by ordinance, to be nuisances prejudicial to the public health, and appropriate action should be taken to remove the accumulations which furnish lodgement for these larvæ. Stable manure should be removed from all built-up districts daily during the warm months; all receptacles for human excreta should be screened to prevent the entrance of flies, catch basins, drains and sewers should be screened, and all premises should be kept clear of accumulations of refuse in which maggots can live.

The deposit of garbage from the city of New York upon the seashore of Monmouth county was brought to the attention of the Governor by complaints from local residents, and the following communication was received:

Dr. Henry Mitchell, Secretary State Board of Health:

MY DEAR DOCTOR MITCHELL-My attention has been called to the pollution of the waters along our sea coasts, especially our seaside resorts in the upper part of the State, due to the deposit of sewage in New York bay or vicinity. It is highly important that this matter be thoroughly investigated, a report made thereon and steps taken to remedy the nuisance.

With best wishes, I am,

Very sincerely yours,

E. C. STOKES.

Inspections were immediately made to learn the facts and an interview was had with a representative of the street cleaning department of New York City. The following letters were forwarded to the Governor :

Hon. Edward C. Stokes, Governor, Trenton, N. J.:

July 2d, 1906.

DEAR SIR-Inquiries for the purpose of learning the extent and character of the defilement of the bathing beaches of the northerly portion of the sea coast of New Jersey, caused by the deposit upon the sand of garbage and rubbish which is cast ashore in these localities, shows that the bathing season opened about June 15th, and that since that date refuse materials have been coming ashore in large quantities, at certain times, from the Highlands to Spring Lake. The investigation shows that during the week ending June 23d the offensive substances were deposited upon the beach daily, and that they were composed of decayed vegetables, dead animals, and discarded domestic articles of many sorts, clearly indicating that they were floating portions of the garbage and rubbish from the city of New York, which materials are at present disposed of by dumping them into the ocean. The reports received indicate that the point at which garbage and rubbish has at times been dumped, from the scows in which it is transported from New York City, is located about six miles off shore, and about southeast from Seabright. During the week ending June 30th westerly winds were prevalent, and the nuisance caused by the deposits of refuse on the beaches was much less troublesome than during the previous week. Following is a summary of the information obtained at various points along the shore:

Highland Beach.-Mr. McGarry, an employe at the Sandless bathing pavilion,

stated that two weeks ago refuse materials in large quantities were cast upon the shore by the surf, and that these conditions continued for nearly one week. The refuse materials consisted of decaying fruit, dead animals, boxes and decaying vegetables. He also stated that during the past two years no such quantity of refuse material had come upon the beach during the same length of time.

Seabright. The bathing master at Pannacis' pavilion stated that two weeks ago large quantities of refuse materials were cast upon the beach at Seabright and remained for several days. The character of these substances was similar to that above described. He also stated that at that time the prevailing winds were from the northeast and east, and that since the winds became westerly the deposit of refuse materials upon the beach had ceased.

Long Branch.-Mr. William Hayes, proprietor of a bathing pavilion, stated that about two weeks ago large quantities of refuse materials, of similar character to those above described, were deposited upon the beach. An interview with a representative of the local board of health of Long Branch showed that numerous complaints were received by the board relating to the nuisance caused by the presence of decomposing substances on the beach.

Deal Beach-Mr. Thomas J. Howland, manager of the bathing grounds at this point, stated that he has been on the beach daily since June 2d, 1906, and that during the prevalence of easterly winds the shore has been strewn with quantities of refuse materials, consisting of garbage and rubbish, and said materials were present in large quantities.

Allenhurst.-Mr. William Henderson, manager of the bathing grounds, stated that between June 15th and June 24th easterly winds prevailed, and that the beach was covered during most of that time with decomposing vegetable and animal substances. Mr. Henderson also stated that he had observed that refuse of this character is not cast upon the shore when westerly winds are blowing, but it is deposited generally about six hours after the winds become easterly or northeasterly and continues intermittenly as long as the winds continue from the east.

Loch Arbour.-Captain Benjamin Van Brunt, of life-saving station No. 6, located at Loch Arbour, stated that during the week ending June 24th easterly winds prevailed, and that large quantities of refuse materials were cast upon the shore by the surf, and that these materials consisted of vegetable and animal substances in a state of decomposition. Mr. C. A. Johnson, who is manager of the bathing houses at Loch Arbour, stated that the shore has been comparatively free from offensive accumulations since June 24th, but that during the previous week, when easterly winds were prevailing, the shore was strewn with garbage and rubbish.

Asbury Park.—Mr. Stalee, lessee of the bathing privileges at this point, stated that a nuisance caused by the deposit of garbage and rubbish on the beach was exceedingly annoying during the week ending June 23d.

Ocean Grove.-Mr. J. S. Ross, proprietor of the Ross bathing grounds, stated that during his many years of experience in conducting this bathing establishment, he has never before observed such quantities of garbage and rubbish in the sea water as it contained during the week ending June 23d. During the week ending June 30th, while the winds were prevailing from the west, no deposit upon the beach of offensive materials occurred.

Belmar. Mr. W. F. Gordon stated that the nuisance caused by floating garbage and rubbish has given much annoyance.

Spring Lake.-Mr. C. W. Simonson, manager of the bathing grounds, stated that

refuse materials have been coming ashore in large quantities from time to time recently during the prevalence of easterly winds.

