The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-08-26
NEWARK'S WATER.
Present Condition Of the System
Now Under Construction.

Newark will have its new water supply
by December /. aud there is great rejoice
ing among the people at tho prospect OF
exchanging for pure and wholesome
water the vile and poisonous Passaic
River. They say they cannot get rid Of
the Passaic too soon. The report made TO
the Street and Water Commissioners ut
their meeting Monday BY Charles L.
Jacobsen. civil engineer. was most en-
~couraginr to the people. who are thor
ouehly alarmed at the condition OF the
Passaic River. In the report Mr.. Jacob
August o, 1891
Oak Ridge Reservoir-The work on the same
is assuming the appearance Of a speedy COM
pletion, the earth work and concrete core now
being within about twelve feet from the top. IL
has been decided @ extend the concrete core
further into the hillside Mt the southwesteriy
end Of the dam. and preparations have been
made for that purpose. The work on the gate
chambers has been completed up to the height
From iR5 TO 40 men are now engaged on the
clearing OF the reservoir, and while considerable
Roadway has been made. the greater part OF the
work remains yet TO be done.
Clinton Reservoir-The earthwork of the dam
and concrete core now reaches above the beams,
and the same large force OF men and carts con
tlnue to be employed on this work, making salts
factory progress The work on the overflow at
the east end of the dam is also progressing.
and the new water way from the overflow to
the old bed Of Moseman's brook, below the dam.
The clearing OF this reservoir site Is steadily
progressing, and along the easteriy side around
commenced about a week ago. and the refuse
matter is being heaped up and burned as the
work progresses.
THE MAcoPx INTAKE.
Macopin Intake-The mason work on the dam
Is finished. and the work of clearing the site has
been resumed. This reservoir site, with the ex-
ception Of parts near the dam, received a thor
ough clearing Of stumps aud roots last autumn,
but naturally a thick new growth Of weeds, etc.,
has appeared during the present season. the re
moval OF which forms the greater part Of the
The gatehouse, above the floor beams, is now
being built OF brick and cut-stone. aud when
finished viii be of very neat appearance.
The conduit. About fifteen miles of conduit
10 which there Is a considerable length bolted
together In the trench. With the exception OF
a small closing.in piece OF about four feet IN
the short distance crossing the Slingerland
property at Pomptcn Plains. all the work OF
laying the conduit from the intake 70 within
about one quarter of a mile OF the crossing OF
the D., l. & W. r. r. (Boonton Branch), has
been completed, and on this side OF the Great
Notch, the pipe line now reaches the canal,
crossing near Brookdale, In Bloomfield town
ship.
the Pompton river bridge has been commenced:
anu III ~ IaocafC fiNch bitukc u ptPu ndo oEoh
placed in position and suspended from the iron
In this connection. F. Fteley, consult
ing engineer. reported:-
OAK RIDGE DAM.
At Oak Ridge dam the centre wall Is also
founded on the solid rock, with the exception OF
the side hill opposite the gatehouse, where II
steps up into the drift material OVERLAPPING the
rock. At that point the core extends at present
only as far as the point, as the top of the dam is
to meet the natural surface; but the Chief En-
gineer informs me 1t is to be extended into the
hill, in order TO cut of any inf tration of water
which might otherwise take place around the
structure.
This is a very important point, as without
those precautions this part of the dam would be
much less protected than the rest against per-
collation., and might be found insufficient.
All the work OF stone masonry and of con-
creteinow going on is OF satisfactory quality,
and the building of the embankment is being
done with the same care that j have already
noticed.
At the time of my last visit, a few DAYS ago.
the finishing touches were being given TO the
main work at Macopin. and the house over the
gate chamber was being begun.
Judging from the progress now being made,
1t appears probable that the work on the DAMS,
as far as necessary for the filling of the reser-
voirs, IL soon to be completed.
In order 10 fully appreciate whether all
clauses OF the contract are being complied
with. l have applied, besides other documents,
for the contour plans Of the reservoirs. As
soon as l have procured them, / may have some
further Information to convey as to the prepar-
alton Of the basins.