The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-11-18
A new WATER SCHEME.
1t Came TO Light at the
Board of Trade Meeting
Last Night.
THE RAMAPO RIVER THIS TINE.
sIr. Pratt, Of the Arlington Gene
terry, Tries to Unload on the
Board and Runs Foul of
Jacob Ringle.
THE RAMAPO RIVER THIS TINE.


last evening at the meeting of the Board
Of Trade. which was simply admirable
for the coolness Of the assurance with
which it was brought forth The meet
ing was large one, and many represen-
tative citizens were present DIR. Gordon,
the chairman, was late ia arriving, and
Vice President Joseph A. Dear called the
meeting TO order. George c. Fountain,
the Pacific avenue druggist, NJ. T. Con-
molly. of Grove street, and julius II.
Pratt. Of the Arlington Cemetery Com
pany, were elected members. The COM
mittee, which was appointed some time
ago to confer with builders. mechanics
aud tradesmen connected with the build
ing trades. and ascertain their views
upon the subject of forming a Mechanics
and Traders exchange in this city, re-
ported that large number OF those ner-
chants had expressed themselves favor
able to such a scheme and the committee
was authorized to call a meeting In the
rooms OF the Board for the purpose Of or
1anizing the scheme. After some discus
sion the bylaws of the old Board OF
Trade. with few additions, were
adopted.
Mr.. Dear then said that General viele,
who had been announced to address the
Board on the subject Of a new water sup
ply, was unable TO be present on account
Of Illness, and that the Board had Sc
cured the services Of Mr.. Fl. f. Torrey,
well known engineer who was thoroughly
acquainted with the subject
THE RAMAPo WATER SHE'D.
Mr.. Torrey read an interesting paper
upon the Ramapo water shed, and Illus
trated his remarks By means Of maps. He
said in part:--
There are three available sources
whence Jersey City can be supplied with
pure and wholesome water. Two OF
these are impracticable because they are
in the hands Of syndicates-" He went on
as follows:-
The other possible source Of supply IS one
which is free from the complications which In
vest those Just considered. Il il situated IN the
mountain region OF Rockland and Orange
counties In purity Il Is unsurpassed, and q
conduit can be laid from that district at the
State line TO Jersey City through which can
gallons per day. / VIII first give a description
Of the Rampao Water shed, and then Indicate
how it may be appropriated for the bsnefit Of
Jersey City.
'The Ramapo River has drainage area
Of los square miles within the State Of
New York, of which S. square miles Is
available for supply of water to the city,
starting from an elevation of ASP feet
above tide. And this available area OF
water gathering grounds can be increased
to 100 square miles, at a moderate ex-
pense, BY diyerting the upper waters of q
number Of streams, adjacent to the crest
Of the water shed of the Ramapo. These
water sheds somewhat resemble those Of
the upper Croton, but they are at a
greater elevation, have more large lakes.
sleeper slopes of the ground. a less per-
meable surface. and are occupied with
very sparse population
The valleys Of all OF the tributarystreams open
fan-like towards the watery winds Of the ocean,
only forty miles distant, and are enclosed in al
most mountain hills, which eondense the water
from the highly saturated atmosphere, and
cause copious rainfalis- which flow rapidly down
the steep, rocky, impermeaole hill-slopes. and
thus escape much Of the usual loss Of water by
evaporation, before il reaches the brooks. The
rain guages on and near this district and the
observed how-on OF the mountain brooks and
main river. as might be expected from these
circumstances show larger amount of rainfall
and greater ratio Of available water there
from than IS usually obtained from equal areas
THK QUALITY OF TIE WATER
The mountains OF this district are granite, and
this rock extends under the valleys Of all the
streams, except a small portion Of the extreme
northern end. where some graywacks and lime
stone is found. The aliuvium OF the valleys and
hill slopes has been formed BY the decompos ition
Of the granitic rocks. and IS quarlzose. sand
gravel and stone, with many large and small
bouiders IN terspeTsed all Of which lie In shallow
beds over the primitive rocks A large proper
tion Of the area IS covered with woods, which
are, generally, small trees and bushes. There
are some grazing farms at the northern end, and
few small cultivated fields in the valleys, but
the hisisides are generaAy wooded, and IN a few
places are used for grazing Mines OF magnetic
iron are found In places, which furnish Gre 10
three smelling furnaces. There are almost no
other manufactories es in the district, and none Of
an Objectionable character.
The population OF the district has not increased
in century. and probably never VIII Increase
beyond its present sparse limits because the
unoceupisd lands are unit for cultivation and
there are no facilities or Inducements TO estab-
fish manufactures. Water power on these
streams is nearly or quite valnelessi and, there
fore there is no probability IN the future Of the
establishment OF manufactures and their ac-
eompanying populations The ocean derived
water falls upon the mountain Slopes in an al
most perfectly pure condition, and when How
ing over their surfaces receives no contanlina-
tion from deeaying vegetation or from the pure
quartz soil, so that il must be unusually pure
and wholesome.
The highly aerated. bright, sparkling waters
from these rapid foaming mountain brooks are
the habitat Of the speekled trout the best
analysts Of water These fish are never found
in water containing anything deleterious The
waters Of the lakes have gravelly or rocky beds,
and are supplied from these mountain brooks,
and are equally pure and wholesome.
The water from the Ramapo district viii be
obtained from eight or more separate sources
which differ from each other 10 location, eleva-
tion exposure aud other circumstances TO such =
degree that not more than two Of them can be
affected by the above causes at the same time.
II one or more Of these eight sources should at
&ny time be affected, an ample supply OF pure
water can be obtained from the others. until the
operation of self publication has been COM
pletsd- From the foregoing considerations we
NAV conclude with certainty that the water
from the Ranapo district viii forever be OF the
most pure and wholesome character
TEE QUANTITY oFwATEa WHICH CAN BE 0BTAISEn
have made measurements over larger and
smaller areas Of watershed. embracing great
varieties Of soil elevation, exposure, etc, and
have examined measurements OF this character
made by many other observers, from which
have esiabl shed for my own goTcrnance ratio
for each month OF the year Tor certain de-
serip.ion Of watershed, which by proper modifi
cations may be applied TO cases OF this kind with
considerable cerfitude-
They show that By the Croton basis an aver
age Of uzillIon ard a thlnd gallons day be
obtained 1roaa each square miie of the Rsmapo
wafer shed. II storing reservoirs are constructed
10 retain the OF the years OF large rainfall
for use during those of less rain. There are
twelve natural lakes on the tributaries Of the
Ramapo. which have aggregate surface "
moderately low dams at the outlets Of each, W III
have an available capacity for storing nine
thou and millions OF gallons OF water.
IL + rrorosed 10 construct Line artificial stor-
ing reservoirs xh.kh viii in the aggregate hold
serea thousand Millions cf gallons. making a
tolai storage for sixteen thousand millions o.
gall3ns Of Nafer.
The natural lakes viii be Of great advantage
nj economy 10 the Kamapo system. because
tnelr capacity for storaxe may og utilized be-
x.,n.l their 1E n drainage areas bT proper man.