The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-18
BLAMES THE RIVER
PAssAIc TURNS COLOR OF
NEWLY PAINTED HOUSES.
Discoloration to Dingy Gray or Black
Due to Emanations from Polluted
Stream, According to Report.
, thu Editor of the Evening Star:

To tho Editor Of the Evening Star:
Doubtless many of your readers nave no.
ticed that the paint on many houses mas
recently become dingy, grayish or almost
black. Houses painted this year are as
bad as others and the first impulse OF
some owners has been to blame the painter,
but the d~iscoloration attacked the work
of different painters impartially and thus
seemed to Indicate a cause for which they
were not responsible. They, however, set
about finding the cause, and to that end
the master painters of Arlington, kearny,
East Newark and Harrison appointed a
committee consisting of F. J. Ensor, George
H.. Rutman and Herman B. Lying.
This committee reported the facts to the
National Lead Company, whose white leao
and linseed oil are much used hereabouts'
and asked that an expert chemist be sent
here to Investigate. This request was COM
piled with and the report, OF Mr. omp
the chief chemist, to the lead company,
follows:
Brooklyn N. Y, Sept. Is, l9Ui,
Laboratory, g. w. Thompson, chemlss.
"R. p. Rowe. manager, New YORK once;
the condition of paint at Arlington, N, d.
'sF. J. Ensor showed it to me on Sep
TENDER II and also showed 1t on a ialer
date to Andrew Mayer, Jr., my assistant.
The paint, which was applied by different
persons, according to Mr.. Ensor's state
ment, has in many places turned TO u
metallic gray or black, Enthusiastically caused
by sulphuretted hydrogen, or some similar
compound in the atmosphere. This was
confirmed by chemical and microscoplcai
tests. Examination of the water of the
Passalc River showed the presence there
of reduced sulphur compounds Wnlcn, II
sufficiently concentrated, would d~isengage
sulphuretted hydrogen. or sulphur lecln-
pound of a similar nature, capable OF dis
coloring lend paint in the vicinity.
M Ensor states that the discoloratlon
of the paint started about the first or
August, prior to which time for more than
a month there had been practically no
rain, with the consequence that very little
water passed over the falls at Paterson,
the river becoming more or less stagnant
and overcharged with sewage.
THE condition around the Passaic River
is a serious one that should receive the
attention of the health authorities having
competent jurisdiction. Steps should be
taken to prevent a recurrence of this con-
dition; for. while it causes 1iscoloration OF
paint, the more serious objection is that II
%endangers the health of residents In the
neighborhood.
IT would suggest that a copy of this re-
port he sent to Mr.. Fnsor. ResnectfuilY.
&C. w. THOMPSON"
The master painters committee request
eu me to submit the foregoing to the pub
matter of simple justice to the painters,
but I desire further to utter a warning.
Mr., thompson is rlBnI IN saying that the
carnations from the river are a menace
to health. The drouth of the early sum-
mer intensified the evil, but coming sum-
mers also may be dry and, whether 80
or not. the pollution of the river increases
yearly with the growth of population. We
must face the situation and determine,
each man for himself, to defend orr
homes. to do all we can to hasten the work
of freeing the river from sewage.
That work is in the hands of the Pas
sale Valley Sewerage Commission, con-
Jointly with the municipalities of this
valley. If that commission is composed
of men who comprehend the gravity of the
situation and have the energy and devo-
ton which they should have, the work
should be completed in three years. If
they are not that kind of men 1t may
take six. eight or ten years. What that
would mean to comfort, life and property
adjacent to the river ! will not attempt
to portray. 1t sbehooves every citizen.
male and female, to watch the course of
the commission closely, TO commend 1t IL
1t does we'll, but IL 1t shows hardness or
incompetence to demand the substitution
of other men. The citizen would best also
keep an eye on his own town officials
when the question of contracting with the
commission for the trunk sewer work -
submitted to them, lest that matter also
be allowed to drag along, as did the pre-
liminary business OF raising money for the
plans. J, A. STOWE.
Arlington. October IS. 1907.