New-York tribune., 1899-12-21
NEW JERSEY NEWS.
WARK'S BOARD OF TRADE
ITS EFFORTS TO SECURE THE IMPROVE
MENT OF THE PAsSAIC.

WATERWAY THAN FOR PURIFIcATToN OF
THE RIvER-NEwARK is NOW IN LINE
In pointing out that Newark is in danger OF
losing large Industrial establishments by reason
of the foul condition OF the Passaic River, Inc
Tribune on Monday said:
The Newark Board Of Trade has shown a Ian ian,
guild interest in the subject and beyond acauehht ht
onbIie sentiment must be organized and that ,he
Board will take the lead IN this nislatmra Mos This
all possible pressure upon the Legislature ~
winter.
r. C. Jenknson. the president OF the Newark
Board OF Trade takes exception to the nrst seu-
tence in this paragraph, and gives this ihiorhia'oi
as to the work OF the Board:
One OF the first steps taken by the Boa1o Ss9 oa
Trade Of Newark upon ~ IT'S rssnpropraton for the
Improvement of the river. This was 80 19io s,,rvey
%as Wy ordered and made by the Government Cen
eral John Newton in charge or tne SV ynr tho i'm
provement Of navigation which was submitted 10
and received the approval OF TINS boa Roard have
Yearly since 1880 committees OF TINS boaiu 't a.
been consulted by the engineers in charge OF , ens
Improvement of the river deLects, ers care
SuIIv looked into and reported appropriations were
urged upon the River and Harn9r Oa I'M 70 the
present time the Government has appropriated ana
expended for this work the sum OF S9Sements sSog Sc
cured through the ndefatigable abors % or 1pe tpe
committees that the statements Wan smetiDs and
Raenina romnsny and the other large interests
located the river. were made IN reply r Roaad 20
The pollution OF the river. and the consequenh1t n1
aST TEm times Tine duns the twenty
Committees presented petitions and remonstranees e
curing action Application was made to the Leg leg
isature resulting in the appointment o, ne ne nro
sale Valley Sewerage Commission unnef 'ne % PthIs
Board. which became a law in 1886 ,,..,,o
This Commission submitted a very valuable re-
mort covering IL investigations, accompany llB
which plans submitted by engineers ior 'he
b66e5 of the sbs afer the Sn1oh to
move in this matter OF purifying s the b, tbe pres
ent year ha wing passed without any real progress
being made committee has again taken the mi
necessity for action one OF the results OF its laoors
being the statements published TO its letters Oh III"
The dangers that threaten our industrial inter inter-
ests as shown in these letters. have oeen maae
SeR eas to to uni Unite With this Board in securing the
adoption Of some plan Which VIII Rvar On eond
ton approaching its original purity and oeauS ~
and make IT, what 1t I. and should oe an besi be
appreciated by stating that The value n m 9o ~ us % .Un
mage yearly amounts TO more than sloVoVU' SUN
which be doubled at no distant DAY
TWO DISTINCT PROPOSITIONS
The Improvement Of the Passac River for navf-
CATION and its publication distinct propositions,
and their only relation IS that the Government
Will not do much In the way OF improving the
waterway until the OF the river as an open
sewer is stopped. But II Is well to have MT Jenk-
inson's statement. both as record OF work done
and as promise Of still more effective efforts. The
purincatlon OF the Passaic River was halted too
long and (, is undenisbly true that the apathy OF
Newark has contributed 10 the failure OF all move
ments 10 check or abate the nuisance.
The Board Of Trade has earnestly endeavored to
secure the improvement Of the river for purposes
OF navigation. and has accomplished much. but the
further improvement OF the river is Impossible
under present conditions. The Newark sewers pour
600 gallons OF sewage into the river each day
OF the year. and this carries many tons of solid
matter which, with the solids In the surface drain
age are sufficient 20 hll up the channel in nve
years.
While the Government engineers made Il clear
some years ago that the publication OF the river
would have 10 be effected before the channel could
be improved the Board OF Trade. the city officials
and the representatives Of Newark IN tho Lsgslat-
ure. with the exception Of a few individuals have
been strangely inactive in removing the chief hin
drance TO the Improvement OF the river and the
OF much disease and Of the depreciation OF
property values
THE POLLUTION PROBLEM
The Pollution Commission Of 1896 was the outcome
OF strong popular agitation fomented by the news
papers and carried on by individuals IN the fall OF
1895 when the river was in horrible condition.
Passa.c and Belleville made a good fight for river
publication: also did Franklin. while Orange and
the townships along the river were IN sympathy
with the movement. The Newark Board OF Trade
took up the subject at the eleventh hour held
eral meetings and appointed the usual committee,
but never took positive step. The bill, drawn by
n lawyer Independent OF the committee. never
pressed at Trenton. and the little that has been
done since has been perfunctory. II Newark had
taken a stand for the publication Of the river and
had been earnest about II as Passaic and Belle
ville the matter would not have Jagged as It has
II generally felt at Trenton that the Newark
Board OF Trade which Is regarded as the exponent
OF public sentiment in the community. divided
on this question by the personal interests OF some
OF It's members.
With Paterson vehemently opposing every method
proposed for the abatement Of the nuisance and
Newark languid about the matter. no progress has
been made and the present State Sewerage Com
mission the only outcome Of all efforts to secure
needed legislation is without power 10 accomplish
anything but the Chancellor's decision has brought
up Paterson with a round turn. and the threatened
removal OF extensive industries has put Newark in
line so that there Is now good prospect OF some
thing definite and radical being accomplished The
earnestness and zeal OF Mr.. Jenklnson have been
hampered too long BY interests that have put
paralysis upon the Board in such matters as river
pollution track elevation and the taxation OF fran
chises. and that actually Ave years ago put the
Board In opposition TO such a measure as the con-
struction OF re3erve supply reservoir for Newark.
1t may now be expected that the Board will rally
TO the support OF Its president and earnestly push
the matter OF restoring the Passaic River TO It's
normal condition, cleansing Il OF sewage. making
Il a source OF health instead OF disease, and clear
ing the way for the improvement OF the channel
to the advantage OF Newarks commercial interests.
>
Mr.. CARROLES LEG AMPUTATED.