The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-24
OH, THE PASSAIC.
Captain Hooker's Pure
Water Gravity Plan
How Meters Work
in Providence.

captain william II. dOOk6rs tu6 0u-
perinten dent of the Empire and New
England TRANSFORMATION Company, in-
spected the water works of Providence
and other New England cities, and took
a trip up the Passaic last fall. AT Mayor
Wanser's request, he made two written
reports of his observations. These have
never been published, and in view of the
present water agitation, they have very
lively interest for Jersey citizens. A re-
porter of The JERSEY CITY NEWS has
been given the privilege Of printing
summary of their contents, as given by
Mr.. Hooker to him in an interview.
about the only thing that Jersey City
needs outside of an honest government, !"
said Mr.. Hooker, sis good and whoie-
some supply of water. This it has not
aud the great question is how to procure
it. To get 1t by gravitation to Belleville
Reservoir is what is needed in order to
stop the enormous expense OF pumping.
/ am in hopes we can get all the water we
want that way.
"This much talked of question should
not be question of price. 1t should be
only question OF quality and quantity,
for without both or these requirements,
Jersey City cannot grow rs she ought.
A PASSAIC DAM.
''It goes without saying tnat the Pas
sale above the Falls is as good water as
flows in any pure and wholesome stream.
The question is. How to get 1t to Jersey
City?
MY plan is to build sewer pipe OF
ample dimensions from Paterson to be-
low Belleville Bridge and have all drain
age on that side of the river empty into
il: then build dam just above Belleville
Bridge with a lock of sufficient size to adj
miu any vessel that navigaEes the Pas
sale.
in the dam put two very large pipes
or sluice waYs, one each side OF the lock,
with gates the same SiZs as the pipes or
sluice ways, so when they have freshet
in the Passaic they could be opened and
relieve the heavy flow OF water In the
river, Besides there would he gates in
the locks that could be opened. and yet
further relieve the pressure. The dam
should be built about about foot higher
than the highest tide In the Passaic at
that place.
at would be necessary to have bill
presented to Congress to get permission
to build the dam. but this l do not think
would be much trouble, for it could be
shown that ir.would be benefit TO navi-
cation, as the water at low tide Is much
lower above Bslleville Bridge than below
it. Besides it would be monstrous
reservoir, and the water would be much
better for being at all times seven to eight
feet deep instead OF three to four feet, and
the water being constantly at about one
height. there would be no bad effect on
the shores from decaying vegetation and
other matter under the hot sun In the
summer as now when the tide Is out. The
dam would shut out the Newark ana
Third River sewage, and the sewer pipe
would carry off all filth from above the
dam aud give us comparatively good
water and an inexhaustible supply.
I'm connection with this itwould be
necessary to have bill prepared and
presented to the Stats Legislature max
ing it a crime, punishable by heavy hne
or Imprisonment. or both. for any person
or persons to pollute the Passaic River In
any shape or manner"
ECONOMY IN METERS.
In reference To the uSe OF meters Cap
tain Hooker said:-"The adoption Of
meters generally in this city would save
considerable expense in fuel, wear and
tear of pumping machinery. and possibly
large outlay for additional pumping
plant, that may be required unless the
meter is universally adopted. The
mipimum water rate in Providence, where
meters are set, Is $40 per annun. 1t is
generally considered advantageous for
consumers, whose bills at the usual
fixture rate would exceed $13 or SIS per
annum to have meters set. the meter
SVSt6m III FIONluouC0 SGCluS W give S6blS-
faction to both the city and the consum-
ers who have meters. The meters are
the property Of the consumers who are
Obliged to purchase such as are approved
by the Water department, whose
employees set them and make all neces-
gary repairs at the consumers expense.
1t is optional with the consumers whether
they will have their services metered or
not, but the Water Board reserves the
right to set meters at their own expense
whenever they deem it advisable. This
Is rarely done, however, except in cases
where there seems to be large or extra
ordinary use of water. The Water Board
permanently employs three men, who
read all the meters quarterly. This takes,
! on the average, about hve weeks during
each quarter. The same men do all the
necessary water fixture inspection that IS
required, as well as other work connected
with the meters in the Office.
Probably If meters were not used,
more than three inspectors would bs re-
uuired to examine fixtures. Meters are
good detectives for waste of water beyond
the service pipes.
s.rhe average daily consumption of
water from January to March 1. 1892 at
the City of Providence with its population
of about 145.000, was 7,695,510 gallons.
This would seem to be a very small
amount of water as compared with this
city with population of 10000 and US
ing about Is. 600, 900 gallons daily.
"There irno question but the Provi-
depce mains and other pipes are tight and
in good order, but the economy in the
consumption is mainly due in my mind to
the use of the meter, for where they are
used there will be no butts or faucets lefl
open, and water runni ng from one years.
end to the other, any more than cop
sumner would leave one or more of the ga.
Jets in this house or factory open ant
burning for like period"