The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-11-20
WARD, HIS EGERIA.
Lebbeus B. Consulted with
Water Engineer James
|. r. Croes.
THAT BOARD OF TRADE REPORT.
Expert Who Knew He Would Be
Cross Examined, but Left His
Figures at Home.
That BOARD OF TRADE REPORT.

Hydraulic Engineer James 1. X. Croes,
with half the letters of the a~lphabeth al
ter his name, at a recent hearing of the
water certiorari severely criticized the
proposition of the Jersey City Water
Company to give a permanent supply
of water to this city. He proved h
the pipe line was too short and too long;
that the supply was too much and too
little; that drainage aria wasn't large
enough and too large. and the rainfall
was too slight and too abundant. To
explain these contradictions he was SUD
mitted this morning. on the resumption OF
the hearing, 10 the tender mercies OF
a cross-examination at the skilful hands
of Mr.. James j. V~redenburgh, OF eonnsel
for the defendant company.
MI. Croes. being the paid expert of the
rival East Jersey Company, had. OF
course, on his direct examination, moth
ing pleasant to say about the Jersey
City Water Company's plans, and when
Mr.. y~redenburgh began to delye into
his. Mr.. Croes', report to the Board of
Trade, the expert suddenly lost his mem
DRY about his communication and tRe
doings of the Board of Works in relation
10 the acceptance of the Jersey CITY
Water Company's contract.
His memory was again faulty about the
refusal of the Board of Finance to con-
cur in the proposition of March. 1891,
after his report to the Board of Trade.
Although he had criticized adversely the
Jersey City Water Company's bid and
advised the Board of Trade to oppose
it, he wasn't curious to find out the re-
suit of his report.
When the advertisements were issued
for a new water supply. after the rejec-
ton of the Jersey City Water Company's
bid, did you induce any contractor to
make a bid?" asked Mr.. yredenburgh-
mo. sir, certainly not said Mr.. Croes.
with warmth.
did any capitalist approach you?"
DODGED THE QUESTION.
ST refuse to answer that question I'M
less my counsel directs me. 1t would be
a breach of professional etiquette for me
to say said Mr.. Croes.
WHO approached you to make your
report to the Board of Trader"
"Mr. Lebbeus B. Ward and Mr.. Voor-
hees."
Had you any conversation, before you
made your report, with any one except
Mr.. ward?' pursued Mr.. ~Vredenburgh-
ST don't remember"
You We're paid for that report. were
you not?'
Yes"
.who was the Individual who paid
your
1.-THE President of the Board of Trade"
Mr.Croes admitted that Mr.. Ward con-
suited with him while he made up his
PAID BY MR.. WARD.
Who employed you to come here as a
wftness?" asked Mr.~Vredenburgh.
Mr.. Ward" was the reluctant reply.
From your intercourse with Mr.. Ward.
don vol know he is opposed to Jersey
supply of water to Jersey City?"
Mr.. Croes was about to reply when ex-
that Mr.. Ward is not a party to the
suit. and Ibis opinion one of no eonse-
quence."
v~redenburgh,. with a chuctle.
Did you think Mr.: WaSd was going
m no Ru5 s"r in a BID Mn qnd Nred sss adbyertise-
mo, 1 did not"
Witness said that he knew Jersey City
supply. but he had never put in any
port previous to. these Acknowledgements.
cpssed by Mr.. Ward and himself. Mr..
Ward; however had not talked about the
fpew that MI. Ward was interested in
the adv0 oSE On Ct INF MR. s %sARbj.
Whilst I may have known that he
was SO interested in such legislation. if
he ever had anything to say on that sub
ject it made no impression on me-"
Mr.. Charles J.. Corbin here whispered
something to Mr.. Vredenburgh and the
fAtter maliciously said
"And it failed to make any impression
on the Legislature. hey2"
Mr.. Croes' reply was drowned in gem
AN EXPERTS KNOWLEDGE.
MI. V~redenburgh changed the subject
to Mr.. Croes' estimate Of the pipe line
given on direct examination. and to the
astonishment. of Mr.. V~redenburgh Mr..
Croes couldn' tell where the pipe end
ed, didn't know the distance from Belle
call what the cost of the pipe from
Be1eville to Jersey City vas. although he
ject to depreciate the figures of the Jer-
sey City Water Company.
ibid you know you were going to be
cross-examined 2" said Mr.. v~redenburgh.
Yes,
why didn't you bring your figures
Mr.. croes hemmed a little coughed a