The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-12
CASH PLEDGED
FOR PASSAIC
SEWER JOB
Trade Board Meeting--AS
Last Resort Ask City
to Do Work.
ooontlnued from FIRST page,

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could be kept down to the $4,000 al
ready pledged or paid in by certain of
the municipalities. He added that at
this time it was unnecessary that the
commission should receive the SYM
pathetic aid of the Board of Trad
There were present prominent Off
cials from most of the municipalities
along the Passaic River. J. E. Bar
bour, Leopold Meyer and William
Berdon, of the board of finance of
Paterson. were seated in front of
President Peter Campbell. William S.
Alderman, the Paterson member of
the commission, and Mr.. L~ebkuecher,
president of the commission, were
seated together, and scattered through
the crowded room were the Mayors or
presiding officers OF the different inter-
vening cities, towns and townships.
Opening the meeting President
Campbell explained that it was called
at the urgent demand of the special
committee organized several years
ago, and composed of members of the
board and representatives of the
various municipalities to secure the
Improvement of the Passaic River. He
said in part:
II do not think that the city Ct New
ark and the cities in the Passaic Val
ley have ever had a more important
subject brought before them than we
nave a tonight. For ten years this
Board of Trade has persistently advo-
Gated the cleansing of the Passaic
River. Legislatures have passed laws
appointing commissioners to clean the
river, but just as surely as the laws
have been passed, SO surely by the
methods of lawyers and politicians
have the laws been annulled. But l
do not believe that there is any Legis-
lature in the State or in any State, or
that there are any lawyers big enough
to stop the city of Newark from doing
the work and compel other m~unicipali-
ties to take their share.
Properties along the Passaic River
have deprecated and the owners have
patiently waited for something to be
done. Properties further on the out
skirts of the city have begun to de-
preciate, and nothing has been done.
1t is up to us, as men. to see that MOTH
ing now interferes with the cleansing
of this river. We must put our w
hands to the Wheel, help do It, and see
that it is done.
"Some gentleman in the meeting told
me tonight that the State of New Jer-
sey has expended 100000 during the
last ten years For doing this thing. Ii
any business man here tonight were to
spend a third of this amount ne would
look for results. We have looked for
results and results AVE not come. l
think I can speak for the city of New
ark when l say that this Board OF
Trade represents the sentiment of the
entire city when it says that the Pas
sale River must be cleansed at once II
we are to continue to grow, remain in
good health and hold the respect oil
other communities"
George w. Tomkins, chairman OF
the special committee, offered resolu-
lions declaring it to be the unanimous
opinion of the public that the foul con-
dition of the Passaic River must be
remedied at once. The resolutions re-
cited the enabling provisions OF the
act of 1907, and then said:
Whereas, it is the sense of this
Board of Trade that the Appropriation
of necessary moneys to the minimum
amount stated for providing prelimi-
nary plans and stimat need not nee
e~ssarily depend upon the action OF one
or more of the communities In interest,
for we believe if a second appeal is
made to them and to communities
WHICH raw dAlNddg -
amount required can be raised; or,
necessary, this board stands ready, II
permitted and requested, to tnke meas
ures whereby the amount VIII be SUB
scribed or pledged to permit an imme-
date commencement of this work.
Resolved. That further delay for
whatever cause IN prosecuting TINS
work to a completion should cease, and
II need be we advocate ana urge upon
the Mayor, the Tommo9 Gounei an1
Newark to undertake the construction
of such a sewer as is required 10 mees
present and future demands on neham
in favor CT the construction OF such. a
sewer alone or in conjunction with the
Psssa si If the other communities in
terested fail to appreciate the .Vltal
necessity for the commencement OF TINS
work.
MI. Lebkuecher said the work had be-
gan. and he proceeded 20 defend the COM
mission from the charges Of inactivity.
He declared the act of 1867 gave no power
10 the commission to compel payments
from the municipalities. Some OF the
towns he said, were unable to con-
tribute, and others. including Paterson
had interfered to hinder the work.
John Eastwood, Of Belleville, severely
criticised Paterson officials, who, he said,
carried ar olive branch in one hand and
a knife in the other.
President Denman. of the Board OF
Works. said in part:
I'VE want to help the gentlemen. of Pat
erson out of their difficulty II they have
one. We do not want to dig up anything
that has occurred in the past. Let us 90
as the commissioner from Paterson sug-
gests, and get together.
The following resolution offered by James
w. Howard was adopted:
Resolved, That the members OF tho
Board of Trade river pollution committee,
in conjunction with the Board of Works,
go with the commissioner before the
finance committee of the Common Council
at once in order to get this money so that
further delay In the work will not result"
]. H. Abercrombie. of the Clark Thread
Works. wanted to know at this j%uncture If
Mr.. Lebkdecher would promise to begin the
work tomorrow, Mr.. I>ebkuecher replied
that there was nothing in the way Of the
commissions taking immediate steps to
prepare the necessary plans, and that this
action would be taken at once.
j. f. Barbour. of Paterson; Hamblin 5.
Johnson. of MontClair, and j. II. Acker-
man. Of Passaic. said that their respective
communities we're willing 10 assist in the