New-York tribune., 1918-08-21
Park Commissioner Says
Objector to Beaches Is
Seeking Publicity
Letter Given to Public
Sewage Said To Be Peril to
Bathers-"Private Interests
Is Answer

Edward Hatch. jr., chairman of the
committee on pollution and sewage
OF the Merchants Association of New
4 fork' mas suggested to George W. Per-
kins that bathing and picnicking along
lhe Pallsades Interstate Park shore of
The Hudson River be prohibited be-
cause, according to Mr.. Hatch, the
water at that point is contaminated
by New York sewers. Mr. Perkins is
chairman of the Park Commission.
Mr.. Hatch made public yesterday the
letter he sent to Mr.. Perkins. In it he
said the necessity of immediate action
on the part of the Park Commission
was imperative in the interest of pub
lie health
Mr.. Perkins promptly issued a reply,
in which he charged that Mr.. Hatch's
letter was received by the newspapers
before it came into his hands. Mr..
Perkins also stated: "It (the Hatch
letter. is clearly drawn with great care
tor publicity purposes. l have not the
slightest doubt that it is in some way
connected with the interests with
which the Palisades Park Commission
has been competing for several years
namely, private interests in and about
the city which have been charging the
public unconscionable prices for the
opportunity to bathe in waters which
should belong to the public, whereas
the Palisades Park Commission has
been offering bathing privileges free of
charge"
Wants Bathing Stopped
Excerpts from Mr. Hatch's letter to
Mr.. Perkins follow:
II beg to call your attention to the
unhealthful condition of the river
shore at the Palisades Interstate Park
IN New Jersey, opposite Dyckman
Street, New York. The water of the
Hudson River at this point is grossly
polluted and dangerous to the health
and lives Of those who bathe in the
river or approach its bank. The con-
tamination is due to the contents of
the sewers from New York City and
the adjacent communities, as we'll as
the offal and other refuse incident to
the life of a great city. The distribu-
ed by the wind and vagaries of the
tidal currents and is deposited on the
shore and beach.
"a scientific investigation by float
tests has demonstrated that much of
the sewage discharged from the sewers
on the Huds ot8River side of New York
City, rs we'll as from Jersey City and
Hoboken, is carried by floodtde past
the Palisades Park. The Harlem River
emptyng opposite the park pours its
septic contents into the Hudson River,
and the Bronx Valley sewer a mile
or so further north, discharging 500
feet out from the Eastern shore, adds
the domestic sewage from White
Plains, Scarsdale, part of Yonkers and
Mount Vernon.
"The sludge acids, refuse and wastes
from the factories (of Riverside
fumes fame) situated just below the
Southern boundary of the park are
discharged directly into the river,
joining the foul upstream current"
In statement to the press supple
mentng his letter Mr.. Hatch said:
ut will be great misfortune to
deprive the people of the use of
this ideal recreation park. The COM
missoners are absolutely helpless
to stop the pollution of the Hud-
son River, and there is no al
ternativc if the community is to be
kept clean and healthy.
"For fifteen years the authori-
ties persistently have been urged to
provide a sewage drainage and dis
posal system for the poisonous wastes
of this great city, but no action has
been taken.'