Perth Amboy evening news., 1908-12-26
POLLUTION
OF RIVERS
Chief Herbert of Division of
Sewerage and Water Sup
plies Makes Attack.
MANUFACTURER GM ENACED
special to the EVENING NEWS.


Trenton, Dee 26:-In strong language
H. M. Herbert, Chief of the Division of
Sewerage and Water Supplies of the
State Board of Health, in his annual
report attacks river pollution in this
state claiming that not only is 1t very
detrimental to health but that it is also
seriously crippling the oyster and fish
industries in several sections of New
Jersey. Mr.. Herbert says also that un-
less the state or its municipalities take
some action to stop further pollution,
manufacturing, which depends upon
water power, will be interferred with
In the portion of his report devoted
to public water supplies, Mr.. Herbert
says: Each year brings a greater need
for the careful supervision of public
water supplies, and where these are de-
rived from streams, it is important that
a thorough inspection of the entire wa
ter shed should be made at least twice
each year, and in some communities
more frequently or until the people have
learned to respect the rights which 9TH
ers may have to the use of the waters
and the laws governing the same. ;"
Discussing general pollution of Jersey
streams Mr.. Herbert says it is to be re
gretted that the state does not set an
example for cleanliness and have due
regard for the health, comfort and prop
erty of her citizens by the installation
OF modern publication plants at state
institutions which discharge their sew
age directly into the stream. He then
shows that the New Jersey Reformatory
at Railway, the Epileptic Village at
Skillman and the State Camp grounds
at Sea Girt pollute state waters with
their sewage and refuse.
The report goes on to say "there is
another feature which is worthy Of
consideration as it involves millions of
dollars. The people generally through
out the country have awakened to the
fact that number of typhoid fever
epidemies were caused by the use of in
fected shell fish, and they are deamnd-
ing a safe article of food. Already a
number of our sister states require, or
formulating requirements, that only
clans and oysters taken from compar-
atively unpollnted beds shall be expos
ed for sale within the territory under
their jurisdiction.
"The New Jersey shell fisheries are
already beginning to feel the effects of
this movement which is still only in its
infancy, but is growing rapidly. The
Amboy oyster is scarcely heard of to-
day, the lucious Shrewsbury oyster.
which 10 years ago was the delight of
epicures, is left to fatten and rot in the
bed of the river, that king of bivalves,
the Shark river oyster, is only mem
ory, and, owing ID the penuriousness of
our state in not providing a proper
sewage disposal plant at the Sea Girt
camp grounds, the Manasquan clam, one
of the finest taken from our waters, can
no longer be used with impunity. The
same is true TO a greater or lesser de-
gree regarding the majority of the
clam and oyster beds in other sections
of the state. - Mr.. Herbert shows fur
ther that the pollution of the streams
is gradually driving from Jersey waters
some of the most valuable food fish.
Continuing, the report attacks the
popular belief that running streams
purify themselves in distances from FIVE
to twelve miles. Mr.. Herbert says this
fallacy has been exploded and conse-
quently it become the duty of the peo-
pie to protect the waters Of the state
against pollution. He says "when q
river becomes badly polluted by sewage
it is valuless for many uses, the Passaic
and portions of the Delaware and Rari-
tan being In that condition. They can
not be used as sources of water and ice
supplies without grave menace to the
health of the consumers. The report
shows also that where polluted water
is impounded for power purposes it be-
comes offensive and cannot be used in
some lines of manufacturing.
The report is particularly severe in
its arraignment of pollution in the Del
aware river Ii says "a careful exam
ination of the river and its tributaries
at the present time could scarcely fail
to convince the intelligent citizen that
instead of drinking water with lit
tie polluting water in it, he was taking
into his system most sewage to which
little water had been added in order
that he might not be forced to chew 1t
before swallowing it. The report con
cludes by declaring that purity of pot
able water must be secured at any cost.
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