The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-21

! aware that efforts were Delng Iudue AZ
several directions to have plans ready and
to put bids in, and as the laws bearing
on this question which were passed by
the Legislature became operative but
short time before the 25th of March, I
thought it advisable to give all parties
who had any plans or suggestions to offer
in the matter of proposed new supply
hearing in my office, so that the Board
of Street and Water Commissioners and
your Board could avoid paying attention
to informal bidders.
| The Street and Water Board stood py
| their advertisement and noticed no Tor
NAL proposition. Whether the informal
| propositions have created any impression
| elsewhere, the fact remains that your
! action makes necessary new speclhca-
| tions. advertisements and proposals and
the going over the whole matter anew
| The last specifications were twice print
| ed in full for purpose of obtaining crltl-
cism and suggestions, your board oHered
nothing but one suggestion which was
| incorporated in the specifications ana
| proved useless as both the companies VINO
made formal proposals, refused to pid
on the proposition advanced by you.
AS a new Board of Street and water
Commissioners has taken office since the
4 action OIL tEe pOdiQ oll <APtif ~ %s--'
| new specifications must be prepared, OF
| course. to meet their views if the matter
is to be commenced again. but their views
90 for nothing unless your board ap,
proves. This was clearly indicated by
the former board in their report in con-
nection with the award heretofore re-
ferred to, and was unheeded by your
board, although it's effect was demon
strated by the negative character OF
your action
I have, since I became Mayor, signed
lsseveral sets of specifications drawn for
the purpose of obtaining new water
/ supply, all but one of which failed or
action in the Street and Water Board,
and that one failed of result in your
| board In each of these efforts that
| board and I have taken the response
bility, met the criticism. some OF which
was extremely vicious and unmerlted,
and have advanced the question some
what toward a settlement. buS TO 40
this constantly without obtaining a re-
suit, is fruitless to the city, absolutely
without amy justification to the people
who look to us for decisive action, and
unauesticnably unfair to the contractors
and financiers who are attempting to
successfully bid
It seems to me that the city either
| wants = new water supply or it does
NOT If the negative position it the pre-
| valent one. then the present situation
created by your board should remain un-
disturbed. If the sentiment and the
| City's interests positively demand a new
supply it is your duty in your own way
| to make it plain that your Board will AID
in the obtainment of it. If that is the
correct position there is need of positive
action tending to produce results; con-
tinued negative action taken on your part
without any indication being made by
you as to how result can be obtained
| with your approval should cease.
If you have suggestions make them; If
your Board can point out a better way
to get the water than the way it was last
attempted it is your duty to indicate It.
| My own judgment is that the officials
svvlaaSS svv1aS de 7set7ead this matter are assuming
| az grave responsibility. The city VIII
support us if we do the best we can, ana
do it honestly. A little larger water sheo'
a question OF price are na1lers worthy
of the most careful eXamhalloH' pul ehe
| stagnat1on OF real estate, the stoppiiis u
the increasing exodus OF rent payetS' 'hs
depreciation OF values ana ra'apies. anu
consequent increase vi 'ne .o> 80
are mattefs Huch liiore woi'ns "
lnatlon, ana OIL sucn srase 0oilS-ue'
that compareo 10 tneii siie o'iisi aoeS
tons are mere uistiilotioiis :.
your poaiu snouiu
whetner II IS Useless ~ eii'ei ~ aai
other pldolns. ai.i, d ta@so -
10 hllo" youi Poe.'' Pe.
street anu "atei ooiiiliii's. l'li'".N - -
titled TO proper oliaerslahuins =, ~
as the ooalu nis' t,t'.,lss.
action ihusl oe o'ii e,' ~ 9..-
your couieuii 'ne ,-
bankers shouiu hiio"
what we want as d cry III 'ne nc
ter OF new supply oi "a'ei' "ee.ie-
we are competent 10 leii oui "1lls, -, .ne
proper way anu "hetnef VIC VIZ ia
the courage 10 act upon proposs'is oilei
ed on the mes we niuroal
na's = ,-:s,
tion OF May . releiieu ~ ~ .ne 9-li-
nlng OF this coliiiiiuliica'ioii' ~ peooi,is
operative Without my W .ile
reason that NEGATIVE aolion on NY
part might Result ii Tue iui s,iei le,
, ment OF TINS malter anu 'iieleoy ueies
, the productlon on any result Mlalso-
ever, and because VIII iiot uahe 'ne
, responsibility OF throwing OUT plo
{ which offers the city water In locaiits
having but one minor sewage dralnage