The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-10
TO STOP POLLUTION.
Officials Will Discuss Ways Of
Kidding the East Jersey
Watershed of Con-
tamination.
Especial to "rhe Jersey City Newst"l

NEWARK, Feb. 10, ~IS97.-Other prelim-
inaries having been arranged looking 20
the removal of ~preventable sources of pol
luton in the Pequannock watershed,
Health Officer Chandler, is arranging for a
conference to consider the best methods
of procedure. The conferences will repre-
sent the Board of Health and the Board
of Works of this city, and Health Officer
Leal of Paterson, and Joseph Coult and
James Gibson, as representatives of the
East Jersey Water Company. JUST why
Mr.. Leal is interested is not made known
except that the water company officials
suggested that he be invited to take part
on account of his knowledge on the sub
ject of pollution.
The last hitch to the proceedings was
removed yesterday when the East Jersey
Water Company made a formal request
direct to the Board of Health asking the
latter body TO designate Mr.. Coult as
counsel and Mr.. Gibson as inspector TO
prosecute the work of eliminating poliu-
ton from the city's water supply. The
first steps towards bringing about such a
result was taken months ago BY the
Board of Works in a demand made upon
the company to wipe out concentrating
influences in the watershed.
At first the company denied its liability
to do such work, but finally agreed to take
the matter up, and asked the Board of
Health. through the Board of Works, to
concur in the appointment of two men,
who would be named by the company. Tie
corporation agreed to pay all expenses and
salaries, but wanted the concurrent action
of the Health Board SO that the APP
pointees could take advantage Of a law
passed last year giving boards of health
power to remove sources of pollution in
the Passafe valley above the falls at Pat
erson.
Considerable time was consumed before
the counsel and inspector were determined
upon, but last Wednesday night the Board
81 Health granted the c~ornpany's request.
When it came to drafting the, resolution
giving the consent ii was found that the
water company had never made a direct
request of the Board of Health, but that
the latter had acted on a communication
sent to the Board of Works. The reSolu-
ton was held up, as it were, and The COM
pany was asked to make its request over
again to the Health authorities. This was
done in a letter received yesterday.
1t is fully understood that the East Jer-
sey Water Comapny is to pay the bill OF
the proposed Investigation, and that II IS
to proceed under the Board of Health
powers, but the members of the board are
not so certain whether reports are TO oe
made to that body or not. This question
will be taken UP at the proposed con-
ference.
1t has been minated by one who is in
a position to know whereof he speaks,
that the water connpany'S change or
front in the Pequanuoek Valley pollution
question was not actuated solely by a
desire. to meet the wishes of Newark.
The selection of Mr.. Gibson, who has
been engaged in similar work at Little
Falls, and the suggestion of ringing Mr..
Leal into the conference, in construed by
some to mean that the publication of the
waters of the Passaic River is as much
an object to the COMPANY as the fulfill
ment of Newark1S contract.
1t is figured out by some that the com
pany desires to test the law of 1897 in the
Peouannoek Valley, and if it proves salts
factory it win be applied to all sources
of probable pollution along the Passaic
River above little Falls.
The object of the latter step would be
to procure q supply of pure water for
Paterson and Jersey City after the com
pany's rights in the Pequannock Valley
have been wiped out in 1900.
Considerable work has been done by the
COMPANY at Little Falls and it is said that
the has plans ready for the
laying of a third pipe line from Little
Falls to jersey city.
The company controls sutf1cient lana
for 4 right of way adjoining the present
Newark pipe lines. but whether this route
will be followed remains TO be seen.