The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-09-13
City Officials Enraged at
the Courts Reflections
On Their Honesty.
PUBLIC GOOD THEIR AIM
They Invite the Fullest Investiga-
tion in Spirited Letter to
Foreman Thurston of the
Grand Jury.

The Street and Water Commissioners
are by no means pleased with Judge
Lippincotts charge to the Grand Jury
last Tuesday concerning the condition OF
the water. They feel that they have
been accused of having conspired to do
all in their power to keep the water in
as bad condition as possible. They re-
pudiate this insnuation and boldly de-
mand of the Court and Grand Jury that
the most searching investigation into
this matter shall be made, in order that
the people may learn the truth of the
matter.
The members of the Street and Water
Board met yesterday, and after thor
ough discussion of the charge. decided
to address letter to Charles B. Thurs
ton, foreman of the Grand Jury, with
request that he submit it to the mem
bers of the Grand Inquest. The letter
was not prepared for publication until
seven o'clock last night.
APPEAL TO THE JURY.
The letter reads as follows
JERSEY CITY, N. J..
September II, 1894.
Foreman of the Grand jury
of Hudson County, New Jersey.
Dear Sir-The Board of Street and
Water Commissioners of Jersey City
have read with much surprise the pub
lished account of the charge addressed
to the Grand Jury, of which you are the
foreman, yesterday by Judge Lippincott.
on the subject of the present condition
of our drinking water, and the attitude
of this board in relation thereto. We
have been accustomed to listen to the
utterances of the Court with great defer
ence; We have always regarded them as
the result of moderation and wisdom
10 "a a ri OH
it is therefore natural that we should
feel panied by the language of the judge.
and disappointed that he should address
you in such a manner on such subject
with no more reason tnan is afforded by
the irresponsible reports of sensational
newspapers, and the rumors spread by
water contractors.
COURTING AN INQUIRY.
In this emergency we appeal to the
Grand Jury you represent and whom we
respect and trust. We ask for and de-
important subject. We ask the GranG
Jury for committee to visit the office
of this board at any time that may suit
them, and examine in the most criti"al
manner everything here which they may
desire to see. Every source of informa-
ton will be thrown open for investlga-
ard every means put in their hands to
satisfy the most searching Inquiry. We
also ask that the Grand Jury visit the
water works at Belleville and the sewer
polluted passaic River, and judge of the
great problem which confronts the city
in this matter.
we will place at the disposal of the
jury ample means of conveyance to IT.
vestigate the whole question and arrange
for trip upon the river when the true
state of the situation may be revealed.
WATER INHERENTLY BAD.
For the past two months (by reason Of
the excessive drought, which has pre-
vailed in the water shed OF the Passalc
River) the river has been SO very low
hot t1aa{ la hoe doll
water and the sewage of Newark beyond
our intake This condition of affairs has
been somewhat mitigated within the past
few days by reason of the heavy rains
On account of the manner in which the
reservoir at Belleville is constructed and
the means at the command OF this board
to carry the water across the meadows
to Jersey City, we have. been compelled
to use all of the pumping facilities al
our command for twenty-four hours out
of every twenty-four hours. We would
more than half of million of dollars In
building a new pipe line to Jersey CITY,
to arrange the hours Of pumping SO as
to avoid the flood tide. Even if this couli
be arranged for, there would be no
change in the condition of the water.
This board has been in office for about
three months and during that time IT
has had to contend with the most severe
drought for many years. we nave Deen
able to introduce and use some devices to
render the water less impure than 1orn-
erIy but no Improvement can be made
except of a radical character, because
of the inherent badness OF the water
DON'T BUY WATER NOW.
The water in the reservoir at Belle
Vile has been raised and maintained ten
inches higher than ever peIore anu up 10
the utmost limit of safety. The water
in the Summit avenue reservoir has
been maintained from six to eight feet
higher than ever before at this season
If the year In 1893, and previous years
II
supplemental supplies from Hoboken, at
an expense of $500 per day. That has been
avoided this year notwlthstanaithg @ t tne os,, eM7
thousand foot of pipe laid connecting
forty dead ends, thus increasing the
circulation of the water in the pipes;
and men have been and now are con-
stantly employed in blowing off the n.y.
drants thus aileviating as much as pos
sible, the condition of the water
APATHETIC JURIES.
The CITY has never been able to obtain
the aid of the Grand Juries OF THIS county
or of the adjoining Counties OF Bergen,
Passaic or Essex IN preINen5lng tI tne m I,lr poi
In fact the courts have been more ready
to permit than to prevent such pollution.
We submit that an examination OF TINS
s,,biect should be made by your Hon
orable Body, representing all classes of
citizens in our county, and any sugSes-
tions which may be made by you would
doubtless meet with the approval OF the
Municipal boards as well as of the
nitisens at large; we certainly would
sss,nsider the same very carefully.
During the short term of office this
hoard has also been engaged in investi-
pating the various plans which have
been submitted at various times to the
citv to remedy the poor condition of our
water supply. Any change in our pres
ent condition means the expenditure of
a large sum of money, and the partial
abandon1neHs. 3e. pf fhMsFRM az eSFRsnsYe sfIN piant
While endeavoring in every way to
satisfy the demands of the city without
Sacrificing its material interest we are
not willing in the meantime, to rest si-
lently under the unwarranted and un-
lust imputations which the Court has
seen fit to make to you. You cannot in
yestigate this subject too soon or too
searchingly for u.s..
Very respectfully,
John E. Macarthur, President.
George w. Harding,
VIM H. Hooker,
Henry L. Kellers,
John j. Cone.
MAYOR WANSER TALKS.
After the reporters We're given the
communication of the board Mayor Wan
ser deviated from his general policy and
consented to be interviewed on the sub
ject. He said;-
ssI have seen alleged interviews with
me upon the water question. have
persistently refused to discuss the mat
ter for publication for the reason that