New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-04
THURSDAY.
JANUARY 4, 1900.
THE POLLUTION PROBLEM.
REPORT OF THE STATE SEWERAGE COM
MISSION
sENTs TWO Plans FOR THE PURIFTCA-
TON OF THE PASsAIC RIVER

Trenton Jan , tsueciaD-The report . sxe
State Sewerage Commission has reached CSovsr--r
FOcrhess's hands and wiz be promptly submitted
TO the Legislature. The Commission suggests tha-
L should have power 20 -e4uire cities and towns
having sewerage systems 20 take measures 10
prevent the pollution OF the streams OF the Stars
and the damage Of property along their hansSs-
Appeals 20 the courts for iniu1ctious suits for
damages may provide remedy but they involve
large cost and they necessarily follow the injury
done rather than prevent IT, They must often b
too late 10 life and health Power 70 reguIars
existing sewerage systems 20 the extent o. prevent
ing nuisances should be conferred upon the Com
mission After describing some OF is Iahors durt-S
the year The Commission SAYS
The Commission recognize that rapid shsnEes
from long established and costly systems o. seTar-
II - evident that house - Serage should % separsc
81 from land drainage Al. % the problems q Dis
state now DoIuting the rivers. would BE- Grady
sir1paed II the separate systems OF sewerage could
Be substituted
The Commission goes on 20 saw rhat The pu-ss-
cation OF the Passaic River has been and II ths
greatest problem which has demanded its azsn-
ton II Is a common error 20 suppose that the
condition + solely he result OF the pollution OF tas
river BY Paterson and Passaic and the uunicipszt-
ties ar abOve the head OF tide While thess
communities are large Pourers % The river. others
are equally guilty"
The Commission recommends that Legislative
action b. promptly taken 20 ahate the foul conSi-
ton Of this river. To this end bin has bessu
drafted empowering the State Sewerage Comufs-
sion 70 require such other disposition Of the sewage
and other pOuuting substance as snail meet v1zh
their approval. believing that when t- becomes
ligaJory for those toung the river 10 do sometime
else with their sewage they VIII join with the
Commission IN seeking the best way The lack
OF an appropriation 70 pay The cost OF engineering
or professional work prevents the Commission from
making specific recommeutacicus as 70 the bess
means Of disoosns OF The sewage % the Passzic
Valley
Following discussion OF several proposed meth
obs OF cleansing The Passaic, the Commission
speaks OF Two plans as feasible saying by way -0e
summary,
stopped The first step - make il obligatory fer
those po!luylEs The river 20 make some other djf-
river reasonable time should he given for build
should De given beyond i've years from the date Il
the approval Of the act Discretionary powers
when pollution shall cease within the I've year
the mu1icfpailv o. i-a-ras iiz--ier sbiscT "a -
approval o. the Commission. who should invssu-
gate the different plans giving their approximate
costs etc The following plans are thought 20 -
First-A trunk sewer conveying the sewage OF
the whole Passatc Valley below Paterson Falls 10
second-Diyiding ne valley inIo three dis5Ete1s:
one % elqsae- az nal SCION OF ne YES Sids q
drained oy the Orange and Bloomfield Joint sewsr
ana 5cops lTog'Ty 70 p ne second % iaS s
49, arJ sC17r5 ~ parfs-5r7 7-,1-1C5Irs -s(f- -
sewage 20 The meadows for treatment The third
taking in Paterson. PassaiC. Wellington. East
Rutherford. Rutherford and sections tributary 10
this line with an tnlercepting sewer 20 Hackez-
sack Meadow. and there treating the sewage
Which OF these plans should BE- adopted the Com
mission SAYS. can only De determined by engfn-er-
ing investigation and approximate estimates OF COST
which the Commission should provide The cost q
the work should BE- distributed according 70 the
BENEFITS received under ccurruf OF te courts, with
redistribution from -ne 70 time. r then devolves
upon the interested municipalities 20 decide whar
they will do. the state insisting only On The cleans
ing of the stream by plan subject 70 the approval
OF the Commission
The Commission urges upOl the legislature TIA
necessity Of granting wider powers To correct
abuses and nuisances in existing sewerage systems.
and closes its report with chapter the Su1lscc
Of me- hOdS Of sewage treatment.