The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-03-04

NEWARK WATER SUPPLY
President Smith Instructs
His Engineers to Re-
port Facts.
NOT ALTOGETHER ENCOURAGING
Some Contracts That We're Ig-
nored-Another Analysis
of the Quality.
NOT ALTOGETHER ENCOURAGING
Special to the Jersey ctr Nc,os.

DpctHut 70 tue oefocB ~ A'CW"'
NEWARK, March 4, 1892. james Smith,
Jr., of the Street and Water Board di-
rected engineers. Messrs. jacobsen and
Fteley, to report to the Board the exact
condition of the East Jersey Water Com
pany's plant which is to provide the peo-
pie of Newark with water. The report
sets forth that the drainage area above
Oak Ridge is capable of furnishing more
water than can be stored in the reservoir.
but the Clinton reservoir has a small
water shed as compared with its capacity.
'In view of good practice, and in ac-
cordance with the terms of the contract"
the report contin ues. ''our Judgment of
the capabilities of the system adopted
must be based on its probable yield IN
such dry periods as have been experienced
within our knowledge in similar circum-
stances, and we are of the opinion That
the portion of the water shed OF the
Pequannock included in the present sys-
tenn of work with the reservoirs now
built. although ample for the supply OF
e. SOC, 600 gallons nov required for New
ark, could not in a dry period furnish a
maximum daily supply for each and every
day in the year of 50. 600, 900 gallons. On
the strength of the comparison made, as
above stated. and from our present
kDOWlGuG6 VI buC Ic1uuudOSh waves
shed, we further believe that the capacity
of the present system in II time OF drought
could not exceed So. 600, 900 gallons for
each and every day i'll the year."
A DANGEROUS MARGIN.
Further on, referring TO seveTai
branches attached to the conduit for the
diversion of water to other points, the re-
port continues
IF connections are to be made with the
branches mentioned or il water is TO be
furnished for the purposes aforesaid 1t Is
plain that in a time of drought during
the period that the company is empow-
cred by the contract to divert water for
its own purposes, the margin between the
capacity of the present system and the
volume of water due tue city of Newark
would be dangerously small"
.tSlnce the reservoirs have begun to NIL
M and the dams have been subjected to
water pressure small flows of water have
appeared at different points along the
outside of the embankment, also through
the rock near the ~gate-chambers, aud
through the masonry wall of the OAK
Rldpe gate cham Der. While there are
at present no Indications that these leaks
are of a serious nature, they will, how
ever, be kept under constant and careful
observation the result of which will en-
able us to determine their extent and
character.
.'The appearance Of a part of the
grounds near the dams, especially where
extensive excavations have taken place,
is not neat and workmanlike, and no at
tempt has been made to form regular
slopes and to protect the same. This mat
ter should be attended TO"
IN REGARD TO FLoWAGE,
In regard to the shallow fiowage clause,
the report is probably less explicit than
might be desired by the public. The
contract calls for a depth of eight feet at
the banks wherever the conformation OF
the ground will admit of it.
This change" says the report, mas al
most entirely ignored within the terms OF
the specifications a large extent OF the
natural slopes can be left in its present
condition., out at u number OF places.
especially III large areas OF swamp eX-
tehding along the streams running d.
rectly into the reservoirs and on eX-
tensiye shoals and high grounds. the
surface of which is close to high-water
mark. excavations should cake place, with
proper slodes. in order to comply with the
requirements of the contract. The nec-
cessary excavating can be done IN sum
mertime, when the level of the water in
the reservoir is low enough to permit of
The report does not include the intake
dam or the conduit, and it IL not In any
sense final. The engineers say that they
no means of ascertaining the lands ana
water rights acquired by the East Jersey
Water Company.
PRESIDENT SMITHS VIEWS.
President James Smith said yesterday
that the report was made at his sugges
lion. and that perhaps some people might
think that the action was premature. in
asmucb as the East Jersey Water Com
papy, had made no proposition to the
hoard and had not intimated in any way
that they considered the work completed
or wished the city to accept It. lie
thought tina the time was drawing to a
close M that as the company had sent
away it's engineers and discharged It's
force OF men a little action on the part OF
men a little action on the part OF the city
might be salutary. The report, he thinks,
shows several things which should be
known by the public, and it is mani
fest to him that another storage
reseruior is necessary to give a daily
supply of Is, O00, 600 gallons before the
work is finally accepted by the city. Mr..
Fteley told him that the water shed was
sntficlent to give this additional supply.
Mir. Smith said in conclusion that no
clamor for pure water and no u and
crv that can be raised will drive him to
vote for the acceptance of the Work until
he Knows that it is completed according
to the contract.
CHEMIST wIENER'S ANALYSIS.
The sample of Newark water analysed
last week was obtained from The labora-
tory hydrant on Wednesday. Below Is
shown the report or the analysis:-
LABORATORY OF THE HANSON,
VAN WINKLE Co.,
NEWARK, N. j.. Feb. II, 1899.
- .o.&a al. 10a mn y