Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-07-20
QUESTION
FIGURES IN ]. c.
WATER HEARING
Proposed Chloride of Lime Treat
ment Assailed by Counsel
for Municipality.

v
Stevens in Chancery Chambers today,
where James B. Vredenburgh, speak
ing for Jersey City, and William H..
Corbin, on behalf of the Jersey City
Water Supply Company, argued in the
suit brought by hat city against the
corporation named, on the form of the
decree to be made in that action.
Speaking for Jersey City, Mr.. Vreden-
burgh commended that the matter of the
proposed substitution of a device for
the treatment with chloride of lime of
the waters impounded in the big reser-
voir at Boonton, was not to be con-
sidered as adjudicated by former Chan
cellor Magie's finding, hat this method
wag e~fficacious. He also insisted that
the sewering of Dover, Boonton and
other towns in the Rockaway river
watershed would not result in freeing
Jersey City's water supply from pollu-
tion.
The question as to whether or not the
chloride of lime treatment should be
substituted for the proposed system of
sewerage, Mr.. ~Vredenburgh said, was
not referred to by Mr.. Magic. One OF
the things referred to the latter was
the question as to the efficacy of the
lime treatment. This method, he found,
resulted in the destruction of germs in
the water, and he also decided that IN
the quantities used the lime cid not
iDjuyiousiy affect the water
Doesn't Remove bacteria.
This device so Mr.. vredenburgh
insisted, docs not remove bacteria.
The contention on the part of Jersey
City is that the confirmation of the
reservoir is such that the polluted
water passes so rapidly through the
pipes that it clears itself. The chloride
Of lime destroys bacteria, healthful and
r~athcgenic, in the water supply. 1t re-
moves nothing, other han by destroy
ing bacteria. This device does not af-
feet the filth which comes with the C
terra and on which and In which they
live.
'pThis Device" he added, docs not
affect spore-bearing germs. 1t was dis
tipctly SO admitted in the case.
This device should not be substi-
tsted for the sewers also, because the
effect of its use, depending as it does
IN the skill and care of employees, is
too dangerous to be adopted by the
city. The application to this water of
more than one part of available
q lorine to one million gallons of water
is dangerous, and If, because of me-
chemical defects, such as the clogging
of the pipe, so that less water should
come through or if by the carelessness
or want of skill of the employers, too
large a dose was added to the water,
then injury would result to the con-
sumner"
Referring again to the germs, Mr..
Vredenburgh declared that the lime de-
stroyed but a certain species In the
water, n said that in all other re-
spects the water remains the am
Recalls Testimony.
Mr., Y~redenburgh in the course of
his argument referred TO the testimony
given by George w. Fuller, the designer
of the device, who said that the device
affects bacteria in the water, In this
way:
well. Mr.. Fuller swore at the time,
1t is pretty hard to state accurately
what the process is, but what L picture
in my own I,iind is that as a result Of
this very energetic release of atomic
oxygen the sheath or membrane which
surrounds the protoplasm breaks or
bursts. -
The lawyer dilated upon this point
to a considerable extent, and said that
the difference between pure water and
the water which is delivered to Jersey
City after it has been treated by this
device may be likened to the difference
between certified milk and pasteurized
milk. He added, in% this connection,
that Science and experience are con-
tinually demonstrating new dangers
from polluted water" and that ''since
tile opinion it has been ascertained by
scientists that the spores of Of spore-
bearing bacteria in drinking water
produce disease" These spore- bearing
germs, he insisted. are pathogenic, and
I'm proof he quoted from the testimony
given by Prof. Daniel D. Jackson,
director of the laboratories of the de-
partment of water supply of New
York for four years. setting forth
that spore- bearing germs are, many
of them. p~athogenic."
HeaIthfuIness Pointed Out.
In his reply, Mr.. Corbin pointed out
that Jersey City was now at the head
OF New Jerseys cities, as far as its
freedom from typhoid fever was con-
cerned, and said that this was due to
the purity Of its water supply.
"The germs by this DEVICE he in
sisted, ARE burnt up, transformed and
burnt up again. The life In the organic
matter is instantly destroyed.
AS to spore-bearing bacteria" so he
told the court, -these are water BAG
terra. 1t is probably true hat certain
of them are not destroyed by this
method, but the evidence Is that spore-
bearing bacteria are absolutely harm
less. AS a matter of fact. the evidence
only is that certain of the spore-bear-
ing bacteria may be pathogenic."