of solid filling belongs
to tho city.
The statement of MIR. Edwards was sub
gtautfaiiy the same eS that nrade by him
g short time ago before the Mayor and
Firance and Street and Water Boards.
He told how great corporations sought
buying the water front from the Old
settlers for So per foot. In this manner
the Central Railroad Company acquired
a title to what they own. In 1872 Senator
Mcpherson caused the grant to be made
TO Jersey City upon condition that the
city. should pay such sum as the Riparian
Commissioners should fix. AT the same