The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-09-23

that body covered only the northeastern
portion of the State, the plans for which
were presented in the report of the Com
missions in 1884, since which time no
work has been done.
Until comIsiete system for the whole
State is formulated protection should be
afforded by the Legislature to the small
Ter communities against any attempted
exclusive occupation by single cities,
in excess of their reasonable demands.
of valuable sources of water supply
the Legislature a most elaborate pre-
sentation of the subject. gave these con-
clusions:
IN connection with this question of
water supply 1 call attention TO the pre-
sentation of the matter made in my
last message still entertain the opln-
ion that the attempt OF private cor
porations to withdraw water from rivers
and streams to sell to the pubic, ana
obtain a monopoly thereof under which
they claim the right to prevent great
cities and communities from using the
same for public purposes, IS dangerous
to the public interests. The unusual
and dangerous powers which have been
given to these corporations should be
limited. and the right of the great body
of citizens. and of the municipalities
of the State not having contracts with
these corporations should be protected.
The right to regulate the use of water
for public purposes can only be safely
vested, in my judgment, either in the
State or in municipalities, for the equal
benefit of ALL
Governor Werts. in 1895. thus called
legislative attention to the lengths to
which the water monopoly had gone,
and urged immediate action for saw
ing to the people. what Governor Lpd-
low had forcibly denominated "the God
GOVERNOR WERTS, POSITION.
~ deem it of great public importance
that measures esa sRouid be Speeed1iiy taken taken
cas CT potable water within its boz
ders. This is a matter of concern to the
entire State, but more Immediately IN
northeastern section. In my last an
nual message, 1 submitted an extract
from the report of the State GeoIog1st,
showing the sources now available for
supplying northern New Jersey towns
and cities with water. the supplying ca
pacities of such available sources anu
the present and prospective population
to be supplied thereby. The data thus
presented are most Instructive and en-
phasize the conclusion expressed by the
state Geoiogist; that wise and judicious
development of these water sheds is
necessary for the benefit of all the peo-
pie other than their segregation Tor phg
uses of a few powerful communities.
respectfully invite your attention to the
extracts alluded to.
They convey most impressive warn
ing and invite prompt and determined
action These sources of water supply
are now sought to be acquired, and in
many instances have been acquired by
private individuals or corporations. that
they may be held for speculative pur-
noses and sold to Individual municipal
ties to the exclusion of others. y sllch
a policy is to prevail, it is. evident that
the time is not distant. when the bulk
of the population in northern New Jerc
sey, will. for this absolute necessity OF
Efe. be at the mercy. of those owning or
controlling the supply. This should not
be. The time is at hand when the State
should exercise its preregative and Sc
cure for the common bensfit what was
Intended for the use OF all OF course,
all rights CT individuals or corporations
should he respected and fair compensa-
ton awarded for all property taken Tor
nublic purposes. But. subject to that
5rcyisfon, the State should not hesitate
to assert its authority to the fullest ex-
PEOPLE DBsPIsED BY GRIGGs.
At almost every session of the Legis-
lature since ,Goveracr LUDLOW @ nrst lrs
sented looking to the ascertainment ana
pre- srgation 5f the public interests.
Bnt at the instance of the water T.,fe mo mo,
been defeated. and something has heen
added to the corporation laws which has
given the water monopoly some poMeI
or privilege which they did not hereto
In defiance of the advice and warnings
on the part Of Governors Lud1oW, ApeeIIf fnIf
created the water monopoly; next, de-
feated any effort to establish the pubhe
the sale to Newark by the water monop-
oily Of waters taken from the pubic
streams; and next by hlred, or re
fained'' lobby, denied all the efforts OF
Jersey City and other important munlcl-
palities to procure a water supply ex-
cept through it.
monopoly is Garret A. Hobart, and its
frequent representative before = e lie legisla-
In that position. Mr. Grisgs has more
than once used ell his ability, eloquence
and sarcasm to assert the right of the
water monopoly to whatever it had laid laid
viruIence and personal abuse, public spir-
tied citizens who without fee were f SEEK seek
rights in the public waters, upon whien
their comfort, happiness and prosperity
WITH John W. Griggs in the the Goyeri 5t3o,e1d
block all LEGISLATION interfering with
their ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the public right
to the flowing waters of the State.
The water monopoly attacks. every
citizen of the State right, in his own
his family. and levies a tax. and profit
upon every raindrop that falls on New
Jerseys soil.
77rr,