The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-09-16
SIGN 3D.!
Mayor Wanser Approves
Both the Water Award
Resolutions.
REASONS FULLY EXPLAINED
The Entire Question Reviewed
in a Message to the Board
of Finance.
NOW THE EXPERT COMES IN
His Honor Will Not Sign the Con-
tract Until the City's In
terests Are Fully
Protected.
CITIZENS URGE HIM TO ACT
Numerous Messages and Letters Re-
ceIved From Property owners
Favoring the Two
Projects.
CITIZENS URGE HIM TO ACT
Numerous Messages and Letters Re-
eeIyed From Property Owners
FavorIng the Two
Projects.

Precisely at one O'Clock this afternoon
Mayor Wanser attached his signature
TO the concurrent resolutions of the
Board of Finance awarding the too-much-
talked-of water contracts. The first one
signed by him awards contract to the
Jersey City Water Company for per-
manent supply of water for period OF
twenty-five years.
The next one was of course. the award
of a temporary supply to the East Jersey
Water Company. The only persons pres
ent were Secretary John Nevin and two
reporters.
Immediately after the important docu-
ments were signed Clerk Finck. of the
Board of Finance. was summoned. and
the minute book of the Board of Finance.
in which the resolutions were engrossed
was given over to his charge He has
tened upstairs with it, placed it in the
safe, and then departed for his home for
lunch. Mayor Wanser. after signing the
resolutions. turned to his secretary and
said:-sNotify Dickinson. Thompson and
McMaster at once
This order for the first time disclosed
the fact that the law firm of Dickinson,
Thompson & McMaster has been retained
TO contest the awards. They are retained
by individuals. with Henry V. Condict at
the head.
The Mayor was donning a light over
coat preparatory to leaving when a
..News' reporter asked him if he had
anything to say on the subject. He said:
DOES NOT BIND THE CITY.
seThe signing of these water resolu-
tions today does not bind jersey City
to a new water supply. It simply al
lows the city's law officers to begin
the work of drawing up the proposed
contracts This work will not be gone
into hastily, but with all the care and
deliberation worthy of so important a
piece of public business. I will not sign
the actual contracts unless every re-
quirenent is specifically provided for to
protect the citys interests.
1.-THE contract must embody every de-
tail that should be incorporated in an
important contract of that nature. The
action of the courts on the matter will
determine when the actual work of draw
ing the contracts will begin. If work
was begun on them Immediately, I am
informed that it would take thirty days
in which to prepare them for my action
",rhe city will be fully protected in
the drawing of the contracts and such
expert assistance as is required will be
employed The Street and Water Com
missioners have already indicated that
they would appoint an expert like En-
gineer Vermeule to aid the city officials
in drawing up the contracts Every
thing will be done to insure a faithful
execution of the work by the contrac-
tors. My action today is in conformity
with the views that 1 have always held
on the water question, namely, that in
securing a new water supply we should
get one from a source that will be proof
against pollution and that will stand
the test for all time. I do not believe
that the city should leave one polluted
source of supply orly to take another
source that is already polluted. ! am
confident that my course will be endorsed
sby everybody who has given the subject
the careful attention to which it is en-
titled
The Mayor left his Office alone and
went directly to his home to prepare
for his trip to Chicamaqua. He will
be gone one week. During his absence
Alderman-at-Large Reuben Simpson
will act as Mayor.
This mornings mail brought the Mayer
a number of letters from prominent citi-
zens, appealing to him not to fail to sign
the resolutions covering both awards.
telegram from Mr.. A. J. Post from
Pike county. Pa. asked the Mayor to
approve the resolutions. and declaring
that such opposition as has been raised
Is from men Of no account.
The Mayor has a number of letters