The Passaic Flood of 1903

The Passaic River burst its banks in early October 1903, unleashing a torrent that dwarfed the already devastating flood of the previous year. Over eleven days the swollen water surged through the industrial heart of New Jersey, reaching flow rates more than double the river’s normal capacity and inundating neighborhoods, factories, and bridges. This concise government report captures the event in stark detail, pairing measured data with vivid photographs of the damage.

Drawing on observations from a network of gauges, the author charts the timing of the rise across tributaries, revealing how quickly the highland streams fed the main flood. The accompanying plates illustrate everything from a breached dam at Little Falls to ruined mill districts and a devastated Hebrew quarter in Paterson. Finally, the study offers practical recommendations for flood control, suggesting engineering measures that could lessen future catastrophes.