The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-03
PUBLIC OPINION.
II Interviews with Promln-
e1lt Citizens Reveal a
General Desire for
a New Water
Supply.
] PROPERTY DAMAGED
Real Estate Dealers Tell Of
Unsaleable and Unrentable
Houses Due to Bad
Water.
IT MEANS MILLIONS LOST
Many People Have Moved Away
Many Inquire and Turn Away.
and the Houses Stand Idle.
IT MEANS MILLIONS LOST

.
prominent in the various walks of life
in this city express their views as to a
new water supply for Jersey City. The
reporters of 1.-THE News were directed
nearly as possible the exact language of
the one interviewed. The statements
of the real estate dealers reveal grave
and serious condition of property in
terests Unsalable and unrentable houses
and a deplorable depreciation of values
are attributed directly to the bad Passaie
water. These statements, calculated
moderately, show that this depreciation
must run into millions. -ne interviews
indicate a genuine and earnest desire
for new supply.
Frank Stevens, real estate agent and
auctioneer:-"A new water supply is i'm
perative. There can be no doubt about
that. Now, I believe we ought to be
exceedingly careful about making a
close contract with any corporation. My
plan is TO get water. good, pure water,
as quickly as possible. and at the cheap
est cost.
William c. Nelson. real estate dealer:
'Hsvery 5oay, I beiieve, wants good wss
ter, and as quickly as possible. What
ever corporation can furnishNus with 2,
supply at reasonable cost and Of g,
good quality those are the people with
whom we ought to deal"
Ex-Judge A. @. Garretson. of the law
iran of Vredenberg & Garretson:-'I
certainly think that it is high time for
the city to procure from some source a
bountiful supply of pure and wholesome
water I have not interested myself in
the question as much, perhaps, as I
fought to- and know but very little of
1.-THE practical workings of the present
plan to provide water, but I do know
that we ought to have new supply as
quickly as possible, no matter who sup
plies it. The city is retrograding on
account of the unwholesome condition of
our water The fact IS known all over
the country, and 1 am sure that if people
are compelled to move from their pres
ent homes, it is not likely that they
would select Jersey City as a good place
to locate in.''
Mr.. John G.. Gopsill, of the firm of
Gopsill & Vanderhoof, coal Dealers
Es.One thing is certain, and that is that
we should do something right away
We want good water and We want it
quick would not let my family drink
the water we have at present, and in
consequence of this I am compelled to
bay water to drink. It is SO bad some
times in my house that can't even take
i bath. Another thing about it is that
attribute the numerous cases of ty-
Ephoid fever that exists in Jersey City
as being caused by the filthy Passaic
water
Mr.. N. r. Vanderhoof. Of the same
firnl:-sT thoroughly endorse all that
Mr. Gopsls says. My physician told
me a few days ago that, no sensible man
would drink Passaic water, and l believe
him. I am in favor, though, of the city
owning its own plant, and do not think
that the city should purchase its water
from any private corporation"
Mr. r. H. Spengeman, real estate
dealer. No. 256 Washington street:-sln
he first place we ought TO have better
water Property in Jersey City is ap-
solutely ruined today en- account OF the
iynpurfty of the water. People are NOV
ing away and there are more houses
vacant today than ever before. We
can't sell our property. In all the his
tory Of Jersey City, valuations have
never been so low, and. as a matter Of
fact, property in this city is selling
for less today than it did in 1865. l
have been in the real estate business
for twenty-three years and know every
foo. of ground in Hudson county, hut
I never saw property such a drug on the
market as it is at the present time. We
can't even give it away. AS an exam
Die. I will cite one instance: There is
the handsome house on Pacific avenue
formerly occupied by our late City Clerk,
Mr.. Iohn e. Scott / sold that house to
Mr.. Scott for $4,000, and when 1t was
sold the other day it only brought $1,000
There are many other cases that could
cite and fully believe that the depre-
citation in value of Jersey City property
has been caused entirely by the bad
water. I don't approve. however. of
obtaining water from a private corpora
ton. The price they ask Is outrageous
Ii think that we can get good supply
Of water, and the city own its own plant
at an expense of between s4,00o,0o0 and
$5, ,O00. 900. Z
Mr.. w. j. Montgomery, real estate
dealer, No. IS Montgomery street:--'I
don't think that anyone will deny the
I fact that we require new supply. The
water we have at present is certainly
very vile, and / would not drink 1t under
Sany circumstances don't think we
Should pay too much for d new supply,
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