The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-24
START MEADOW
SURVEY ON
MONDAY
Staff Of Federal Engineers
Coming to Do Work Which
May Lead to Reclamation.

Actual work on the survey of the
Newark meadows by a big staff of
government engineers will begin Mon
day. The work will be thorough and
exhaustive and will cover the entire
area, 1888 acres, which extends from
the Passaic River on the north to Eliz-
abeth on the south. The work will be-
gin on the tract east of this city and
will be blocked down by the engineers
on copies of the maps prepared by the
government at the time the bikes were
built to protect the channel in Newark
Bayq and the Passaic River.
The work is undertaken by the gov
eminent for the purpose, not only of
making the long-desired Improvement.
but to obtain accurate data from which
the Federal engineers may formulate a
report thai is to embody the difficulties
and the estimate of cast for the recla-
nation of other similar tracts through
out the country, especially in the East
ern States.
When Colonel ]. C. Wright, of the Engi-
neer Corps, came on to this city some
weeks ago, and prior TO his meeting with
Commissioner Frank Book, Of the Board Of
Works and City Engineer Morris r. Sher-
| rerd, he called upon James NJ. Reilly,
secretary of the Board of Trade, with a
card of introduction from Colonel Lever
more, of the same army corps. Colonel
Livermore is well acquainted with con-
ditions In this city by frequent visits here
as a guest of the Board of Trade, when 1t
was fighting for the government appropria-
ton for the channel of the Passaic river
and he selected Secretary Reilly as the
man most available and best Informed on
the situation.
The attitude taken by the Federal gov
eminent was entirely favorable to the plan
for retaining the meadows. The subject
of meadow reclamation in the Eastern
coast States has long been considered by
the photographic department of the engi-
neer corps, but, because of the extensive
engineering tasks in the South and West
undertaken by the government in the con-
struction of breakwaters and irrigation
works, the meadow question was left In
allegiance. 1t was held by the government
engineers and the highest official heads
that, in view of the immense expenditures
in the West and South, the government
ought to undertake a solution of the
meadow problem as a distinctive Eastern
proposition.
This being the attitude of the Govern
ment. it proved to be easy for Commits
sloner Book and City Engineer Sherrerd,
10 WuOih A1F.N INtii9 lHtiouuSNd SoiOhSi
Wright, to convince the latter that the
very field desired for the completion of
data existed here.
The work to begin on Monday will, per-
haps, continue until next January. 1t is
intended to give the engineers all the ma
terial necessary to formulate definite plans
for the permanent improvement of the
whole tract.
1t Is probable that these plans will in
49, IT. &c.,. 4L1
Kill Won Kull north to the present dyke.
This would give the west shore of New
ark Bay a continuous pier line suitable
for the docking Of o%cean-going steamships
and heavy draft freighters. The plans
will also provide for the construction of
canals running east and west and smaller
laterals.