The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-23
WATER SUPPLY PROBLEM.
ssEngfncering Newss speaks of the
state water Board scheme.

ssEngfneering News,s Speaks of the
State water BOARD scheme.
The water supply problem In sorne parts Of
New Jersey Is growing more and more seri-
GUS with the rapid increase in the population
of the large cities and of some of the smaller
suburbs remote from plentiful or pure water
supplies and with the requirement of the
main water supplies by syndicatesfoften for
speculative purposes only Because Oh the
long supply mains required tits practically
out Of the question for the small towns, In
diyidualiy, to secure water from the most
desirable sources, and hences fomprehefeive
schemes for the common supply q seyefal
municipalities have been carried out IN
several instances within q radius OF twenty
five miles from New York, some of which,
however, have been arrangements
Of convenience rather than TO
secure q pure water supply. Thus the Hack
ensack Water Company supplies Hoooken
and a large number Of villages n towns 10
abominable Passaic River water to some OF
the towns adjoining it; from the works OF
the East Jersey Water Company, forming
the new supply Of Newark, more or less
water is suppliedfto some OF the suburbs on
the west Of Newark and from the driven
wells Of the Plainield Water Supply Com
pany water Is distributed to a number OF
surrounding villages and towns.
The conditions outlined above have sug-
gested from time to time the ~desirabllity or
State water supply systems, meaning thereby
general supply works as distinguished from
distribution systems within the municipai-
ties. In 1852 q State water supply commls-
sion was appointed and later made some
general Investigations along the lines sug-
gested above, but owing to a~ntagoniSin, aP-
parently, from parties interested In private
water rights the work of the commission was
not carried far. In the past two or three
years attempts lave been made In the New
Jersey Legislature Ito rehabiltate the
State water board and an elaborate
bill is now before both Houses of the
Legislature erSenate, No. 4s~ to that
end. In general certain drainage areas
of the State would by this bill be put under
the charge of q commission of five, four to
be appointed by the Governor, and ny
draulic engineer, constituting a nth mem
Der. to be chosen by these -four, the MEM
bers to hold office during good behavior.
ANY municipality desiring water from these
reserved drainage areas would so inform the
board, whereupon plans for supplying 1t
would be made and estimates submitted to
the municipality, which would then, by
popular vote, decide whether to contract
with the State for water. Ii the decision
should be favorable, the supply wouia
be brought TO the boundary line or
the own or to some other convenient point
and the town would pay annually
for the water used at an agreed rate per
million gallons, which rate would represent
only the actual cost of bringing the water to
the municipality, together with interest
charges and a sum for a sinking rund. The
act contemplates the supply of a number of
towns from one system, each town to pay Its
proper part Of the whole.
Naturally this bill Is being vigorously OPP
posed by the large water companies and
syndicates owning water rights. and as the
officials of these companies are intimately
connected with politicians of both parties it
would not be surprising if the bill were
killed The problems involved are of vital
interest to the people Of New Jersey and
should be studied until a permanent and
equitable solution is reached.-Engineer-ing
Mons