New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-09
NEW1RR'S WATER WORh y.

Our neighb0r the city OF Newark, tne cnieI
city of New jersey, has just undergone a re-
marl,able experience at the hands of a peculiar
institution known as the Board of Works. This
body was especially created by servile Legs
la.ure. in order to transfer the entire municipal
control of Newark TO Democratic politicians.
The Board is appointed by the Mayor, and this
perennial official. as tool OF the bosses
promptly appointed five Democratic politicians
10 the Board. Once appointed no power ABOVE
or beneath the earth save the Governor can
remove them. In order to make the authority
of this non representative, irresponsible Demo-
cratic band still more secure the common
Council the direct representatives. OF the peo-
pie, was shorn of every particle OF power save
in a few trivial details. This accomplished. the
Beard of Works entered upon its career. The
supreme achievement of this body was attained
on Monday, when. in a secret session, speciaily
called so that only those directly in the tlans-
action could be present, the Board OF Works
transferred to the East Jersey Water Company
the sum of $4,oOO,000 in payment for the
citys new water plant. That transaction IN
volying such a large sum, the credit OF the city,
increased burdens to the taxpayers, and the
integrity of a most important contract Tor q
water supply should have been carried out IN
such hot haste, and in profound secrecy, has
naturally aroused widespread suspicion and in
dignatiOn in Newark.
The chief objection arises from the fact that
the water company has not carried out It's con-
tract. That contract called for the delivery
TO Newark on May / of this year OF supply
of $4,000. 900 gallons of water day it pro-
yided for absolute water rights along the re-
ouannocll watershed, the source of the sup
pv it called upon the company to remove
vegetation at the reservoir sites, and to give
a perfectly satisfactory pipeline; these and
other considerations of more or less importance
we're the features of the contract. In no re-
spect has this important agreement been car
ried out by the company. The works OF the
company have not the capacity to deliver more
than 30, 600. 900 gallons OF water daily to
Newark. Just Is. 700 600 gallons day less
than the contracted requirement. The vegeta-
ton has not been removed from the reservoir
sites and as a consequence, during times OF
droutb this vegetation must necessarily decom-
pose and vtiate the water supply with IFS
uoxious poisons. No test of the pipeline has
been made to the satisfaction of the city. The
company has not yet acquired the water rights
along the supply, although condemnation pro-
ceedings are now IN progress in the state
courts Besides. the company has not per
mitted the city TO make an Ofclal Inspection
of the plant These few facts snow at glance
that the water supply and the water plant, as
required by the contract, are by no means com
plete The plant is not ready, the contract
is unfuflled.
In spite of these most patent considerations
the Board OF Works, without the consent OF
single property owner without the concurrence
of the Common Council. without the knowledge
of the people. in spite of a strenuous public
opposition against paying for the water supply
before the contract was amply carried ont-in
spite of all this the Board of Works, at a secret
meeting. has betrayed the city OF Newark at
the behest of corporation. That action was
undoubtedly taken ta foiestal the organized
opposition Of citizens who proposed to test the
matter of payment in the courts nor is it at
all unlikely that such action will be neglected
1t is not to be wondered, therefore, that there
is intense Indignation at this betrayal. II the
transaction was an honest one, why were the
doors closed, why were the negotiations whis-
pered in secret and what were the considera
tions which led Democratic politicians to hand
over -. O0G. 900 for plant which the city :
engineers one of them Mr.. Fteley, of the Croon
Aqueduct declared TO be imperfect? These
selves.