The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-21
JERSEY CITY'S NEW
WATER SCHEME.
From the Newarh Evening Ne,gs.

A~ssemblyman Salinger, of Hudson
County, has introduced into the Assem-
bly,, and Senator Daily INTO the Upper
House, a bill through which still another
effort is to be made to secure for Jersey
City, on advantageous terms, an interest
in the water supply OF Newark. The
measure, in the guise of a general law,
but SO framed that it applies only to the
Newark supply, authorizes Jersey City
to make a contract with the East
Jersey Company to supply it with
the surplus wafer of the Newark system.
Ii the bill stopped there. It would, Of
course be Of little interest or Importance.
There are no obstacles. except financial
ones in the way of jersey City's doug
that now If 1t is in the mind.
But the bill goes further, and 1t Is In
this that il conflicts with what the East
Jersey Company no DOUBT regards as its
rights. 1t provides that in case of ina
billy TO agree with the corporation as to
the compensation for the surplus water,
an application shall be made by the
municipality to any Justice OF tine Su-
preme Court for the appointment OF
three COM missioners. These shall pro-
coed to arbitrate W che parties,
and shall fix the price to be paid, Il the
terms and conditions of delivery, but not
so as TO coufl ct with any rights acquired
under the original contract.
II goes without saying That such a bill
as this is not wanted by the East Jersey
Company. That corporation wants the
price of any water it may sell to Jersey
City fixed not by the cost of the works,
but by the necessities of the town.. No
commission likely to be named by q
Judge of The Supreme Court would de-
eide that the city should pay such a sum
NJ SSn "a million yallnnl for tina yVatAr
That is the figure set by the company in
the ouly bid that has seen Presented to
the Jersey City authorities III its behalf.
The East jersey Company has SO far
shown its ability TO take care OF itself,
aud any legislation involving what IL
may regard rs the violation OF its rights
it can light in the Legislature aud in the
courts Leaving to it the protection OF
its own interest 1t is proper 60 consider
Mr.. S%alinger's bill in It's relations to
Newark.
Untll this city, by it's final payment for
the works and acceptance of them. shall
euter upon their possession, II has 40 OBJ
lection to any diversion OF the water tn t
Shall not conflict with its rights. Tue
contract with tue East Jersey Company
contemplates such diversion, gives the
company the right to max IL aud at the
same time assures Newark OF protection
against the Invasion of its rights. As The
Ncaos has said the supplying OF water TO
Jersey City might be of positive advan-
tage to this municipality by showing by
the best and most practical of tests The
true capacity of the water supply system.
The possible danger under the proposed
law, despite its apparent Difference to the
existing contracts, is that, inthe event OF
condemnation proceedings, Newark
might be put into a position in which IL
would Ue uuabie 10 defend its true rights
in the premises. This city has not, 1T Is
TO be remembered, sought and contracted
for q water supply for Its present neces-