New-York tribune., 1901-04-01
PASSATC PURIFTCATION PLANS.

The question of redeeming the Passaic River
from sewage pollution is again much TO the
fore. The New-JerSey legislature at its late
session failed TO enact 4 measure looking TO the
construction of a trunk sewer which had been
strongly advocated hy the city Of Newark,
and an effort is now being made to secure
special session OF the legislature for the pur-
pose of passing that bill There can be no
doubt of the urgency of the matter. The con
dition of the river has for years been n scandal
and a disgrace. The most radical steps for
relief cannot be taken a day too soon. The
only real question is that concerning the best
method Of doing the work.
The city of Newark. which is of course much
interested in the case. strongly favorS the con-
stTuction OF a great trunk sewer which shall
carry all thr sewage of Newark. Passaic. Pater-
son, and, indeed ali communities along the lower
ras>aic IL Newark Bay or 10 the narrow
sounds about Staten Island. That is a simple
plan. Indeed, IL is criticised being too primi-
tive. 1t is said it would work great injury TO
the fishing industry in the bay and sounds and
cause an intolerlble nuisance 10 the people who
dwell on the shores OF those waters. 1t will
be remembered that strong protest has been
made aga nst the emptyinG of RronX Valley
sewer into the Long Island Sound on the same
grounds. Obviously. the Passaic sewer would
be a hundredfOld more offensive 10 the waters
and shores AT lis outlet than the Bronx sewer
would be. Moreover IL is pleaded by the
people OF Passaic that the proposed plan would
unjustly violate the principle of home rule. in
imposing upon their city system which II
does not want The Mayor and other citizens
of Passaic have been arguing against the trunk
sewer and in favor of archaeological treat
ment OF sewage similar 10 that practised in
various cities of this and other countries
Passac is already we'll fitted 10 adopt the latter
system, il is provided with a fine modern
system OF duplex sewers. the work OF the late
Colonel Waring. set carrying the com
paratirely innocuous surface drainage Off to the
river, and the other carrying the sewage from
houses and factories This separation OF the
two classes of sewage would greatly facilitate
meteorological treatment Newark does not
however. enjoy that advantage her sewer
system being of the old fashioned single type
and all kinds of sewage being poured into il
indiscriminately. For Newark to put in a du-
plcx sewer system would he a great and costly
job. yet for her TO to meteorological treat
ment without so doing would be an unpromsing
enterprise.
There would certainly seem TO he an injustice
in compelling one city at the behest of another
to adopt system which IL does not desire.
And it is undeniable thar the enlightened senti-
ment of the world is more and more in favor
of disposing of sewage in some more cleanly
and thrifty way than simply pouring it into
the nearest water. We have said that the need
Of purifying the PaSsaic promptly is most
urgent. But there is also need of doing the
work in the best way. and in such way that
il will not have 10 be undone and will not in
1ict intolerable hardships upon other communi-
ties. After all the investigation and discussion
of late years 1t should certainly he possible to
meet these various needs together.