The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-03
NO JOINT SUPPLY.
Conference Between Finance
Commissioners and a
Paterson Repre-
sentative.
Will NOT SHARE JERSEY CTTY'S WATER
Authorities Determined to Control
the Entire Shed Covered by
the Contract Accepted.

The conference last night between the
Finance Commissioners and the mem
hers of the Finance Committee of the
Beard of Aldermen of Paterson, relative
to the ACCESSIBILITY of securing a joint
supply of water, was q fizzle. Only one
of Paterson's officials put in an appear
ance. He was Alderman Mcclure. He
appeared more absorbed In his socialistic
fallacies. and talked of them more than
he did of a water supply. The Alderman
explained that one of his colleagues
sailed for Europe yesterday, and that
the second was called away suddenly TO
see a friend who was sick.
well. what have o to suggest?"
asked President Jones.
Alderman McGuire had no suggestions
to make.
It was learned by cross questioning
the Paterson Alderman that the city's
water contract with the Passaic Water
Company expires on August j. He as
serted that the people of Paterson We're
dissatisfied with the present. supply and
are anxious to procure new water.
"As the representative of the masses"
he said. ST am dearly interested in the
plan to secure purer water for our
city"
- SAOoSAI tHo 49,
and Paterson could join issues and
build a plant jointly and get the waters
of the Rockaway shed. He modestly
advanced the idea that perhaps a pure
supply could be obtained and an enor-
NOUS distributing reservoir be located
near Carrot Mountain, which is some
distance back of Paterson.
WHAT DOES PATERSON WANT?
What do your colleagues want this
city to do?' he was asked.
II don't know" he replied.
How much water does Paterson con-
sumo daily?" asked Commissioner Simp-
son.
About 100000 gallons" was the re-
ply.
The Alderman then took occasion to
explain hat he believed the city was
consuming that quantity. "At any
rate" ne continued, that is what the
city pays for"
This statement occasioned considerable
comment. Paterson is not a first class
city, not having the prescribed popula-
ton of 100000. How so small a city uses
2S,000.00 gallons daily, while the con-
sumption of this city and also that of
Newark IS less. puzzled the Finance
Commissioners. It was suggested that
tu6 COASulup1Ou was Qu6 II tile great
number of factories. but Newark's list
of factories exceeds that of Paterson.
1t was finally concluded that Paterson's
pipes must leak.
Alderman MCGUIRE thought the two
cities might safely draw from one reser-
voir. the location of which he insisted
should be back of Paterson. When
asked what would happen in the event
of a drought or breaking of a pipe, he
could not answer. He was unable to
give an estimate of hat the probable
cost of a plant would be that would
have sufficient carrying capacity to
supply both cities. As to the source of
supply he was in the dark, and with all
due respect to the Alderman it was re-
marked after he left thai the local Off
Gals were as ignorant of Paterson's
wants as they were before he came here.
DON'T SUIT JERSEY CITY.
The proposition to secure a joint supply
would not, it is said, be seriously enter
tanned by the local officials under any
circumstances. Mayor Wanser wants
an Independent supply for this city. and
the Street and Water and Finance Com
missioners want the same thing. Just
where to go to secure an adequate
supply for the two cities is puzzling the
aocaa officials. This city demands a
guaranteed supply of 100000 coo gallons
daily. and if Paterson is using $4,000, 900
gallons daily now. and is growing
rapidly as asserted by Alderman Nc
CURE. it. too. would certainly demand
"a supply of 50, 100000 gallons daily for
future contingencies.
OF the three formal bids now before
the Street and Water Commissioners,
only one company, and that is the Jer-
sey City Water Company, shows a plan
of sufficient capacity to give a supply
of 1OO.0 OO, 900 gallons a day in the event
of that quantity being required.
The watershed Of the company In
question is practically unlimited. By
means of connecting mains from the