New-York tribune., 1902-01-04
REDEEMING THE RITERS.

Serious steps are being taken to abate the
sewage nuisances which have long been suf-
fered in several of the nearby counties of New
Jersey. Apart from the general work of the
State Sewerage Commission, which has largely
been devoted TO the great Passaic River prob
lem. some municipalities corporations and in
dividuals are moving. The city of Elizabeth
asks for a grant of riparian lands at Bayway
for the outlet of a huge trunk sewer, which is
to convey to tidewater the sewage OF Elizabeth
and a number of other cities and towns up to
and including Summit 1t is understood that
the State Sewerage Commission approves the
plan, subject to one condition, and it is hoped
that the Riparian Commissioners will make the
grant next week. In that case speedy con-
struction Of the sewer is promised.
The condition required is an important one.
1t IS that-if demanded at any time by the
State Sewerage Commission-the sewage shall
be purified by chemical or other treatment be-
fore it is discharged from the sewer into the
Arthur Kill. This seems essential in this case
as well as in that Of any other great trunk sewer
which may be constructed in that region. The
initial discharge Of the Elizabeth sewer is ex-
pected to be fifteen million gallons a day, but
the sewer is to be made large enough to carry
one hundred and forty million gallons, which 1t
is estimated 1t will have to do in twenty years
time. There is reason to believe that even the
smaller of these two quantities would injure the
oyster beds and fisheries of the KILL and prove
offensive 10 the senses and detrimental to the
health of residents along the shore. That the
larger amount would do so is not to be ques
toned. Happily, the practical experience Of
other cities. less favorably situated than these
IN New-Jersey, has demonstrated the possibility
of purifying sewage so as TO make 1t entirely
innocuous, and of doing so at little or no ex-
pense, If not at an actual profit.
1t is announced that a number OF property own
ers on the lower Passaic have filed bills In
Chancery asking for some 81, 100000 damages
from the city OF Paterson for its pollution Of the
river and asking also that that city be enjoined
from dscharging crude sewage into the river.
Similar suits in the State Of Connecticut have
been successful. There can be no question that
Paterson has grossly defiled the Passaic, to the
serious injury of property along that stream,
and some Of the ruling officials of that city have
in time past assumed an obstructive arrogant
and generally high-daddy attitude in the mat
ter, such as debarred them from much sympathy
in the undoubtedly grave problem which they
had on their hands. A more reasonable and
harmonious spirit seems now to prevail among
the municipalities between Passaic Falls and
Newark Bay and there is reason TO hope that
the intolerable nuisance of the lower Passaic
will soon be abated.
In the case of Passaic trunk sewer, how
ever It is to be assumed that the State Sewer
age Commission will impose the same wise and
equitable condition that 1t has placed upon that
at Elizabeth. There should be no robbing Peter
to pay Paul. no cleansing one bit of water only
to befoul another Whether each city shall
purify It's own sewage before pouring it into
river or bay, all shall send their waste
through a trunk sewer to a common treatment
ground, is a mere technical detail, of individual
but not of general interest. What is essential
to the general welfare is that the rivers shall
be redeemed from pollution, and that the bays
and kills and other waters shall not be sub
jected to the deflement from which the rivers
are to be freed. The achievement OF such re-
demption and such protection is unquestionaby
feasible. 1t should be brought TO pass before
the new century has finished its first five years