The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-25

any OF the schemes for water supply now
be the Street and Water Commis-
sfoners. He asked Vii. Ward ii the plan
to obtain water from the State would in
volve the city more than it could bear.
The lowest estimated cost for q water
supply had been $500. 900 a year. He
admitted that water could NOT be
had for nothing, and it had been as
sumed by the board that water could be
obtained from the State for less than from
private companies for the appropriation OF
the water sheds by the State. shuts out
speculators. MIR. Dea said it was n
ally admitted that the city could not float
bonds sufficient 10 pay for a supply. n
that this fact male it necessary for
parties making bids to agree to accept
the city's ponds in payment. No bankers
would take the bonds without enormous
security being assured them. lie
believed that a water commission, such
as wal in the bill the board had presented
to the Legislature, could furnish water
cheaper than il the city built its OWE
works or bought water from Ia private
the State the best security for the bonds
aud as other cities took advantage OF the
opportunity the burdens Of the original
investors would grow lighter. Il would
like Mr.. Ward to tell us something about
the cost" concluded Mr.. Dear.
WHAT If WOULD COST.
"WithouG calculation on a de1uibe
plan" said Mr.. Ward, 81 can only say
that it would not cost this city more than
it cost Newark, which paid s.. 900. 900. IL
has paid down 1900. 900 and can receive
until the year 1900, 81, SOC. 900 gallons Of
water at aD annual cost of $3.50. 600, or a
little less than SIG a million GALLONS. In
1900, when Newark pays the remaining
S. 00, 900. 1t will be entitled to receive
,t.ffu 60 00n mn oo1Iona at q p0af lasx than
1t is now. A private company canno
deliver water without a large price, be-
cause at the end of the life of the con
tract. thirty years, they have no guaran :
tee that the contract will not be thrown
pack on them and that the city Will for
felt the money it had paid. therefore,
private companies must charge enough TO
make good this possibility.
"The bill which was presented to the
last Legislature authorizes the State to
take possession of the most available and
desirable water sheds and to purvey
water to municipalities. The method of
obtaining q water supply by individual
municipalities is very expensive when
the sources of supply are SO distant. It
is ridiculous for cities like Jersey City.
Hoboken and Bayonne to act alone.
Water will ultimately get into the hands
of CORPORATIONS or the State. The bill we
drafted is a constitutional one according
to some Of the best legal authorities IN the
State, and it is practical. L think
Passaic water will be used until this
plan has been adopted. In some cities in
this country there has almost been civil
war over the supply of water by private
corporations. Without dis~paragement
to its members, I would say the Street
and Water Board is put in power by the
people and eau be removed when the peo-
Ole WANT to do so, but a contractor cant
be removed. You may quarrel with a
contractor, but you c4n't get rid OF him.
1t is, however, a waste of timesto bother
with tina Street and Water Board, Tor
nothing can be done by them without
the consent of the Mayor. and while ne
may honestly think Il water contract the
best, he may give it to Us. Ii be does ne
will al a great mistake.
IMMORTALITY RESPONSIBILITY.
sIf this board can show him this. it will
save the city from great disaster. The
power rests in the hands Of the Mayor,
and the responsibility is his"
john D. Carscallen said he thought It
was due to the Mayor II to the board
itself to put the board on record as to the
water question. don't believe in clos
ing the doors to the press. That IS the
avenue through which we receive our
information. We are the purchasers and
we should know all about what we are
about to buy. 1 have seen In the papers
that this water question is to be consid-
cred in secret and | don't believe the
press should be excluded. 10 put the
Board Of Trade on record I offer these
resolutions"
s.Whereas, The various in provemeuts
now contemplated aud in course OF cou-
struction In Hudson county aud Jersey
City must.of necessity increase largely the
amount of money to be raised by annual
taxation: therefore be it
Resolved, That this Board Of Trade
believes IT 70 be the duty Of our public