The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-09-28
WATER And TRANSIT.
Board of Trade Committees
Visit the Street Com
miSsionerS.
WHAT WASSAIDAND DONE
The Board Will Do What It Cans
But is Not Responsible for
the Electric Failure
Other Matters of
Interest.

: Inc bOaTu OF IFdQe CommlLt6e, cOnslsb-
ing of Messrs. DIR. Gordon, J. A. Dear
Simeon II. Smith. Henry Lembeck and
DR.. Flemming, met, with the exception
Of DIR. Flemming, on hand bright and
early this morning at the Office Of the
Streeu and Water Commissioners. These
and figures concerning Passaic water.
The commissioners extended the
privilege of the floor to all who wished to
disclose to them the filthy condition Of
the Passaic, and DIR. Gordon was the first
to step inside the rail-
''The Board of Trade at recent meet
ing by unanimous vote decided that It
was the duty of this Board to secure at
once a new and wholesome supply OF
water. 1t is necessary to the public health
that such a supply should be secured.
We should act; this Board should act, and
L feel safe In saying that If steps were
taken to secure new supply. this Board
would receive the support of every prop
erty owner in the city.
The city OF Passaic is emptying its 500
connections into the Passaic River, four
miles above our intaKe. Montciair Is do
ing the same thing, and in q short time
all the cities In that neighborhood will
extend their sewers to the river We cam
not stand drinking this polluted water
any longer, ana this Board should not
theorize longer, but act and at once" Z"
'sThere is q suit pending in court re-
straing Passaic from emptying its sewers
into the river" interrupted President
Somers.
NO HELP IN COURTS
"That is all bosb," replied the doctor.
s'We can gain nothing from the courts.
baa faa hot tha will
be decided in favor of Passaic. We want
q new and pure supply. Public opinion
backs what say, and it is the duty Of
this Board to take heed to the wishes of
t ne people"
Joseph A. Dear informed the Commits
sioners that public opinion had in the
past year changed; that people who We're
opposed to securing new supply OF
water now demanded 1t.
"The offer made this city by BARTLETT
was good one" said Mr.. Dear. "but we
have lost that chance because Newark
has the water he would have given us.
We need new supply Of water, and we
will find that it Is impossible to prevent
the pollution of the river, as the laws
favor proper drainage more than the
preservation of the purity of water.
would not favor making contract with
the East New Jersey Water
Company, because they would only
be able to supply us few years,
Newark has their water, and l would
favor having this Board advertise for
supply from some other source. Let this
Board act judicially and it will meet with
the approval of every citizen.
1--WE have more than Bartlett to get
water from now, for instance Ramapo,
Reckaway or Paterson Falls. The public
is up In arms on this subject. and the
sooner this Board relieves the sufferings
OF thousands of people the better it will
be-"
MR.. LEMBEcK's VIEWS.
Mr.. Henry Lem beck next addressed the
Commissioners, stating that one year ago
every man who spoke in favor of q new
water supply was at once put down as
Bartlett syndicate man. Mr.. Lemtack
favors new supply, and favors having
the hydrants blown off regularly. Presi-
dent Somers promised to have the hy-
drants blown off at once.
Assemblyman Smith informed the Com
missioners that it was useless to attempt
to get any assistance from the Legislature
to obtain a new supply. Mr.. Smith
favors new supply OF water.
The Commissioners will consider the
matter during the week and take some
definite action upon the subject.
While the water question was being
discussed, communication was read
Robert Blackley of Brooklyn. who wished
to sell to the city prepared quicklime,
which he declares will purify The water
in the reservoir.
While the Board of Trade people were
present their request to know what sew
ers have been cleaned during the past
six months, what streets flushed, and
why the water in the reservoir had been
kept unusually low was read.
The Commissioners were unable to give
the desired information, but promised TO
as soon as practicable. Headed by DIR.
Gordon, the Board OF Trade representa-
tives took their departure, feeling well
satisfied that the Commissioners would
give them all the relief in their power.
RAPID TRANSIT.
The Board next found itself confronted
by another committee from the Board Of
Trade This consisted of Messrs.
Humphrey w. Carr aud Reuben Simp-
son, who appeared in the interest of rapid
transit. The gentleman informed the
was needed not only by resi-
dents of the Heights, but in
every portion of the city. They
stated that they had been informed by
Superintendent Sayre that the electric
system would have been extended to the
ferry but for the black eye that the
Street and Water Commissioners had
given 1t.
Commissioner Dugan knocked this
theory in the head by stating that the
Board would not oppose the march OF
improvement, concluding by saying that
it was not the Boards objections that
caused the system to be stopped
at Varick street, but the property owners
in lower Montgomery street. "It is my
opiniop,n continued the Commissioner,
'.that the system was not a paying one.
The contract that the company
had with the electric company
was not reversed when it expired,
principally because the latter company
demanded higher rates. The railway
company would not pay the increase de-
manded and as a result the system was
abandoned"
TO CLEAN SEWERS.
AS soon as the Board settled down to
regular business an appropriation of
$4,000 was asked from sthe Board OF FL
nance to clean sewers. A communication
from the clerk of the Fire Board, relative
to the rickety condition of No. 9 Engine
house on Henderson street, was referred
to the Committee on Public Grounds and
Buildings, and Corporation Counsel Ed
wards.
Bids for the furnishing of public
schools Nos. 90 and "a. Three bids were
received from Trenton firms. The lowest
one was that of Mr. Dunn, whose prices
were:-Teachers' desks. s.; double desks,
So. rs, and back seats. S225. The bids are
held over for one week. Plans for the
change of grade Avenue K, between
Broom place and Gates and BartholdI
place, presented by Chief Rugglss, were
adopted.