The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-23
IHmVULHERADLE,
Award of the Water Con-
tract Wristbands On
s1aughts from Able
Counsel.
THIRD DAYS A R
Sound financial Condition OF
the Jersey City Water
Company.
SOURCE OF SUPPLY THE PUREST
No Difficulty in Procuring Neees-
sary Water Rights-Agent
Belden's Testimony.
SOURCE OF SUPPLY THE PUREST

.Who is the Jersey City Water Com
pany:p what financial backing has III
What property or right does it possess
in the Roekaway watershed" were some
of the questions asked by those who an
stituted proceedings to remove the aware
to that company of a permanent CON
tract for a pure water supply Tor Jersey
City to the Supreme Court for review.
These questions We're more than satis-
factorily answered yesterday afternoon
iw chancery Chambers, where Supreme
Court Commissioner John A. Nugent
was taking testimony under an oroer
made by Justice Lippincott on the re-
turn of the writ of certiorari gra4teo al
the instance of citizens, the Boafo u
Trade and the unsuccessful pldaer' uhe
Rockaway and Hudson Water Cohnpalls
Yesterday was the thirl day of the
hearing and unbiased and nhpfe5uaiceo
persons who have listened to the testi-
mony unhesitatingly declare that
not one point has been made
against the Mayor and the city
officials who made the award
On the contrary, there never was a
clearer or more creditable piece of work
performed in this or any other CITY
When it is remembered that such emil
nent counsel as Messrs. Chas. L. Cofpln,
A. L.. McDermott, ex-Judge Frederlck
w Stevens, Charles d. thompson anu
John Griffin have endeavored with an
their legal acumen to find out ha"s III
the award and the contract and nave SO
far been unable to discover one, the
transaction must be said to be indeed
honest and just.
MR.. PAYNE ON THE STAND.
All yesterday morning the witness
stand was occupied by Mr.. Payne, me
assistant engineer of the Riparian Bodra
and a civil engineer of distinction. ny
Instructions of Messrs. c. D. ompso
and C. l.. Corbin he had prepared a
table of prices derived from the state
Geological Report. and by these calcula-
tions based on a present use of 2S,GD,OOO
of gallons OF waiter daily, he mad es-
dsmated that in 1923, when the contract
expired. the city would need over co.
COS, 0e0 of gallons daily. On this ratio ne
had compared figures of the three bids
and declared that the Jersey City Water
Company's figures were the highest. But
Messrs. James B. Vredenburgh, eX-Judge
Garretson. John A. Blair and Spencer
Weart pointed out the fallacy OF COM
pairing thing unequal in every respect,
Mr.. Payne compared the formal speclh-
cation drawn by the city and for its IL
feagaes b VII the 81 Bidders for Their peculiar
advantage, a manifestly improper com
parison.
daily consumption there had not been
taken into account the future loss of
Bayonne. Harrison and Kearny as Gus
toners of Jersey City.
The prosecution then put Mr.. Henry
Belden, of the Jersey City Water Com
pany, on the stand as their wit
ness. Examined by eX-Judge Stevens Mr..
Belden said that he was a promoter
and had given assistance to the Jersey
City Water Company in their efforts to
company he said hat Sidell Iilghman,
of Whitestone, L. l., was the President;
ana G.. seiIiEgamaa snn was Treasurer,
He could not tell the names Of
the directors neither could he
state the amount of capital paid in.
He was not an official of the company,
nor was he. in their employ, excepting
that he had given them assistance in
acquiring watersheds and in other ways
promoting their interests.
TOO GOOD A WITNESS.
What property does the company
possess since its orga~nization?' asked
DIxon's Pond" was the reply.
who else was active in the company's
interest besides yourself29
Dyne, Of Boo9ton, and, Mr.. Titzgibbons."
banker, was the active head.
chase Of water rights in the RockaWay
shed?y asked Mr.; Stevens.
Yes and | made estimates"
Mr.. Belden in response to questions
said he did not know whether any right
Of way had been acquired for the pipe
line, nor had any fee been purchased so
far as he knew. But the fee in Dixon's
Pond had been brought by Mr.. Selig
mo one,s' added Mr.. Belden. .sup there