The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-23
SEWERAGE BoARD NEEDS MONEY,
S5B 900 TO Prepare a scheme TO Prevent
HArhor Pollution.

HarDOr Pollution.
The Metropolitan Sewerage Commits
sion. which was appointed by Mayor Nc
Clellan In June, 1919, In accordance with
an act OF the Legislature, 10 prepare a re-
port upon the pollu ton Of New York har-
Dor and the two continent rivers and 10
recommend measures for the abatement
Of this condition, has reported 70 the Mayor
that In order 10 accomplish the work, which
II must finish before May. ieos, the com
mission must have more funds. OF the
$4,000 allowed IL by legislative enactment
hut 5000 remains, says the report, and
the sum necessary 10 complete the invesu-
CATION the commission puts at $4,000.
This body Of engineers and specialists
succeeded the New York Bay Pollution
Commission, which first called the atten-
ton Of the public TO the menacing oondi-
ton Of the harbor in 1905, The membership
Of the commission as reconstructed by the
Mayor on January 10 Of this year Is: DR..
George A. Soper, president; Charles Sooy-
smith, H. do B. Parsons. James H, Fuertes
and Lindsey R. Williams.
In its partial report the commission says
In general terms that the harbors and rivers
about New York city now receive all the
sewage and manufacturing drainage OF
the great population located on all sur
rounding shores and that in the absence OF
any restriction these waters are being made
the dumping place for cities and towns
stu ated some distance in the interior.
Analyses and INSPECTIONS made by this
commission says the report. and by It's
predecessor, the New York Bay Pollution
Commission. have shown that the waters
are polluted and that local ~nuisances occur
along about ninety miles Of the harbor
coast line. Additional sewers now building
or rejected will double the quantity OF
these wastes within a few years. II 10
robable, II the ]ollution is allowed to
continue al the present rate, that offensive
conditions will eventually extend over the
most BEAUTIFUL and most frequented or
tions Of the bay. and that ublic health
and welfare, already threatened through
the contamination Of oysters, public bath
ing Races and fishing, will be jeoT ardized.
The reT ort continues 10 state that ro-
tective measures against the pollution
evil have been taken by the cities Of Lon
don, Paris, Hamburg, Glasgow, Belfast.
Dublin, PROVIDENCE ana bdllunore' a COIL
rrehensive Ian for the cole elton and dis
position Of the drainage Of New York har-
Dor would ultimately save the city millions
Of dollars by preventing the construction
Of III considered sewerage rejects, besides
safeguarding the health Of the inhabitants
about the harbor shores.
The commission sets forth is need for
increased approx ration from the city in
these words;
Owing to expenditures over which the
present commissioners have had no control
we find that the commission is without funds.
Of the $4,000 allowed by the Legislature
5000 remain to be released by the city for
the commissions use. but this sum is barely
sufficient 10 meet the outstanding obligations
and will leave no means with which TO con-
tinue the work Of the commission.
We estimate the sum necessary 10 finish
the work Of this commission In a thorough
and yet economical manner to be $4,000.
We also estimate the additional tint needed
to be about one year. The estimated cost
can be reduced somewhat II active coopera-
ton In som Of the work can he secured from
the various departments OF the city govern
ment, but we are not sanguine that the re-
duction would be great.