Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-19
IMHOFF SEWAGE
PLAN IS FAVORED
Citizens Committee Recon-
mends Project to East Or
ange Council.
MAYOR GREGORY OPPOSED
TO HASTE IN PROCEEDINGS
Definite Action for Joint Agree
ment May Be Taken ON
Monday.

Removing whatever doubt that
existed in the minds of residents of
the city as to whether the munici-
pality intended to join the pact with
Orange and Montclair in the estab-
lishment of a separate sewage dis
posal plant. the citizens advisory
committee of East Orange last night
recommended to the City Council that
it adopt the Imhoff system.
1t is expected that the Council viii
accept the recommendation and take
the initial steps toward entering the
Joint agreement at a meeting next
Monday night The recommendation
was submitted at the conference of
the members of the councils of the
three municipalities, which was held
an East Orange.
Mayor Julian A. Gregory, of East
Orange, entered vigorous protest
against complying with the recon-
mendation Immediately, but the only
member of the Council who spoke in
approval of the executives stand was
councilman Warren J. Stoddard.
Former Councilman Edward S.
Pierson, spokesman of the committee,
said the recommendation was has
tened by the fear that the next ses-
SiOh VI illt lI6S = may tdAS az
ton preventing the three municipali-
ties from inf1cting a sewage plant
upon a town that does not want it.
Mayor Gregory, declaring he was
no more qualified to consider the
question of whether the city should
enter the pact than the janitor of the
City Hall. plainly told the East Or
ange officials that he did not believe
they We're sufficiently enlightened on
the question to vote intelligently If
the proposition Is to be considered
within a few days.
II will take off my hat to you,
gentlemen. said the executive, ''if
you can vote intelligently on the
question within five days"
Against Meadows as Site.
A resume of the reasons why the
municipalities tentatively agreed to
enter the pact and why the Imhoff
system is considered the best to
adopt preceded and followed the
recommendation Robert M. Boyd
of Montclair, who has acted as coun-
sci for the three places since the
agitation for the separate plant was
started. and who drew the ordinance
committing the municipalities to the
scheme; Councilman Henry T. Stet
son, of Orange, chairman of the adj
visory committee, and John II. Greg
Dry, of the engineering firm of Her
ring G. Gregory, which drafted the
plans for the plant and selected the
site at Belleville, were the principal
speakers.
Mr. Gregory discouraged the idea
of erecting the plant on the Hacken-
sack meadows. which the East Or
ange officials were considering, as, he
declared, it would mean big in
crease in the price and it would be
twice as difficult to treat the sewage
on the meadows as on the proposed
site at Belleville.
He also advised against the IN
stallation of contact filters in prefer
ence to sprink1ing filters, stating
these would cost much more, and he
doubted whether paying the differ
ence was worth the additional invest
ment.
East Orange officials took up the
question of having contact filters
Upon n recommendation of Water
Commissioner Nicholas N. Hill, jr..
who recently prepared an exhaustive
report on sewage disposal.
Attorney Boyd was asked whether
the Legislature could take adverse
bction against allowing the plant in
Beleville after the three municipali-
ties went so far as to issue the con-
tracts for the plant. His answer was
that the Legislature could not pre-
vent the erection of the plant after
the bonds for the plant were issued
by the places.
Mayor Against Haste.
Mr. Pierson and Mayor Gregory
argued as to whether the contracts
could be approved and issued before
the next session of the Legislature.
81 cannot understand why the spe
cial committee is so anxious to go
ahead Immediately" said the Mayor,
latter this question has sumbered
for almost three years. | have not
been in touch with the committee and
cannot formulate an opinion" He de-
plored the fact that nothing has been
submitted to him that would en-
tighten him on the subject.
''All | know is that an ordinance
has been prepared" said the mayor.
There is no necessity for haste and