From the foregoing it appears that the nuisance which was caused by the rubbish and garbage which was cast upon the bathing beaches of New Jersey, during the week ending June 23d, was due to the dumping of refuse materials from the New York City garbage boats in localities near the New Jersey coast, and that the dumping at these points was owing to the prevalence of high easterly winds which caused the employes in charge of the boats to discharge their loads without going to the distant localities which are easily reached in calm weather.

July 3d, 1906.

Hon Edward C. Stokes, Governor, Trenton, N. J.:

DEAR SIR-I desire to supplement the report of yesterday, relating to the investigation conducted by this board concerning the defilement of the bathing beaches on the northern sea coast of New Jersey, as follows:

On July 2d, 1906, in an interview with Capt. Gibson, deputy commissioner of the street cleaning department of the city of New York, a representative of this board was informed that numerous complaints have been received by the department of street cleaning in reference to the deposit of garbage upon the New Jersey shores, and also upon the ocean front of Coney Island. Since the destruction of the disposal works on Barren Island, May 20th, 1906, it has been found necessary to transport a large portion of the garbage and rubbish from New York City by boat and dispose of it by casting it into the sea. Capt. Gibson stated that in some instances the requirement made by the commissioner of street cleaning that all refuse matter thus disposed of should be dumped at least fifteen miles east from Gedney's channel may not have been complied with, but that imperative orders have been issued relating to this matter, and that hereafter measures will be taken to secure compliance with the order of the commissioner and that it is altogether improbable that a repetition of the nuisance complained of will occur.

Very respectfully,

HENRY MITCHELL,

Secretary.

Subsequently during the summer garbage and rubbish came ashore in small quantities occasionally during the prevalence of long continued easterly winds, and in response to renewed complaints the Governor and representatives from the State board of health and from several coast towns, including Long Branch, Deal, Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach and Belmar, visited the Acting Mayor of New York City, to endeavor to secure the necessary action to prevent further defilement of the New Jersey beaches. Acting Mayor McGowan promised to send the refuse far enough to sea to prevent its being floated back upon the New Jersey coast. The disposal works on Barren Island, L. I., was sufficiently completed about September first to admit of the deposit there of garbage

from New York, and it is therefore improbable that any further annoyance from this cause will be experienced along the New Jersey

coast.

Lines of Travel.-The following instructions were issued to the assistant State inspectors May 1st, 1906:

When in the ordinary performance of the duties heretofore assigned to you in accordance with the provisions of chapter 85 of the laws of 1901, it becomes necessary to travel on any of the railroads of the State, you are hereby instructed to make observations and inspections, when opportunity offers, as follows:

1. Learn the sources of the water-supply for the waiting-rooms of railroad stations, and in cases where the water is taken from surface wells or other sources which are liable to be polluted take a sample of the water and forward it to the State laboratory of hygiene for examination.

2. Inspect the water closets and urinals of railroad stations, and report to this board concerning the location, construction and condition of the same.

3. Inspect the interior of waiting-rooms of railroad stations with reference to the degree of cleanliness with which they are maintained, particularly as follows: (a) Is the shelf or counter over which tickets are sold kept clean and free from accumulations from unclean hands? (b) Are the door knobs and woodwork kept clean by frequent washing? (c) Is spitting permitted on the platforms of the stations, or upon the floors of the waiting-rooms?

Reports of these inspections should be mailed to the office of this board every Saturday.

Blanks for recording the observations of the inspectors were furnished as follows:

BOARD OF HEALTH OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

RECORD OF INSPECTION OF RAILROAD STATION.

1. Name of station............

2. Name of railroad..........

3. Date of inspection...............

4. Water-supply .............

5. Was sample of water taken for analysis?........ .........Marks ....

6. Source of ice supply................

7. Floors and platforms.........

(a) Construction...

(b) Condition..........

8. Door knobs, hand rails and ticket shelf kept clean?.......

Upon receipt of reports showing that the water-supply is unwholesome, or that any other unsanitary condition exists in any railroad station, the attention of the general superintendent of the line is called to the matter by letter, and reinspection of the premises is ordered. The reports show that general improvements have been introduced on at least two of the lines of railroad doing business in the State, in the system employed for the sanitary care of passenger stations, and additional improvements are in prospect. A few detailed reports of inspections of passenger stations and of the methods employed in the cleaning of cars are printed on subsequent pages of this report.

Conference of State and Local Boards of Health.-The first annual conference of State and local boards of health was held in the State House, Trenton, October 19th and 20th, 1906. One hundred and fifteen delegates were in attendance, and the discussions of practical questions covered many subjects of the daily routine in the local health officers' experience. The success of this meeting justifies the hope that in the near future the methods employed in the various sanitary districts of the State, for preventing the spread of infectious diseases, will become more nearly uniform, and that obsolete, useless and annoying measures will be abandoned. An account of the proceedings of the conference is published further on in this report.

Public Water-Supplies.-Inspections of streams from which water is taken for municipal supplies have been continued during the year, and a detailed account of the work performed accompanies this report. The three cases which were brought to the attention of the chancellor by this board, because of the pollution of the water-supply of the city of Newark, were carried to a successful termination, and the parties who were responsible for the nuisances were compelled by the order of the court to discontinue the contamination. The Hackensack water-shed in New Jersey, above the intake of the Hackensack Water Company at New Milford, has been practically freed from direct sources of pollution. Numerous contaminations of the Tintern Manor supply have been removed and many other supplies have received attention.

Garbage Disposal.-No satisfactory method for the disposal of garbage in the more thickly populated districts, and in places of resort, has thus far been devised except by destruction by fire in at properly constructed furnace. Every city is morally bound to so con