The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-10-09
VERY HOT WATER,
City Officials Confer and
Disagree Regarding the
Water Specifications.
BLAIR 10 DRAFT NEW ONES
Pumping Schemes to Get an
Opening ng-The Standard of
Purity to Be Raised.
KEARNY MAKES A KICK
Won't Pay for Her Pipe Line But
Wants to Break Her Contract
With This City.
KEARNY MAKES A KICK


water all day yesterday. Mayor Wanser
the Finance Commissioners, all the
Street and Water Commissioners with
the exception of Mr.. Harding, Corpora
tion Counsel Blair and City Attorney
Spencer Weart spent the afternoon in
the Mayors private Office. They dis
cussed the recently drafted water speci-
fications and expressed their opinions all
around as to what course should be pur-
sued to dispose of the water problem as
speedily as possible.
The Street and Water Commissioners
stuck to the original specifications to
man, ably supported by Mr.. Weart. The
Finance Commissioners, however, op-
posed them as a whole and they were
supported by Mr.. Blair. The meeting
was as harmonious as could be expected
under such circumstances.
TO OWN THE PLANT.
Finance Commissioner Hardenberg,
who says he has been at sea as to what
the Street and Water Commissioners
proposed doing, after supply is OBJ
tanned, started the liveliest kind of a.
discussion by asking them if they pro-
posed purchasing the plant at some. fu-
ture time.
President Macarthur aswered, eve
propose having Jersey City own her
own plant, most decidedly.
1--WE propose, if a contract is 3entered
into, waiting a period of a few years
so as to assure ourselves that the sup
ply given us is bountiful and that it
will retain the stndard of purity, we
shall demand. We will also wait and see
if the plant is in perfect order and that
continual breaks will not compel the
city to be forever having men at work
on it. When we find that it works
properly we propose buying it outright,
acquiring the reservoirs and dams and
allowing the city to operate the whole
thing itself"
The other Street and Water Commis-
sioners concurred in what Mr.. Nc
Arthur said and Mr.. Hardenbergh was
satisfied on that point.
THE MICHIGAN STANDARD.
He objected, however, to the Michigan
standard of purity, declaring that it per-
mftted too much solid matter. Neither
side made any concessions, but it was
understood that better standard, more
applicable to Jersey city would be
formulated.
MIR. HARDENBERG's POSITION.
Mr.. Hardenberg said he did not wish
to be understood as opposing the acqul-
sition of new supply, but he did want
it understood that he would vote for
no plan in which the interests Of Jersey
City were not well protected. He de-
clared that the existing specifications, as
a whole, were not strict enough to meet
with his approval. Among other criti-
cisms he expressed the opinion that the
specifications excluded contractors who
might wish to present plans for sup
ply obtained by pumping He favors a
gravity. supply, but wants to see what
the difference In the cost of the plants
will be and also the prices at which
water will be furnished under the two
methods. He favors competition and
altered SO as to permit bids for both
plans.
Although nothing definite was agreed
upon Corporation Counsel Blair is au-
thority for the statement that the pres
eth specifications will be modified to
meet the views of the Finance Commits
sioners.
In addition to the changes demanded
by Commissioner Hardenberg, it is under
stood the amount of the check to ac-
company bids Will be reduced from $780,
900 to $25, 600
It is probable that the Street and
Water Commissioners at their next meet
ing will rescind the original specifica-
tions and adopt new ones.
Under the circumstances bids will not
be received before the first of the year.
KEARNY'S COOL DEMAND.
At their meeting 1ega IN the egening the
in hot water again. They were visited
by committee from Kearny consist
ing of Samuel Worthington, Chairman
of the Township Committee, Charles
f. Engelstadter, another member of the
committee, Counsel Joseph Parker Jr.,
and DR.. Exton of the Board OF Health.
Mr. Engelstadter was granted the priv
ilege of the floor first, and in plain terms
he'd eclared that he was present to de-
mand the dissolution of Kearny's con-
tract for supply of water from Jersey
City. When asked why, he said:-'Its S
filthy, it's rotten, it is unfit for use. If
we use it on our grass, it kills the grass,
and l actually know of instances where
cattle have refused to drink 1t. 1t is
filthy in the extreme, and is filled with
all kinds of deposits
'Wouldn't it be wise of you to send
us an official communication asking for
denly interrupted President Macarthur.
IF that is what you want" replied
nro M e are red w II gs5 payng 1t very Fry
stuff we cannot use and in fact dare
not use for our own safety
Don't you know that Kearny has not
built. for her some years ago." asked
Mr.. Macarthur.
II believe such is the case" was the
reply, '.but that is no reason why we
should be asked to drink the filth that
saic.'
w AMI "A
Chairman Worthington was next heard
Il am here to ask and demand a re-
bate in our bill for water for the last
quarter. We have been unable to drink
the stuff or use it in any way People
have been compelled to sink artesian
wells With the hope of lettering the
condition of the water you furnished u.s.
we had our fire hydrants blown off The
filth that came from them was sickening
Our water is all metered, and we sec
no justiiable reason why we should be
compelled to pay for the water we had
blown from our hydrants in order to
make 1t less nauseating. We not only
want our bill for the last quarter re-
duced, but We want our contract with
you set aside so that we may obtain
for our citizens supply of wholesome
water The water you have given us
is not, nor has it been fit to commit
suicide in. Our citizens have criticised
us severely and have accused us of be-
ing Indifferent In this matter. They
blamed US for not coming here before
and pounding you. We have been pound
ed for the past year on account Of the
vile Passaic water. ! understand that
YOU have advertised for a new supply
Of water. but that does not affect us. l
don't care how soon YOU get hetssT
water. want you to relieve US of this