The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-28
FIGHT POLLUTION
ACTION IN COURT URGED
AT BELLEVILLE.
Meeting of Riparian Owners and Others
There Last Night Addressed by
Samuel Phillips.

A public meeting was held last night by
riparian owners and others interested in
the publication Of the Passaic River in
the rooms of the B~elleville Township Com
mittee. Samuel Phillips, president Of the
Passaic Valley Mutual Protective Associa-
ton. who was the principal speaker, out
lined the results Of the lighting to cleanse
the river, and advocated the issuance OF
a writ whereby pollution Of the river after
March %. 1911, by the city of Paterson
would be prevented. The action OF Mr..
Phillips was Endorsed by the meeting on
motion of a Collector A. II. Osborne,
ana Mr.. Phillips was given n vote Of
thanks for his review and explanation of
tho case.
John H.. Eastwood, who acted as chair
man. deplored the poor attendance and
said he thought that Bellevllle had SUI
fered so much from the foul condition
of the river that enough citizens would
pe present so as to crowd the rooms.
Mr. Phillips q hardly got under way
IN his talk before all the seats were occu-
pied.
He began BY reviewing the light for
publication from 1883, when suit was
started against Paterson, to enjoin pollu-
ton. he recfted the costs to the riparian
owners after litigation of about seven
years, amounting to about $4,000. Pater-
son In the same time expended about
$4,000. He told OF the suit now before
1ANA los ~
decided in favor of the riparian owners.
The latter are now awaiting the assess
ment of damages.
| Mr.. Phillips was not satisfied with the
promise of Paterson to cease %polluting after
March 20. 1911. This is too indefinite, he
said. He favored IN application at once TO
the Court of Chancery for q writ which
Would insure against pollution after the
date mentioned. There is nothing binding
on Paterson in this promise, he said, nor
is there any penalty for a violation. He
argued that when the time came for the
pollution to cease Paterson wouldt agree
TO 1t. but would go into Chancery and ask
for an extension of five years or more for
the purpose of reconstructing its sewer
system. He pointed out that in this Pat
erson is not acting in good faith inasmucii
as the city officials are pushing ahead q
new sewer system, refusing to consider
the possibility of Legislative enactment
whereby u different sewer system would
be needed. The Paterson pppars. he snid,
had warned the city officials TO this effect.
me speaker wondered how the people
were to endure the foul river in the mean
time. He told of conditions in his neigh
borhood above the Dundee dam. He did
not believe in a compromise, as he said,
Newark had tried 1t without result. He
and his associates will push the fight
ahead until Paterson is bankrupt or aban-
dons pollution, In urging his hearers to
join in the light he thought hat Newark
could be left out of the fight. He said he
expected the moral support at least of the
Belleville people.
j. Arthur Sanford. of this CITY. a rinar-
ian owner in Belleville. said he had learned
more of pollution matters than ever. He
asked Mr.. Phillips for the definition of q
riparian owner. The latter answered that
a riparian owner owned the banks along
tidal or non-tidal waters. A discussion en-
sued as to the extent of n riparian owners
rights, and II was brought out that pri-
Vate ownership extended to the high water
mark. Below this the fiat land is owned
by the State. 1t seemed to Mr.. Sanford
that under such conditions the State is an
offender, as the filth collects on the lane
claimed by the State.
John Fl. Eastwood expressed the BELLE
that the government ownership of the rive
bed and State rights would play an i'm.
portant part in the dispute. The govern
ment. he added, will not stand for having
the river dredged, and then permitting q
municipality to fill 1t up with sewage. TaS
Collector Osborne, in his motion, that the
attitude of Mr.. Phillips and his associates
be. Endorsed, asked those citizens who are
likely to do so, to lend financial assistance
to the riparian owners in their fight.