Charles River Odors Disgust City Council

The Cambridge City Council turned its sensitive nose toward the Charles River yesterday and decided it didn't like what it smelled.

Accordingly the Council ordered City Manager John J. Curry '19 to find out where the "obnoxious odors" are coming from. To this end he will confer with officials of the Metropolitan District Commission.

Alas, if the nine city councillors read the CRIMSON, they would already know where the odors are coming from and spare Mr. Curry a tedious research job.

The CRIMSON revealed Saturday that as a result of a long dry spell and seepage of salt water into the Charles at its mouth, the river has divided into two layers: a stagnant upper layer of fresh water and a deoxygenated lower layer of salt water. Sewage drained into the Charles falls to the bottom where it decomposes; because there is little oxygen, this decomposition produces hydrogen sulfide. And hydrogen sulfide smells.