The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-04-03
Her Counci1nen Discuss
the Bartlett, Alias Mont
clair, SWind1ecate's
Contract.
THE MAYOR FOUND A FLAW.
1t Would Have Made Bayonne
Merely Lever to Pry Jersey
City Into the Proper Attitude.

The Bayonne Board of Councilmen held
a midnight session last evening, and --de-
voted three hours to d aliscussion of the
question of new water supply. Mayor
Newman, City Attorney Fuller and City
Engineer and Surveyor Smith met with
the Board and took part in the discussion
Several agents of the water syndicate
were among the auditors, but they con-
tented themselves with listening to the
debate and remaining incognito.
The subject was brought before the
session by special committee, consisting
of Councilmen Sanford, Cadmus and
Cronin, submitting a report recommend
ing that a contract for new supply be
made with the Montclair Water Company,
an alias of the Bartlett syndicate, and
enclosing blank form of contract which
had been approved by the officials of the
company.
The document stated that the company
would agree to furnish and the city would
consent to take for period of twenty-five
years pure, wholesome supply OF water
from the Passaic, above Paterson, and its
upper tributaries at the rate OF $50 per
million gallons. The supply was to have
pressure of forty-fiye pounds to the
square inch and it would be furnished
upon the termination of November l.,
1890, OF the city's present con-
tract with Jersey City. The minimum
quantity to be taken by the city was
placed at one million gallons daily and the
gallons daily. In case the com
pany made a contract with Jersey
City the city would consent to have
the contract assigned to Jersey City
without any change in its provisions, and
in case the company made contract with
New York the rate per million gallons was
to be reduced to $40. The report and con-
tract was sent to the Committee of the
Il would like to be enlightened on this
NATTER said Councilman Kelly, turning
toward Mayor Newman, What will Jer-
sey City pay, and what will Newark pay
in case contracts are made with them?
1t is only O. little over seven miles from
Jersey City here, and I'm told Newark
and Jersey City will get the water for
$40 per million, and we are to pay $50.
Two for one, and tlrat for twenty-five
years. The old contract was only for five
years, and it was d wise thing, as events
now show. 1t seems to me twenty-five
wears is long time for the contract to
run and the city should have the right to
abandon the contract if it does not
like it."
To open up the matter for discussion,
President Goddard moved that the Com
mittee OF the Whole recommend to award
the contract to the company
GAS chairman of the special committee,
I can say that the contract is the best we
can make with the company, y remarked
Councilman Sanford. Il seriously OBJ
iected to the twenty-five years clause,
bnt the company insisted that
it would make no contract for less Pc
riod. The company proposes, to run a
special pipe to Bayonne from Newark for
the supply. As to price, 1t is understood
that unless we show a disposition
to accept the terms tonight we may
have to pay $120 per million because
Jersey City may get the contract first and
we will be at its mercy. We pay Jersey
City 500 per million now for impure water.
The company owns all the rights ana an
privileges for a water supply from the
region above Paterson, and we cannot get
supply through any other source"
Councilman Kelly renewed his objec-
tions to the length of the contract.
THE JERSEY CITY BUG-A-Boo.
"There is a provision in the contract" /"
said City Attorney Fuller, that the water
shall be pure as the upper Passaic. Ii
there should be failure in this provision
it would be violation OF the contract.
Newark has made contract at a rate a
little over $40 per million, but Newark is
nearer the source of supply and a greater
consumer than is Bayonne. In Jersey
City the rate to consumers is higher
than it is iBayonnen yet Jersey
CITY says it costs more than 500 per mil
lion to supply Bayonne Jersey City Will
raise the rate TO Bayonne II Bayonne must
depend on Jersey City for supply. In
Jersey City the committee of one hundred
fought against granting the company q
contract. They went to the Legislature
relief but not getting it they abandoned
hope. Since then they have had an inter
view with the Montclair Company. and
now they will withdraw opposition and
recommend making the contract.
l have been notified by three members
of the Board of Public Works that the
contract will be made within three weeks.
With the rate first at 500, then at 800 per
million, the rates to consumers are
ten per cent. lower in Bay
onne than in Jersey City. Bayonne
also has a surplus in her water
account above all accrued liabilities with
q new supply of better water at a reduced
rate the Water Department can do still
better Bayonne is in an emergency and
must act promptly, else the company will
withdraw the offer, and Bayonne will be
at the mercy of Jersey City"
COuICllulitn nelly Stthu AiO 0do VII
to vote for the contract If the Board adj
journed the matter two weeks and sent q
committee to Jersey City to see what
could be done there.
MAYOR NEwMAN'S VIEWS.
'sIf delay of two weeks placed Bayonne
irrevocably in the hands of Jersey City,
interposed Mayor Newman, mo man will
regret it more than Mr.. Kelly. The time
has arrived when prompt action is re-
quired. If any gentleman will show me
any other source than this one / am will
ing to wait. This is the only
source, and our only subject of dis
cussion is whether it is better to deal with
the owners of the supply, or with those
who are to get their supply from the own
ers. The future of the city depends
to great extent upon getting
a supply of good water, for
the Passaic is abominable I am
not willing to be placed at the mercy of
Jersey City, and allow Bayonne to be the
tail to her kite. We are competent to
manage our water affairs as we do the
rest of our business. Jersey City has gone
behind in her water account Sl0S,0O0 the
current year.
II believe that with the new system
there will be no necessity to issue another
bond for Bayonne's water system If the
same frugal management is pursued as
now and in the past. would rather
have the contract for fifty years
than for one We have reached the
most important crisis in our city's affairs
since it was incorporated. Suppose we
made an agreement with the Board Of
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