The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-07-11
PURIFY PASSAIC
State Sewerage Commission
Striving to Solve the
Great Problem.
CONFERENCE HELD IN THIS CITY
Delegates From Passaic, Pat
erson and Newark Discuss
the Subject
CONFERENCE HELD IN THIS CITY

sion met last evening with committees ap-
pointed by the Mayors of Newark, Pater-
son and Passaic, for the purpose OF cou-
sidering plans for the prevention q
furthed pollution of the Passaic River ana
the cleansing of the stream.
The meeting was only a preliminary one
for the purpose of ascertaining the feel-
ings of the people of the various munlcl-
palties on the question of Passalc poiu-
fion. Chairman WilliamT. Hunt stated
that he hoped the committees apupoihtea
would serve permanently as an ad9uhct
to the State Sewage Commission a
assist the Commissioners in solving the
difficulties which confronts them IN the
Passaic Valley. The members OF the com
mites who were present promised 70
serve as long as their cooperation might
be required by the Sewage Commission
ers, Chairman Hunt instructed the nem-
hers of the Municipal Committees to
sound the sentiment in their various
localities. study the ground thoroughly.
become conversant with all phases OF the
subject and be ready to report some plan
or make some suggestion 10 aid the Com
misioners in their deliberations Chairman
Hunt viii call the committees together
again in a couple Of weeks.
IN the the State Sewerage
Commissioners have examined a number
az plans in operation in other cities for
/the disposal of sewage, and will have
prepared reports on the different s5V
terms. It is possible that some system
may be found which will be suitable 10
tbe needs OF Newark, Paterson and Pas
sale. the adoption of which will solve the
pouution problem The Sewage Commits
sloners are today in Reading, Pa, ex-
amining a system for the disposal OF
sewage. which combines the plans OF
filtration, precipitation and cremation
and which IS said to be as near the ideal
method as has been attained. h Com
msssioners hope that il may be found APP
spiieable to the needs of the Passaic val
ley.
All OF the Sewerage Commissioners were
present. They are:-William T. Hunt Of
NEWARK. Mayor John Hincilliffe of Pater-
son. Colonel Charles ". Fuller, Charles
Harrington and David l.. Wallace. The
committees appointed by the Mayors are;
Newark-Judge Gttfried Kreuger, DR.. II.
c. Il. Herold and jeremiah O'Rourse.
Paterson-George BlaSeley. president Of
the Board of Trade; Michael Dunn and
Joseph johnson.
Passaic-colin R. Wise, ". w. Watson
and T.. G. s~treckfuss.
All were present but DR.. Herosd of
Newark and Mr.. Dunn of Paterson. In
opening the conference Chairman Hunt
declared that the State Sewerage Com
missioners desired to act in the best in
terests of the m~unicipalities affected in
determining the future of the Passaic
River and did not want to antagonize any
of the communities which would be af-
feeted by the adoption of a definite plan
OF remedy. The Commissioners had there
fore had the committees appointed that
the various conflicting interests might be
well considered before reaching any con-
ciusion.
He asked the representatives Of the
various municipalities to state, as far as
they knew. how their respective communi-
ties felt regarding the publication Of the
Passaic. This discussion developed the
fact that Passaic is anxious for the
speedy adoption of some plan for the dis
posal of the sewage by cremation or
otherwise within the city limits or on the
outskirts. It showed that Paterson is
stubborn and inclined to look with sus-
picion on any plan proposed as aimed
aS 4 otiAs VIII , . V1A-
ing to agree to any scheme which will
be beneficial to all the communities COM
bined.
We must take measures" said Mr.. Wise
of Passaic, ito show the people the neces-
sity of taking Immediate steps to stop the
pollution of the Passaic. II each com
munity would follow out the common law
and dispose of its sewage matter before
l--s.- ~ ro<1. t1oIx -o+o 49, ~
we would not have any difficulty"
One of the Commissioners asked If it
was not true that the Pasaic Board of
Trade had put itself on record as in favor
of a trunk sewer.
"That is not So replied Mr.. Wise, "at
q meeting Of the Board Of Trade at which
large delegation from Clifton and Belle
Vile vote i nfavor of a trunk sewer and
1t was put down as the vote of Passaic.
It was not a vote that showed the senti-
ment in Pasaic. As a matter of fact
Passaic is in favor of adopting and feas-
! able plan. but =, trunk sewer has been
talked Of. It might be built, but do not
believe permission to empty into the Kill
Won Kull or Newark Bay as as proposed
could ever be obtained"
Mr.. George BIakeley spoke for the Pat
erson delegation. Mayor Hinchliffe. who
is q member of the Sewerage Commits
sion, declared that Mr.. Blakeley was BET
ter able to discuss Passaic pollution than
any other man IN Paterson He coincid-
ed with what Mr.. Blakeley said:-
W came here today said Mr.. lake
ley. mot prepared TO take any definite
stand on any definite proposition. II you
ruant TO know the feeling in Paterson /
think ] can tell you what it is. This
question has never been seriously con-
sidered by the people of the city of Pat
erson. notwithstanding that the cities
down the river are loud in their denuncia-
t5on Of Paterson as the polluters of the
Pasasic River. Paterson denies the ale
cation.
The Passalc River to Dundee Lake was
perfectly innoffensive until July II, when
the water fell below at the rate of 200
feet per minute Most people have a.
mistaken idea of the amount of water
necessary to carry off sewerage. Paterson
is credited with turning into the Passaic
"a, 900 900 gallons OF sewage a day. It does
not turn In that much, but granting that
Al did the Passaic River would be album
dainty able to take care Of 1t except for