The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-12
The Morris Canal to Be Used
for Right of Way If Its I'm
pudent Bid Is Re-
jeeted.
CITIZENS LOUD PROTESTS
What Counsellor Flemming Thinks
of the Great Steal-Reon
Barnes Dizzy Figures.

The Street and Water Commissioner
have until Saturday afternoon. next. in
which TO accept or reject the ridiculous
proposition of the Jersey City Construc-
tion Company for the furnishing OF
temporary supply of water at The rate oi
$50 per million gallons.
A call for meeting of the Board has
been issued for tomorrow, and it is highly
probable that some action will be taken
on the proposition. The regular meeting
hour is half-past ten O'Clock. and If the
meeting is called at that time the Com
missioners will have an audience OF
interested and indignant taxpayers.
The proposition of the Construction
Company is universally looked upon as a
piece of impudence which should not be
considered at any time.
The fact that the supply prefer
red by the company Is Newark 8
surplus, resurrects some OF The
stories of the troubles experienced
by Newark when its new supply was
first turned on, and which even now has
not abated. A sample Of Newark's
muddy water will be shown
the Street and Water Commissioners
tomorrow. A bottle of 1t
has been procured and will be left with
the Commissioners for Inspection. They
will be permitted to taste 1t if they feel SO
inclined after examining the bottled mud
and animal and vegetable matter.
Taxpayers who have always taken
lively interest in the question of q water
supply, will address the Board and ex
press their opinions OF the proposition.
will be complimentary TO the proposal of
the company.
AN OUTRAGEOUS THREAT.
1t is stated. upon good authority, that
the Construction Company has assumed
dictatorial position toward the city Off
rejection of its bid to enter into
competition with the city and
taka away its most profitable consumers
from whom large revenue is derived.
The principal consumers named are the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company and
American Sugar Refining Company.
Other large consumers are also on
this list. The proposed scheme is to
carry water from Newark through pipes
laid on the banks of the Morris Canal. In
this way Jersey City will not have to be
asked for right Of way or other permission
to the Sugar House. The Pennsylvania
Railroad Company's supply will be
furnished by connection on the mead
ows. Just ouside the city limits. What
ever weight this threat may have with
the Street and Water commissioners, it
certainly has none with citizens who have
learned of this move.
MR. FLEMMING's PROTEST.
Counsellor James flemning, in speak
ing of the proposition this morning,
said;-'"Eyery proposition received
by the city for new supply
of water appears to be getting more
and more ridiculous. This one
Sc fr.-lv outranoous 10 fopx mo
not tit to drink last summer aud it is not
much better now. Jersey City does not
want temporary supply. IL we should
allow the Belleville works to remain idle
for seven years, they would be worth poth-
ing at the end of The time. As the matter
looks now, 1t would appear that the bid OF
the Moffett, Hodgkins & Clarke Co. was
put out OF the way to make room for this
one. / would object to the acceptance OF
any such proposition as this. as any sensible
person would. Passaic water today is
better In my estimation than that de-
livered 30 Newark. Ii will be years be-
fore Newark's supply is good for any
thing. To dam up river makes a new
bed. and it is quite natural that vegetable
matter will be carried through the pipes.
This proposition is made still more
ridiculous when one considers that last
summer Newark's supply was made
quate. Manufacturers were compelled to
erect tanks to keep from getting out of
water. Now branch of the company
desires to sell US 90 100000 gallons day.
ITO accept this proposition, besides,
would mean the addition of a yearly de-
felt OF 100000 or more to onr present
water account shortage, and at that rate
the city would become bankrupt in
short time. This proposition is not
worthy OF a sensible mans considera-
tion."
MR.. REoN BARNES ERRORS.
Mr.. Reon Barnes, of the Lehigh Valley
Railroad Company, in an interview with
World reporter published this morning,
contradicts the statement of The JERSEY
CITY NEWS, that the one mile OF water
pipe to be laid from the terminus of the
Pequannock system to BelleVllle reser-
voir No. would cost about $500. 600. He
vaguely states that '.eDgineers esti-
BEY CITY NEws reporter this morning
interviewed an engineer of this city who
has made the water question special
study. He asserts that the actual
distance from the Newark terminus
10 Reservoir No. at Belleville
State geographical survey Is $500, feet,
300 feet OF which distance is represented
by the width of the Passaic River.
Speaking roughly,one might say that this
Involved the laying of about 6.000 feet of
land pipe and about 200 feet of submerged
plDe, alluWluR AoL CQi fdtuLce huu dD- |
proaehes. The engineer, who has care
fully calculated the cost of laying pipe at
current values, says that to lay 5000 feet |
of four-foot pipe over land and 200 feet |
subln erged ought to cost from $4,000 to |
300, 600.
Mr.. Barnes makes another great point |
eeB the necessity of dredging a channel |
across the Passaic's bed, In which TO lay |
Ihe pipes. My informant fixes the cost |
II this operation >at about S. .000. |
The only remaining expenditure required |
Is in recurring q right Of way for the pipe |
line. 1t would cost nothing to go under |
The Passaic. and large part of |
bne way lies through the streets |
sf Newark and Belleville. This |
would cost nothing beyond the |
regular fees paid for opening streets. |
The rest of the way is nearly all meadow |
md waste land, aud $40, 900 is considered |
very liberal estimate tor securing the |
sntire right of WHY.
Acs ordipg to these figures he entire |
work would cost $125,000 But |
,ven assuming that the work |
Eeuld cost three times Ibis