New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-23
JERSEY GIFTS WATER SUPPLY.

THE Engineering Record" gives an interest
Ing history of Jersey Ciy's water supply be-
ginning with 1872 when the Legislature grant
ed a waterworks franchise. BY subsequent
legislation the city was authorized to take from
the Passaic River AT Belleville rs much unpol-
luted water as was desired Works were built
and the water used in 1854 AS the river was
not then polluted by sewage. or used for cny
other public purpose. THE Record" argues that
Jersey City has a paramount right 70 the use
"of the river in its natural flow and normal
purity over any private or public corporation
(which did not possess its special right by fran
"chse and use prior to 1854"
Right or no right it is an unfortunate fact
that the Passaic River has been polluted. Pat
erson and Passac empty their sewage and ref
use into the river above the Intake nj Belle
ville and Newark contributes It's quota below
the intake. 1t was this pollution that forced
Newark to look for new water supply, and
finally resulted in contract for an ample flow
from the PequannocN Valley. Meantime both
Newark and jersey City had invoked the power
of the courts 10 protect the river. but. somehow.
nothing definite came Of the litigation. Per
Laps those behind it were not so anxious for
success as they TO keep before the public
the actual condition Of the stream. Since
Newark ceased to have a pressing interest in
the publication Of the river practically nothing
has been done in the way Of staying the hands
Of the poluers
But to return 10 "The Records" comments on
Jersey Citv's supply. When the PasSaic be-
came so foul TINT IFS water could no longer he
used for domestic purposes Jersey City. in Oc-
tober. 1895 made n five years contract with
the East Jersey Water Company for the surplus
water OF the Newark supply. AS 10 the future.
THE Record" says that Jersey City has three
alternatives before II: 1T can build works
Itself It can purchase water from n private
company, or II can return TO the use of the
"Passaic River. If the latter can he made fit
"for domestic purposes. The tangle in its water
affairs Is due 10 the manner in which two Of
"the alternatives have been taken up and car
ried along far enough 10 introduce complications
without as yet efccting beneficial results"
The Record considers that il is hardly feas-
ible at this late day for the city 10 build It's
own plant. because spectators have already OBJ
tained control Of the available watersheds and.
likewise because "the citys financial standing
hardly warrants the expenditures for such ex-
"tensive works as would he required to bring
water from distant catchment areas"
Surprising though II may SEEM The Rec
ord" is not unfriendy TO the proposition TO re-
sumo pumping from The Passaic River. II
quotes AlphOnse Fteley. the well-known civil
engineer, as saying that if the sewage now
being poured into tho Passaic were carried Off
by trunk sewer the river would shortly re-
"sume its former condition and become again
las available a source of water supply for
drinking and other domestic uses for the in
'habitants of Jersey City, from the W alter plant
ION the Passaic River near Bellevle, as be
fore any sewage was discharged into the
river"
How the pollution IS going TO be stopped
doesn't seem quite clear. True, q suit in chan
Gerry has been begun. but there is not much
hope that anything will come OF H. The Legis-
lature was asked 10 Interfere not so much in
the interest of Jersey City as for the purpose Of
protecting the health of persons living in the
territory traverscd by the Passaic: by way Of
answer the lawn lkers have initiated their
predecessors and have lodged the problem
for another year To make the situation still
worse, the East Jersey Water Company IS get
ting ready 10 tap the Passaic at Little Falls
above the point Of pollution. This will ma
teray reduce the flow Of fresh water. leaving
scarcely enough 10 carry down the constantly
increasing volume Of sewage from Paterson and
PasSaic.
Jersey Citys efforts. or attempts. or what
ever they may be called. TO contract with some
private corporation for water plant are re-
hearspd by The Record" The history Of
these woudbe contracts" It says reads like
"a farce, when viewed from business stand
point, but appears much more serious when
I'll is recalled thar a similar expenditure Of
money by good engineers and lawyers would
long ago have placed the city in possession
"of the facts for which it is now blindly CROP
ing
Thus the matter rests. Al the present dny
Jersey City seems no nearer a permanent water
supply than II was five years ago