The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-06-03
Sl!MPLING
ADAMS ALE,
Cruise of Jersey City's
Water Experts on the
Placid Rock away.
MR.. RILEY THEIR PILOT.
Pure Drinking Fluid Found. in
Many Ponds and Streams.
Contamination Can Be Prevented
Gravity Delivery at High
Service.
Special to The Jerssu city Ne,es.

BooNToN, June 8. 1693.-Last night
Mayor Wanser. Street and Water Com
missioners Madden and Yoe. Finance
Commissioners Detwiller, City Attorney
Wear5 and Chief Engineer Ruggles. worn
and weary from the inspection of the
water sources of the Rockaway the pre-
cedipg day, accepted an invitation gener-
ousIy extended BY Contractor Hugh
Riley of New YORK. who is one of the
three bidders who have estimates before
the Board of Street and Water Commits
sioners for the furnishing to the city of
a new supply OF water. to remain over
night at the Mansion House. Boonton, as
his guests.
The fresh air and the sight of so much
pure and wholesome water during the
day had sharpened the appetites of the
city officials, aud accordingly when Mi.
Riley announced That supper was ready
hungry party OF visitors promptly re-
spspded TO the summons.
In the evening pleasing en- terrain nment
was furnished. All the members OF the
party retired early, SO as to be prepare q
to cope with the fatigue which would
result from another long bur delightful
trip through valleys and over mountains
TO Inspect Mr.. Riley's sources oil supply.
The early morning train brought Cor
poration Counsel Edwards and Commits
sioner Somers on the scene. AT half past
nine Commissioner Cook, who had driven
from Morrislown to Boonton accom-
panied by his son Willie, arrived, and
then began the preparations for the days
tour of inspection.
RILLY'S SITE.
In carriages tie members OF the party
Il n IL Mp
Underwood, Engineer Cornelius Vermeul
aud his assistant Engineer jenkins, pro-
ceeded TO the site of MIR. Riley's Intake
at Powerville.
Yesterdays tour had q tendency to
br1Dg out the feelings OF the officials in
the matter OF the supply, aud gne party
had not proceeded tar when they We're
compelled to admit the watershed OF the
Rockaway oilers wonderful Inducements
TO Jersey City. There is pieuty OK water,
and It's purity cannot be disputed. That
tie watershed is provided with natural
storage reservoirs ls undisputed, and the
only hitch that presents itself in the way
of u barrier at all. is the fear Of pollution
from various soulc ces in the future.
Contractor Riley proposes to secure his
supply from the same naguihce ut
sources as do the Moffett. HodQk1ns d
Clarke Company. The same waters are
to be delivered 10 jersey Cltg by both
49,
the plans of the opposing com panies lies
in the manner OF storing 1t. deiveFing it
aud, more partic ularly. and principally,
in the manner proposed to establish an
intake.
Thursday's tour brought out objections
from Mayor Wanser and City Attorney
Weart and others regarding the saving
of ihe water OF the Moifett, Hodx-
kins & Clarke Company's intake at Fitz-
v,lbou,s Mills aJ Booutsn from being
contaminated + ON the sewage OF Boon
ton, RocKaway, Dover and other small
places, and also from factories OF an Old
style type which line theRockaway banks.
The officials argued that an intake
should De established further up the
river Mr.. Riley's plan was this, buJ
even with this i'm provement great doubts
exist as tG the disposal of Doyer's sewage,
which is such an Important factor That
it casts the same objections upon Riley 8
pIau as it and the others mentioned do
upon the former conDany's.
Today's trip was by far the more inter-
esting trip of the two, as greater discus
sion was brought out, aud all objections
now visible aud in the prospective were
debated. However, this will be explained
subsequently,.
RocKAwAY INSPECTION.
Arriving at Powerville the party in-
spected the Rockaway at the point where
a receiving reservoir Is TO be constructed
by Riley aud his associates. The Rock
away at the point selected Is perhaps
forty feerwide, with an average depth
OF nine feet A great wall OF rock rises
Oh the northeriy bank. while The Morris
Canal bank is on the opposite shore. The
water at this point Is so clear that ths
rivers bed can be plainly seen at any
point. The water is purified by passing
through the Rockaway Valley.
Here is the intake of RiIey's
plan. 1t is three miles above
the proposed intake OF Moffett, Hodg gkins
& Clarke Company. 1t also has an eleva-
tiun of $50 feet greater tnan the latter
conipany's The river flows slowly, and,
being shallow, no trouble will De ex-
perienced in building a dam. The water,
which is husbanded ut ltis point, will be
put through contemplated course OF
settling, which the officials favored. The
dam is TO be OF sufficient heightto en-
able the water to assume a depth Of
twenty feet. Extending back into the
valley for five miles will be the great
settling basin or reservoir with an aver
aye depth of l5 feet and storage capacity
of sixteen hundred million zgallons OF
water. The trees In the valley are TO be
dug out, all vegetation removed and the
shores BANKED. This reservoir alone Will
contain seventy -thlee days supply. ex-
cIusive of Stony Brook reservoir, Dixon's
Pond. beaver BROOK, Split Rock Pond
and the Long Wood Valley. Mr.. Riley
maintains that all kinds OF Vegetation
anu other matter will sertle before pass
ing over and out of the Powerville reser-
voir. There Is no fear of contamination
from forges or mills ut or near this point,
because the water mas not force
eDough to supply power. and again, u IS
q channel stream, which, having q uepth
Of 20 feet, is free from all Dad effects OF
the suu's rays, as IS noticeable In more
shallow streams.
Fully two hours were spent at Lnls
point, during which time Engineer ver-
inenl explained the feasibility OF theRiley
plan, When asked to explain how it Was
Inat they contemplated taxing the same
sources as Moffett, Hodgkins 81 Clarke
Company, Counsellor Underwood ex-
plaiued that any contracting party could
do the same thing so long as it had the
power of bringing cobdemnatory pro-
ceeaings on behalf OF u municipality the
size of Jersey City.
The establishments of the MoHett Com
pany's intake at Fitzgibbon's mills, me-
cess itates the purchase Of those mills and
il is said that a quarter OF q million is
asked.
Mr. Riley is confronted with similar