The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-21
WANSER FOR WATER.
The Mayor Urges the FL
nance Board to Define
It's Position on the
Subject.
EVILS OF ANTAGONIST
He Will Allow the Non-Con-
curing Resolution to Be-
come Operative With
out His Signature.
In Order to Start the Matter Again
ge Submits New Specifications
for Gravity Supply.
EVILS OF ANTAGONIST

AS was exclusively foreshadowed in
.'The Jersey City News" five days ago.
Mayor Wanser has allowed the resolu-
ton of the Board of Finance, non-con-
curing in the award of water con-
tract to the Jersey City Water Com
pany, to become operative without ms
signature. In pursuing this course the
Afayor advances numerous reasons in
tart letter directed and forwarded TO the
Board of Finance this morning. HIS
Honor also deals with the water question
in a pointed manner and urges prompt
and definite action on the part of all city
officials concerned in the acquisition OF
a. new supply. In conjunction with the
letter the Mayor submitted for accept
ance or rejection specifications under
which bids are to be advertised for, for
gravity supply only. The Mayors
letter is as follows:-
May 20, 1885.
To the Hon. Board of Finance
Gentlemen-I have before me the reso-
luton passed by your Board at its meet
ing held May 9Th, 1895, to wit
s.Resolved That the Board of Finance
hereby non-concurs in the following res
olution adopted by the Board of Street
and Water Commissioners April 18th,
1895, to witt
Resolved. That by and with the
concurrence of the Board. of Finance
the contract to provide the material and
furnish the labor and produce the re-
suits required in Specification hereto
fore approved for the furnishing OF
new water supply for this city De
awarded to the Jersey City Water Com
pany on the basis of and in accordance
with the plans and specifications and
analysis submitted by said company and
at the prices named in their proposal
Sesignafed Bid sB,'T Submitted TO TINS
Board March 25th. 1895. viz:-Bid B. for
water delivered at a minimum consump-
ton of twenty million gallons per day,
ETC."
The proposal referred to was submitted
on March 25th. 1895, in response to pup
lie advertisement, based upon speclfs-
cations prepared and passed by the
Board of Street and Water Commission
ers approved by me, and advertised by
consent of majority of your Board.
No reasons appear in any official docu-
ments submitted to me by your Board
since its meeting of May 9, why this
award was rejected.
The last specifications invited bids for
new water supply on four dlstlncl
propositions. to-wit:-
1. A supply by gravity to High Ser
vice.
2. A supply by gravity to Belleville.
3. A supply by pumping to Belleville.
4 A filtration and purifcation of the
present supply.
These wide propositions were made at
my suggestion in an official communl-
cation ION the subject matter) to the
~ Board of Street and Water Commission
I yers. because Ihad had two experiences of
the publication of specifications for
|gravity supply, and had noted the criti-
cism created by limiting the bidding
to a supply by gravity. My own judg-
ment was and is that we want gravity
supply and should get it. if possible.
Nothing came of the bidding on the
four propositions referred to that was
advantageous. or could be considered
by the city excepting the bid on the
gravity plan, which your resolution of
May 9th rejects.
gravity supply of water for Jersey
City can come from several sheds and
be offered in varied ways by as many
bidders as choose to compete, and it is
nv belief that we should try for sup
ply by gravity solely because it is what
the city wants and is the best that can
be had.
No company or combination has any
exclusive rights to the water sheds of
this State not now used by another
municipality.
The legislation enacted during the
session lately closed. and advocated by
the municipal authorities of this city,
has placed it within the power of this
city, and every other city in the State
as WELL to obtain control by condemna-
ton of rights in water not now con-
trolled by sister municipalities. and has
made it possible to assist all respon-
sible contractors to bid for a new water
supply for this or any other city in the
state The Board of Street and Water
Commissioners accompanied their action
of April 29th, in making the award OF
contract heretofore referred to. a re-
port of their Committee of the Whole
in which they asked your Board for q
review of certain matters. concerning
which I would have liked to have ha6
your views. These are especially as tt
whether the Jersey City Water Com
pany. in your judgment. for the sun
of $1,000, 10000 for the water shed from
which they proposed to take and te
store the water offered could settle
the water rights of other parties be
cause of the storing of the water. sc
that the city could have the water sup
ply. Also whether it was possible t.
place an intake in the Rockaway River
below the storage points. so that tht
river could be drawn upon in the winter
when the Morris canal was not d
operation, and the stored water usef
In the summer so as to leave to ths
canal and water powers the fowage o.
the river during the season. On botf
these matters your Board has rendered
no suggestion.
Pending the last advertisement for bid
saars11 Of information and indicated az