The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-12-06
MUNICIPAL MATTERS.
The Status of the Street Controversy The
Water Supply.

One of the TArTLER's staff learned during
the course of an interview with President
DATE and Commissioner Jordan of the
Finance Board more about the status Of
municipal matters than can be learned from
perusal of the routine Board reports fur
nished by the daily prints; and with the
belief that numbers of the taxpayers are
interested in the subject, the substance of
the interview is given.
The most important of the topics that
engage the attention of the Board is the
difference between the Board of Finance
and the Board of Works about the cleaning
of the streets. It is a matter of public his
tory that the Board of Finance insist that
the work shall be let out, by contract, to
the lowest responsible bidder. The Board
of Works, moved by considerations that
may be understood as thoroughly as if ex-
pressed, insist upon doing the work them
selves. As stated in these columns two
weeks ago, the Board of Finance emphasized
their demand for contract work by fixing
the appropriation for street cleaning in
such way that it cannot be spent except
for contract work Even the consent of
the Board of Finance cannot change the
conditions of the appropriation. The money
is set aside irrevocably for use in a certain
manner, and no power on earth can author
lze its use in any other manner. The Board
of Works have pretended to yield to the
exigencies of the occasion by advertising
for bids; but as they have not yet submitted
specifications to the Board of Finance for
approval the advertisement counts for
nothing. The work cannot be done even
by contract till the Board of Finance shall
have concurredi the specifications. Since
the advertisement was inserted the Board
of Works have shown an inclination to re-
bel again, and at last accounts they de-
clared that they could do as they saw fit
about the matter. They are said TO be
anxious to let out contracts for cleaning the
streets in sections to favorites, without adj
vertising or inviting bids. They are pro-
hibited by law from contracting for more
than $500 worth of work except after adver-
tisement for bids. They purpose to get
around this difficulty by dividing the work
up into contracts for shade this side of
$780, So far, no practical step has yet been
taken towards the making of new contract
for the cleaning of the streets, and it is
strongly suspected that the Board of Works
have laid themselves, by their inaction, to
indictment for non-feasance in ofice-for
having omitted to do that which they should
have done. ~
A second point of controversy between
the two Boards is as to new pump at
Bellville. There is but one pump now at
the City Water Works, and if that was to
become disabled, in times or fire, the city
would be at the mercy of the flames. The
Board of Finance seems to be of our mind,
that new pump should be put in. The
Worthingtons of New York have offered to
put in such an one as is needed for $685.
900, or, if they can have the money saved
in coal consumption by its use, for $780,
900. The Board of Works have their eye
on other machines, however, the econo-
mic value of the Worthington pump is evin-
csd by their proposition to accept coal sal
wage in lieu of $1,000 of the purchase money.
Commissioners Datz and Jordan seemed
rather to favor the Worthington. A pro.
20 .ition made by sCommission er DATE at
the conference about the pump between
the two boards the other day was that the
money for the pump be raised by the sale
of the unused reservoir on the Heights.
This is of no use to the city. 1t can be
divided into at least 100 lots by one plan
it can be set off into 125 lots These at
$500 piece would bring in $50, 900 to $62,-
00b. With the money thus realized the
city can pay for the new pump without
drawing on the treasurer, and needed
stand pipe can be erected at the High Ser
vice Reservoir Both the Commissioners
says that in course of time all the city reser-
yoirs will be converted into building lots,
their sites sold for half million or so, and
new reservoirs will be erected on West
Hoboken Heights, near the Monastery.
These heights are 100 feet higher than the
sites of the present High Service Reservoir.
They will furnish better supply at a
smaller cost becauae much of the princi-
pal will be saved. The natural gravity and
the fall of the water will supply the water
pressure that is now only partially yielded
by the pumps.