The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-30
MUNICIPAL ADVANCE
Street and Water Board
Report Shows How the
City EGroWs.
VERY TROUBLED WATER,
Beset By Syndieates and the
People, the Board Will
Steer a Middle
Course.
SOUTH COVE CONGRATULATIONS.
That Rotten Meadows Main
Improvements Of a Year.
SOUTH COVE CONGRATULATIONS

At the meeting of the Street and Waite +
Board this morning. Clerk George Bouron
submitted the annual report of the Board
which he has prepared. 1t was ordered
fled, and copies sent to the Boards OF
Finance and Aldermen. The most inter
esting features of the report are those
which deal with the South Cove case and
water question.
SOUTH COVE GRANT.
On the interesting subject of the South
Cove Grant, the report says
1.-THE contention by the city authorities
with certain railroad corporations Tor
this valuable territory, has, during the
past year. been decided in our favor. py
the highest Courts of this State. The rail-
roads have filed notice of an appeal to
the United States Courts and the
case Will De continued there TO its final
ending, which We believe will result in
our acquiring full possession. The pres
ent benefit to be derived from such an ac-
QUESTION, Will be great, while It's future
value to the city cannot but be enor-
NOUS"
THE WATER PROBLEM.
Taking up the water supply problem.
the report discusses it thus:-
II. Shall we eudeavor TO secure such
legislative action as will permit the con-
demnation of sufficient water shed in
the State, then convey q supply by pipe
line or condition to our Belleville plant,
thus retaining the supply and distrlbu-
tiou under corporate control3
80 Shall we enter into contract with a
private syndicate to deliver at Belleyille
a certain quantity of water daily, at a
fixed price, per million gallons?
''3 Shall we endeavor to purify the
present supply by attempting to divert
taH irNfa if
or by adopting a system of filtration to
purify the water, after 1t shall have en-
tered the intakea
"The question of new water supply is
as yet an unsolved problem. While it is
claimed that the demand for purer water
is almost universal, the many opportuni-
ties which have been given our citizens
to express themselves on this question.
have been uuproductive of practical re-
suits, The public seems to be woefully
apathetic, for at no time have they indi-
Gated in sufficient numbers, either by
voice or presence, that they desire new
supply. and we must therefore reason, by
the lack OF uegation, that they acquiesce
in the demands which have been made
upon us.
THE sYNDICATEs.
"In strong contrast is the course pur-
sued by the would-be parties of the second
part, the various corporations or syndi-
Gates who nave something, or would have
US think they have something to sell.
They are always on the alert,
anticipating our possible require
ments, booming their own particular
systems aud showing the utter fmpractl-
cability of all other schemes. Individ-
uals possessing the confidence of the peo-
Pile, niouiders of public opinion, posses
sors of official influence, honorable men
above suspicion are subtly courted. Each
system desires to enlist in its behalf
whatever of brains, whatever of in
fiuence exists in the community, and
like the octopus, It's tentacles are far
reaching. When it is considered that
each corporation or syndicate represents
capitalization of from five to ten mill
lions of dollars. their power for good or evil
must be enormous. 1t not necessary lat
questionable methods should be resurted
to, nor do we believe that they have been.
Large blocks of capital, of themselves, at
tract mighty and influential clientage,
and by the sole reason of concentration,
prove always a tremendous lever.
Like the glacier moving down
The side Of the mountain, the bodies
which are Immediately attracted, cause
by their displacement, the setting in
motion of other bodies, until the ulti-
mate multiple of that product, far re-
moved from the active principle, Is be-
yond human conce Dtion.
DOCTORS DIFFER.
1.-THE result is thiS:-While prospective
supplierS are siuQularly unanimous as to
the alarming condition OF our water sup
ply. we have but to seem to favor ever so
little any one of the several schemes,
when common cause is made
against it, and we are more
than vaguely accused of cupidity.
II matters net what the scheme. Each
has its strong champions. Each has its
quote of "best citizens" to advocate it.
Each is the cheapest and most practi-
cable and controls the only supply Of ab-
solutely pure water,o while the
measure OF Its advocacy is only
with which it seeks to ,quell opposition.
Mean while. representative citizens urge
us to speedily take such action as will
result in the securing of new and pure
supply. while citizens equally representa-
tive. loudly proclaim the good
spsusn saio water some q DESIRE Ise psw pas
supply, quickly; Others desire that we
should proceed slowly and carefully,
while yet others are content with pres
ent conditions. The Board of Trade.
which should be a good Indicator of the
pulse of The the people, is house
Jugs called for the special
purpose of discussing this present and
vital question, show an attendance equal
TO not more than 10 per cent ofits mem
bership, while from the result of its con-
ferences. we look in vain for guide post
to public desires. A strange lack of \
unanmitv prevails throughout our city
on this question. No body of citizens can
agree as to requirements Or methods. but
q statement that this Board is not suffi-
ciently alive to the question and that it
snould be the Moses to Immediately lead
the people out of the present wilderness
of doubt and uncertainty meets with
many d; responsive echo. The public
would seem also to have invested US with
the rod OF that ancient prophet. and that
we had but 10 strike the rock of present
difficulty when pure water Will gush
forth.
WILLING TO ACT.
"Recognizing the fact that we are the
agents of the people. we are willing to
assume a fair measure of responsibility,
but submit that IT cannot be expected of
us 10 solve, offnand, problem, the con-
ditions of which are not submit
red to US. We have no desire
to dodge the issue, but do most
earnestly request that the general public
will evince agreater interest. II they will
but do that, we promise 10 take heed.
and while we feel that at no time can a
majority OF our citizens be brought to