The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-10-25
WATER BY GRAVITY
The Faster 1t Flows the
Slower the Ebb of the
City's Cash.
RU GGLES STRONG SAFEGUARDS
Public Interests Fully Protected
Plenty of Good Water in the
Passaic Shed.
RU GGLIS STRONG SAFEGUARDS

The adoption of Chief Engineel
Ruggles' specifications by the Street and
Water Commissioners for the acquisition
of new supply of pure and wholesome
water was the principal topic of conver
sation throughout the city last night, ano
many were the expressions of "God speed
them in their work.
The feasibility of securing supply by
gravity has been discussed by some of the
most prominent authorities upon en-.
glneering in the Srate. Owing to Jersey
Clty's loWness of level. it is possible. and
at the same time it does away with an
enormous expense, that is at present eat.
ing up the entire revenue derived from
the sale of water In the city.
Mr.. MADDEN'S HINT.
AT the meeting of the Board on April
" last, when Commissioner Madden was
chosen President, he said, upon accepting
the chair, in relation to q new water
supply. Although at the present time
l am not prepared to fully commit myself
to any OF the many projects that have
been before us, am satisfied that Jersey
City's best interest would be conserved
by gravity supply. Whether we change
our source OF supply or not in the near
future we must make provision for in
creased carrying facilities"
President Madden favored a gravity
supply and favors it still more strongly
now. His reasons are based upon facts
aud figures submitted by Commissioner
Yoe. At the same time it may be re-
marked that similar statistics were sub
mitted to Mayor Wanser by Captain
Hooker. This explains Mayor Wanser's
belief that gravity supply will be better
and cheaper for the city than any other
method OF dealing with the water prob
lem.
INSPECTING THE WATERSHED.
Com mnlissiOner Yoe is an authority upon
the water question. With Chief Ruggles
he has made many examinations of the
Passaic water shed. He is at present
Chairman of the Committee on Pumping
aud Reservoirs and is we'll posted upon
the cost OF running the Belleville Pump
ing Station and High Service
The two stations are run at an expense
exceeding sl50,000 per year. Even this
enormous sum does not include the wear
and tear upon the engines and buildings
In conjunction with this must be consid-
cred the almost daily expected calamity
of the wreck OF the mains across the
HackensacK meadows. What it costs to
keep these patched up no one knows, but
men are compelled to work at them con-
tinually,
THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
At the present time the water is
pumped from the Passaic into an i'm
mense reservoir at Belleville From this
point 1t is conducted by gravity to High
Service. There would be no trouble ex-
perienced in supplying lower Jersey City
with gravity supply from High Service
just SO long as the water was there. .But
the upper sections of the city are even
higher than the High Service reservoir,
and consequently it is necessary to keep
pump at this station. No plan can be
devised whereby the pumping at this
point can be dispensed wish.
''URder Chief Ruggles' specifications. .
said Commissioner Yoe, "BeIievilless
pumps can be dispensed with almost al
together. There is a bountiful supply OF
water in the Passaic watershed. AS pure
water as can be found In our State is Of
tainable there. Let the contracting
party secure the right to take it and the
benefits jersey Citizens will derive will
be boundless when contrasIed with the
expense.
GRAVITY ADVANTAGES.
s'By gravity an enormous supply can be
conducted to Belleville. By gravity it
can be delivered to High Service. By
gravity the greater part of Jersey City
can be supplied, and the only pumping
that will be required will be in supplying
the more elevated portions of the city.
1.-THE specifications are ironclad. The
city is protected in every particular, aud
believe that brighter days are ahead for
this city when wholesome supply of wa
ter is obtained
The specifications prohibit anyone from
securing any portion of our supply. We
have the first call for $4,000. 600 gellons
daily. while our present consumption is
but 90, 000 600 gallons. We will pay under
the specifications the money for sup
ply into any depository the con-
tractor directs. We guard against water
famine by provision fo2 having a stor-
age capacity for q supply guaranteed to
last at least one hundred days, with a
supply to last at least sixty days always
on hand. 1 know of no Objectionable
feature in the specifications, aud believe
the city's interests are we'll protected"