Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1916-01-22
MAYOR MOUNTAIN
SAYS CITY SHOULD
ENTER BIG SEWER
East Orange Executive Also
Hopes to Settle Grade Cross
ing Problem.

Mayor Worrall F. Mountain, of
East Orange. speaking at the meet
ing of the Third Ward Republican
. Club, that city. last night, discussed
for the first time at public gather
ing the sewage disposal problem of
that city and favored the city's en-
trance into the Passaic valley flume.
He likewise expressed the hope that
the railroad grade crossing problem,
like that of sewage disposal, will be
speedily settled, and reviewed other
city problems. The mayor was given
a demonstrative welcome, including
q greeting by the Boy Scout Band,
Troop IT, of the Sanford Street NJ. e
Church, when he reached the meet
ing house, and his remarks were
literally applauded.
Mayor Mountain declared that the
time has come when the expansion
of the city hall is a necessity, and
that the police department is direly
in need of a new and more up-to-date
headquarters. The station house, he
said, should face on thoroughfare,
rather than being penned in the rear
of a building, as police headquarters
are at present. Mayor Mountain de-
clared that he was of the opinion
that the city hall was too small to
adequately accommodate the various
other municipal departments, with
out housing the police department.
The mayor was high in his praises
of Chief of Police William O'Neill, and
he attributed the great success Of
NJ fa ha nhinfiS thor
ough understanding of human ma
lure. He was also highly elated over
the condition of the fire department
and spoke of the feeling of friend
ship and cooperation among the men
of the department.
Mayor Mountain brought forth a
round of applause when, in referring
10 the railroad crossing elimination
and sewage questions, he declared
that he firmly hoped that both prob
lens would be settled before the end
Of the year He declared that he was
of the opinion that the only settle
ment of the sewage question was by
East Orange entering the Passaic val
ley sewer, pointing out that the I'M
hoff system is practically as much OF
an experiment as electricity was IN
the 70's and that in ten years would
undoubtedly be obsolete. The mayor
stated that he had thoroughly studied
the question, and he declared that tne
swift current below Robbins reef. IN
New York bay, which is the outlet
for the Passaic valley sewer, would
swiftly carry away all sewage. lie
declared that il was better to be with
the majority than the minority, ana
as the majority favor the. Passaic val
ley plan, East Orange is wisely gong
to follow.
Referring to the question of grade
crossing elimination, Mayor Noun
tain declared that he was unable to
report any progress other than to say
that work is being done. He told OF
the visit to the city of George .
Swain. the Harvard University en-
gineer, who recently collected data
on the depression phase of the stua-
tion to determine whether lowering
the tracks is best for the city.
He said that no one other than en-
eineers mentioned anything relative To
the crossing question to Mr. Swain.
The question is to be taken UP with
The Public Utility Commission at a
special session in the Kinney build
ing. this city, Wednesday, but the
mayor declared that the city's rep-
resentatives at the conference would
refuse to argue on any vital points.
The mayor, in accordance with
statement made some time ago by
CITY Auditor Clarence Hastings, de-
clared that when the two great city
problems were settled an increase in
tax rates was inevitable. The mayor
did not state the raise Other than to
agree with Mr.. Hastings figures.
which showed that raise in taxes
Of twelve points would be necessary
for the grade crossing question alone