The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-09-13
AGAINST PURE WATER
The Mayor Listens to C1tl-
zens Who Oppose the
Contract.
/ C0NDIcT'S EQUIV0CAL POSITION
Says He Wants to Save the
City Money, But Gen. Wan
ser Shows Where He
Did the Opposite.
FRANK COLES RECKLESSNESS
& lie Accuses Mr.. Weart and When
Cornered Backs Down I'm
gracefully-John Cone
Fayors the Jersty
City Co.
FRANK COLES RECKLEssNEss

Mayor Wanser gave a public hearing
this morning in his private office at CITY
Hall to persons who are opposed to ac-
ousring water under contract and those
who favor it.
There were about forty persons pres
ent and about half opposed and half ap-
proved This made the situation inter-
essing to begin with. That the meeting
proved a lively one did not surprise any
one.
Among those present were H. v. Con-
diet. Garret Van Reipen. Major Pangborn,
John ]. Voorhees,. Lewis Fisher. G. T.
Howell City Attorney Weart, Corpora
ton Counsel Blair. Mr. Taylor of Good
Government fame, John Pringle. DR..
OsCallaghan, Dr. w. Allen Edward
Kenny. Mr. Mcbride. Peter Riley, a real
estate dealer; Patrick Rehill P. Coyne.
John ]. Cone and Edward Tunis Me-
I.aughIin. John Pringle, at one time an
extensive property owner, was the first
gentleman to speak. He wants water.
but he wanted Mayor Wanser to be sure
and get a supply that could never be-
come polluted. no matter what it cost.
He said the city's experience with the
Passaic River Should be a Warning TO
get water from some point where pollu-
ton is out of the question now and will
always remain SO.
He declared he had used Passaic water
since its Introduction. and although it
had not injured him. he did not like it.
He suggested a filtration scheme. and
then made way for Henry v Condict.
MR.. CoNpICT BREAKS LOOSE.
This meeting" began Mr.. Condict,
..was called at your invitation. Since
one week ago yesterday I have taken
it upon myself to ask everyone 1 have
met his opinion on this subject. The
almost universal reply has been to con-
denim the proposition to award a per-
manent supply to the Jersey City Water
COMPANY.
ST have said TO everyone. come to this
meeting What does the few We have
here Indicate? It does not indicate a
lack of interest. People say, I am too
busy to take this question up. Mayor
Wanser knows my views. What IS the
use of my bothering him. I don't believe
anything will be done that is not right
1--WE who are here believe we should
present our views. This is great gues-
tion, and is one that is not understood.
We understand that water is to be
brought here from the Roekaway water
shed, but we do not understand how
it is to be done The proposition to Sc
cure temporary supply is favored and
I believe has the commenGation of all
citizens. Only one man opposes it, and
he is William A. Lewis.
.sHe has probably figured the question
out and understands it perfectly then," :"
said Mayor Wanser IF we could get
the supply offered US as soon by the
Jersey City Company as we can get
the temporary supply we would be able
to save for the city $50 a day. l would
not sign the temporary supply if it were
not for the emergency"
1--WE all want water and We want it
as cheap as we can get it, continued
Mr. Condict. 1.-THE temporary supply
offered US will give us only 20,09o6o0 gall
Ions daily at Belleville and then we will
have to continue pumping" said Mayor
Wanser "The permanent supply gives
us water at High Service with sufficient
pressure to dispense with all pumping.
"And Mr. Condict,'' continued the May
or. .you know as we'll as I DO that the
temporary supply will be inadequate
Il don't know it, replied Mr.. Con-
diet
'sYou do know it," retorted the Mayor,
s.and you know that Passaic water will
have to be mixed with the surplus of
NewarF's supply. And another thing, if
we do not award a contract for per-
manent supply the city will almost inn
mediately have to lay out $1,000,100 in
the building OF q new pipe line across
the Hackensack Meadows, because our
present pipes are too small to give US
the quantity we want"
DON'T CARE WHAT 1T COSTS.
..We don't care what we have to pay
said Mr.. Condict. 1--WE want water, and
no matter what the temporary supply
costs we want it. We can use that
temporary supply for five years and
ther. in the meantime obtain a perman-
ent supply in business-like manner.
IF we want a temporary supply we
will have to take what we can get and
mix Passaic water with it." said the
Mayor.
II do not care to be interrupted" said
Mr. Gondict. who found that the Mayer
was knocking his claims into cooked
hat
II have something to say. I am here
as a citizen. and I propose to be heard.
and what I say I want to say in re-
spestable manner
ssGo on. then" replied the Mayor.
sIf YOU sign the contract for a teTn-
porary supply continued Mr.. Condict,
ntfe emergency will be over, and then
fer four years and eight months we
may work together to get a. permanent
supply. We will then have an oppor~
tunitv to get an expert and there is
the whole point in this discussion. The
citizens cannot see why an expert has
not been engaged"
sYou and a few others hired an ex-
pert once before" said the Mayor "and
] want the people to know that you cost
the city 81 100000 by that act. This same
Company offered us a supply that could
rave been extended by US for S95D,0Oa
less than it is offered now There was
interference. and we didn't get It. s
s.We cannot understand how you favor
the Jersey City Water Company when II