The Jersey City news., 1891-09-08
FOR BETTER WATER.
Greenvil1e Citizens Sup
port THE News
Crusade.
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE TODAY.
Statements Which Should Attract
General Attention-Pastor
Scudder on The
Subject.
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE TODAY.

A committee consisting of Messrs.
Frank Baldwin, Reuben Simpson, w. H.
Armstrong, J. j. Detweilier, D. c. Oliver
George Schmolze, Thomas Coogan, G. W.
Vreeland and President Harvey of the
Sixth District Property Owners Associa-
ton, held long conference with the
Mayor this morning with reference to a
new water supply.
Mr.. Baldwin, as Chairman Of the Conn
mittee, explained the object of the con-
ference. The property owners in the
Sixth district are up in arms, and are
thoroughly in earnest in joining in The
agitation for a new supply of water. The
Mayor greeted the committee courteously,
and after listening to speeches by every
all present that he was heartily
in favor of the movement. He was not,
however, in favor of an extravagant out
lay of money on the part of the city, and
in speech at the close OF the conference
expressed his belief that new water
supply conld be secured from private
corporations cheaper than the city itself
could furnish it, taking into considera-
ton the erection of new works,
buildings, ETC. He was not in favor of
further bonding the city. He believed it
would cost the city more than SIS, ,O0000
to furnish a new water supply; lie saw
no reason why the city should furnish
water any more than gas or coal.
Mr. Henry Lembeck in discussing the
present supply of water, said the city
was losing it's population In consequence
thereof. He said he was heavy tax
payer. Tenants had vacated two OF his
houses, and he was about to lose the ten
rt,A ft,< 49, o. ffn.<
the city to furnish the people OF this city
with such water as we now have
to drink was, in the opinion OF Mr.. Lem
beck, an indictable offence. Mr.. Lem
beck, as diu the several gentlemen who
prec eded him, asked the Mayor to agitate
the matter. Let us have good water" :"
he said, "no matter what the cost. We
will stand behind you"
Mr.. Armstrong said he looked at the
Passaic River near the Jersey City intake
some time ago He didn't want to look
at it again. The Mayor advised him not
to. Houses on the streets near Greenville
Bay brought only $40 rent month. which
in Brooklyn would bring sixty. He
bla med the city government AS mill
tary man, Mr.. Armstrong said, when
agitating the question some years ago,
he found the old Board Of Works without
a head, practically. For that reason he
voted for the new charter. lie now
knew upon whose shoulders to lay the
blame for municipal wrongs. He ex-
pressed his belief also that the new water
supply must come from private cor
poration. He declared he was not hnan-
cially interested in the matter.
Mr. Thomas Coogan asked the Mayor
at least to interest himself to the extent
of seeing that the hydrants of the Sixth
district were blown cH SO as to afford
temporary relief.
"I'll do that" responded the Mayor.
Mr.. mbeck-''A yesterdays fire we
actually couldn't stand near The stream
from the fire engine, the water stanx
So"
President Harney of the Association
made a good speech and eloquently be-
sought the Mayor ito push the matter to
head. I'VE mean that the whole city
shall join in this agitation" said he.
After all the visitors had their say, the
Mayor replied at length in his own de-
fence. He said that four years ago the
city had proposition from private COR
from the mountain regions. the Pequan-
mock River and Lake Macopin. he en-
couraged it, He went to the
Board of Works and found it
favored the proposition. The corporation
agreed TO furnish the city with $4,000, 600
gallons day from the Pequannock River
at the rate of $36 per million gallons. The
Board of Works passed upon it favor
ably. but the Board of Finance
refused to Immediately concur, and
the proposition was soon Withdrawn
because it was found by those who made
the offer that they would loose money at
that price. Next the Bartlett syndicate
came along and offered to furnish pure
water at $685. per million gallons. ! was
in favor of it," be said. and because was
/ was denounced as - thief Doctors
got together. some1 of them very
reputable ones, analyzed The water and
pronounced it good. ] think some of
them are ashamed of it today. Public
m lettings were held to denounce the idea
of new supply. One speaker alluded to
me personally, saying;-'Look at the
Mayor himself. He's been drinking Pas
sale water for forty years, and
is none the worse off for it. was
afraid to make too much of hubbu b
about our drinking water, as that woul d
prejudice people against the city. had
some newspaper support, but the people
were not with me. The Mayor cannot
carry out any public improvement with
out the people are with him."
Some of the visiting committeeman
were disappointed at not meeting The
conference. 1t was 81 misunderstanding
on the part of those disappointed.
Some further discussion was held as TO
what was the best course TO pursue in
order to ascertain the entire peoples will
in the matter. The idea of holding pub.
lie meeting was frowned upon because
there are always so many whose opinions
are not cared Tor, who usually monopolize
the talking.
There is some talk of circulating petit
tions through the various districts. The
Sixth District Property Owners Associa-
tion will meet this evening and further
discuss the subject.
PULPIT DENUNCIATI0N.