New-York tribune., 1905-07-30
10 SAVE BRONX RIVER.
Public Spirited Citizens See Need of
DecisiUe 4ction.

The pollution Of the Bronx River has been brought
.-,e fa the authorities of the New York zooloe-
-, rs-k snd OF the New-Tork Botanical Gardens
nor Bronx Park. through which the river
aows
The thousands of picnickers in Bronx Park in the
,s-,rner who throw the refuse OF their lunches
I-,o rr4 little stream have only added 10 the dan
Ger -o ne public health OF the community caused
= che ersr instance. by the river having been made
virtually a sewer by persons living along it's
course
Blame for this must not be placed on the ind-
yldual. but rather or the State. which has here
tofore JAILED provide sewerage facilities for this
part of The Bronx and Westchester towns in the
Bronx River Valley.
TIE construction 'of the Bronx River Valley
sewer FOR which the last legislature granted the
necessary authority, viii, in a great measure af-
ford The necessary relief.
Last year. when the increasing menace to the
public health by reason Of the contamination of
The Bronx River became apparent 10 the New-xork
Geological Park authorities. remedy sought
The matter was referred 10 W. W Niles one of
the directors of the New-York Geological Society
Who is himself resident Of The Bronx and who
after close study OF the situation drew a bin
providing for the appointment OF a commission 10
inquire into the possibility Of rescuiug the Bronx
River frorn contamination by making a public park
of The land from Kensico reservoir in westchester
Cou-ry, 70 Bronx Park
TIE bin passed the Assembly but failed 70 pass
the Senate owing 10 its having reached that body
IS -n
be- Introduced early in the session Of 1906 and little
doubt Is expressed that il VIII pass both houses
" w Niles. the author Of the bill. said yester-
6zv in discussing the measure and the necessity
fo- frs passage.
y my opinion the preservation Of the Bronx
b0Il 0f the City OF New-York and of Wes,cheste-
C0urty. The stream is an exceedinel,, beei,fiFsl
ore running through an historic section ana II IS
r54-1-s pens def-ed. and unless protected viii
The stream Itself IS not only beautiful and of
L-s iee- INTEREST," sut ADDS greatly 10 the beauty
os-a PARK and both these societies are interested
acting on behalf Of the New-York Geological So
c-e-s GRATED Dill last winter providing for the
H-ssiol-5ly OF preserving The Bronx River and es-
cl1-l -rl The Assembly by MI Agnew and passed
tla- 5ocy- but failed in the senate. owing 10 irs
having been introduced late in the session and
only reaching the Senate day or before its ad-
coming session
1r. Niles VIII be glad TO receive suggestions re-
garl-rE the Bronx River matter, and TO CORE
sEand with any one desiring Information.
William T. Hornaday. director Of the New-York
Geological Park. in commenting yesterday on the
condition OF he Bronx River. said;
The possible value Of the Bronx River a public
asset cannot be estimated in dollars and cents.
T s n TIE same class as the forests and rocks OF
entral Park and BronI Park There are to-day
.-ldreds o1 persons who are so engrossed in lay,
building new houses that 10 ITEM the Bronx River
seems q small importance. But in the rush and
l-fry or to-day thoughtful men should stop long
enough 10 take a glance ahead. 1t requires no
special wisdom 80 fOresee that unless the Bronx
is eec1ually protected from pollution il viii
long become in effect open stream, a
ceallv TO public health, eyesoTe and a
nuisance. At the time also. immensely
valuable public property viii be utterly destroyed.
There not good reason why the City OF
Nev-York should have a foul stream Of water
flowing through six miles Of its northern territory
There is good reason why the Bronx River
should not be saved for al future generations and
converted into q feature Of permanent beauty and
usefulness
Surely the people OF New-York and especially
ID Bronx
urgent necessity Of carrying Ou- Mr Niles's plan
FOR the perpetual protection and beautihcatiOn Of
IRE Bronx River. There Is need TO fear that the
water supply OF the stream ever will be dried up
The sides of Bronx Valley viii feed the stream
the only question Is. Shall have stream OF
sewage. stream OF clean water. with tree
covered banks forming a beautiful resort for the
UullC2 u the sewage stream as TO prevail the
daUa ce 20 Bronx Park alone viii be greater than
The whole cost Of the protection proposed.
There can be no two sides 20 this proposition
The people of this city have really no option IN the
matter. The sewer stream must be eliminated; the
pure stream must be secured.