Bridgeton pioneer., 1907-06-06
SEWERAGE In
THE COHANSEY.

Early last winter when members Of
the State Sewerage Commission came
to Bridgeton and had a conference
with the authorities here, they ap-
peared to be kindly disposed gentle
men who were much averse to placing
any burden upon the community by
establishing new sewer regulations
upon Bridgeton without giving the
c ample opportunity to prepare to
carry out any necessary orders. After
spending very pleasant evening here
the commission left Bridgeton giving
the local authorities that it would
probably be necessary for the commits
sion to order Bridgeton sewering in
the river within the next five years.
Since then Bridgeton has heard
nothing from the commission until
this week, when the hard and fast
order came for the city to stop sewer
ing in the Oohansey after June
1st, 1908. That is less than year off.
Bridgeton is not prepared for such an
order. at this time and it is scarce
likely that it will be able to cease
sewering in the river by the date
fixed. Indeed there are few who
think the Commission means to have
the order literally construed.
The Commission declares that
Bridgetons' sewering into the Cohan-
sey river is serious matter. 1t may
be. However, there are many who
do not agree to that. There is no one,
however, but fully agrees that to COM
pei Bridgeton to build and operate a
sewerage disposal works within a
year would be very serious matter
to the tax payer.
Bridgeton should do something. It
should first and beyond any question
settle its rights in the matter.
Whether or not Bridgeton empties
sewerage in the Cohansey river, is
nothing to the Commission That is,
it is generally understood, that that is
none of Its business. If that sewerage
pollutes the stream then the State
Commission has jurisdiction. In other
words, it is pollution and not sewer
ing, that the State Commission dea.,
with.
There are few people in Bridgeton
who are convinced that Bridgeton' s
present sewering system polIutes the
Cohansey river. Whether or not 1t
does so should be at once determined
by the city. The State Commission
satisfied itself that the creek was pol
iuted by Investigations made by it's
own experts. Brldgeton's right is
apparent 1t should provide an exam
ination under all conditions Bridge
ton does not want to poIlute the Co.
hansey river. 1t does not want to be
menace to the Delaware Bay or the
Maurice River Cove. Nobody here
believes 1t does despite the conclusion
of the learned Commission. If the
city's sewers are not polluting the
river then there is no necessity for
oho SAPOhuio JUL . VI WASH AuOuQG OF
money co erect disposal beds which
are likely to be condemned in few
years by another commission or a
State Board of Heath. II there is
pollution that is likely to be men,
ace then, of course, the future must
be provided for. 1t cannot be pro-
vided for within year. 1t won't he,
Commission or no Commission. The
State Board will have to use some or
dinary common sense in enforcing it's
order, if it can be enforced. 1t will
have to bear in mind that the Legis-
lature has fixed the maximum tax rate
for municipality, and no city can
exceed it no matter what demands are
made upon it. Bridgeton as a city
can no more do the impossible than
can individuals, and conditions
differ widely from theories.
What Bridgeton should do at once
is to learn what it must do, and when
that is fully determined it should be
taken up in an intelligent manner and
the desired end be pursued in busi-
ness-like way.