New-York tribune., 1907-08-12
MEADOW RECLAMATION.
GOVERNMENT TO HELP.
NesCark and Elizabeth to Gam.
10000 Acres ON Bag.
rFrnrn The Trfhu,s RrrrAsrI-I I

IFrom The Tribune BsrNsu-l
Washington. Aug. 1.-THE national govern-
ment and the cities Of Newark and Elizabeth.
n. j.. have entered into an agreement which
contemplates the reclamation OF the Newarx
Meadows a strip of salt marsh containing prac-
tically 10000 acres and lying directly between
the two cities interested. The cities need the
land not only for truck gardening but for build
ing space. and the government Is anxious TO
establish standing example of the possibilities
of developing swamp lands The situation OF
the Newark meadow reclamation is such as TO
make II easily accessible TO millions OF people
who might profit by its teachings ard be IN
duced thereby 70 undertake the drainage and
improvement Of other vast tracts by private
enterprise.
There are great stretches OF salt marsh along
the coast all the way from Maine Florida IL
is estimated that there Is sufficient waste TO
make a state the size of Missouri There has
long been much discussion as % its reclamation.
ami attempts have proved successful
More. however. have entirely failed through a
lack Of understanding Of the engineering prob
lens TO be met For this reason there IL much
local timidity shown in entering into the recIa-
nation of the marshes II is the hope Or tho
national governments to overcome this fear.
Newark. realizing the advantages offered
through the reclamation OF the marsh that wa
constant menace 20 the comfort and health oc
her citizens because of the swarms of NOS
quitoes IT breeds appealed % the drainage di-
vision of the Department Of Agriculture for sd-
vice and cooperation. The government experts
looked over the field and reported the propo-
sition feasible Upon the assurance OF thess
government experts the people Of the section
interested have expressed themselves willing
To- finance the work Of reclamation. operating
der the constant advice and plans furnished By
the federal government. Newark and Elizabeth
have asked authority Of the state % issue bonds
To pay for the work The granting OF the au-
thOrty is a formality. and the plans going
forward i'm the mean time As soon as the
legislative permission is given. the Department.
OF Agriculture will enter into definite contract.
agreeing to do certain things In the way of pro-
viding plans. surveys and supervision. while the
cities on their part agree 70 carry forward ths
actual work.
The Newark Meadows are only six miles -
a direct line from Manhattan. They p->e-
tiCally surrounded by cities. Newark being
the north. Elizabeth 20 the south and Je-sey1
City To the east. They six miles long antr
average two miles wide. Their chief prOtuss -
mosquitoes. Newark. encroachins on ths ons
side. is slowly building land upon them ac-
CommOdate her enterprises. while EIIzab~rh is
doing likewise on the other side. Upon o.e r-as
estate maps Of these cities the marsh appears
duly mapped in lots and blocks and Sweets bus
the government depicts the truth about them,
The meadows submerged by salt water a.
high tide but low tide uncovered
The engineering plan which faces J. o.
Wright. supervising engineer OF the national d.
vision Of drainage Of the Department. Of AErf-
culture. who has direct charge OF the work, ~
entirely practicable but has its difficulties I-
COutemplates in the first place the building Or a.
dixie along the Newark Bay front 10 keep OUT
the salt water. and IN the second pIa an
rangement for the disposition Of the water
draining into the Iowiauds. The treat atulent oc
soils in an effort TO get rid Of superfluous salt
may also follow reclamation
The building Of dkes thar will withstand tho
constant tapping Of the waves and win resist
| the operations of bUrTOwinE animals has proven
discOuraging 20 many communities but a mere
matter of thoroughness and understanding. the
experts say. will accomplish the desired end
An outlet, however must be provided for Bound
Creek. which through the middle Of the
meadow and carries water from watershed OF
considerable dimensions. There are other streams
of less Importance.
To dispose Of these waters autornatic tide
gates must he constructed Their construction -
based the fact that the meadows VIII drain
at low tide. but not at high tide. When the tide
sets out the gates open automatically and allows
all waters To escape. When the tide sets IN they
close in the same way. y sufficient TeSerV'tr-
capacity To store the water brought down by ths
streams during high tide must he provided o.
pumps be used during that period Whac
the method will 10 will not he determined until
the problems are studied more in detail
An additional difficulty that is met in the rec-
Iamation Of salt marsh and that is expected on
the Newark Meadows is the settling Of the sOir
when il becomes dry. The surface soil Is largely
sediment which contains a high percentage 0e
and the surface of the meadow sinks in prOpors
ton What this shrinkage viii be can be tclR
by an analysis Of the surface soil and by finding,
the soil depths.
The meadows when reclaimed VIII be valuabls
I'm the first place for truck gardening Reciaimed
bogs have sold In Massachusetts for $1,000 an
for garden purposes In Holland siinllaf
lands support $50 persons % each square mile.
II is expected however. that the Newark Mead-s
ows will be too valuable To be used long for
gardening. and that they viii soon be covered
with residences and business enterprises. To-
this end IL may be necessary O. MI m the lant
artfcially raising its level This phase OF ths
vorI, Will however. be left To the individuals
owners Of property
An immediate Improvement not only IN IN.
comfort but in the health Of the neighborinc
reople is expected through the iessentng or the.
1nosouito evil The drainage experts In PROOF 0er
this point To Charleston. :. g.. where sir1iisr'
work materially affected the reports Of the healtn
officers a great decrease in malarial Complaints
being particularly noted.
NJ