The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-11-21

AN EXPERTS ORDEAL
Engineer Croes' Cross Ex-
animation at the Water
Certiorari Hearing.
ANALYZING ESTIMATES
Board Of Trade Witness Admits
That He Made No
Surveys.

AoW III RTOSEGSS a6diuSt lHC
q permanent contract to that corpora
ton. heard In Chancery Chambers yes
terday, had lots of fun with the expert,
Mr.. J. J. R. Croes, who reported nd
versely to the Board of Trade upon the
award. Mr.. Croes had made an esti-
mate for a pipe line and water supply,
of course. considerably lower than the
figures of the Jersey City Water Com
pany, and after Mr.. Vredenburgh had
gotten through with him he looked as
If ne was exceedingly sorry that he had
ever lone so. The senior counsel for
the defendant water company went
through that celebrated piece of hy-
draulic figuring presented April A, 1895.
and very considerably tangled up the ex-
pert.
Mr.. Croes had been requested to fig
ure out the cost of a water supply by
the Board of Trade. the President of
which paid him by check, and he did
SO. IS
On his examination in chief by Messrs.
Corbin and Stevens. he glibly showed
that the works could be built, the pipes
could be laid, the water rights could be
acquired at a very lower sum than
that quoted by the Jersey City Water
Company, but when Mr.. V~redenburgh
! began to put searching questions the
experts memory had suddenly left him.
He was not sure that his proposed pipe
would cross either the Passaic or Hack
ensack, and as to its length or the dis
lance between Belleville and High Ser
vice, Jersey City, there were unimport-
ant and superfluous matters of infor-
nation of no bearing or the subject OF
a water supply for Jersey City.
In this famous estimate he had includ-
ed what he called compensation" reser-
yoirs to furnish owners of water rights
on the stream with water; but he could
not state an adequate amount of water
required by any owner along the stream.
By persistent prodding, the witness adj
mitted thai his eStimate was not for the
contractor, but for the city and should
there be losses the necessary consequence
cepted the city would be obliged to Shout
der the burden.
Pinned down to actual details, ne fell
back on, 81 can't remember. The calcu-
lation would be too laborious."
You knew you We're to be called"
yes"
And why didn't you bring your figures?
asked counsel. and the witness indig-
PROFESSIONAL ET1QUETTE.
tYou criticized some of the clauses in
the specification, what would you have
lone otherwise? ?" asked Mr.. V~redenburgh.
Il am not here to answer that ques-
tion," said Mr.. Croes, rapidly becoming
nettled.
Can you suggest a more judicious
clause?' ba~nteringly asked Mr.. Vreden-
Yes replied Mr.. Croes.
Il decline because you want profess
sional Information without compensa-
ton" said Mr.. Croes defiantly, and coun-
sci and witness roared with laughter,
burgh muttered:-
He who steals my purse steals trash"
question e Of the rfgh Msfe Of ' the L pdl III v 'nt
icy Railroad Company. Mr.. Vreden-
burgh turned Mr.. Croes over to Mr.. spen-
Ger Weart who: producing the specifca-
ton and referring to the terms of pay
ment which Mr.. Croes had previously
ion the specifications were indefinite and
put the burden on the contractor. but on
and the cost of works he took refuge
behind the reply. Il am not called on for
MR. cRoEs, CRITICISM.
"You have criticised those specifica-
tons and now we want the
calls on me for professional advice sui
lenly replied Mr.. Croes.
Then your criticisms in this matter
were not made to be criticised? ?" said
Mr.. Weart, but the witness answered
that he had answered.
Then the real reason is that you have
not been paid for your thoughts?"
Yes. that's it."
Then zen. y tp are in the the market + + for being
but / answer yes Mr.. croes replied.
that Mr.. croes turned to answer re-direct
questions, of Judge Stevens. who tried
e o. sm nrosa et the Tough places made by
have more fully comprehended. these
way and .Counseilors. ,~vredenburgh and
Edwards held their sides with laughter
MrsGross hastily replied in the afIir maa
riment. Then a question was put rela-
i. tive to water power and its cost of
stU1 ! m snd Me- Nerm CTGss re report that ia the he
shook his head, and Mr.. Vreden-
croes to point out the passage quoted.
The passage referred to was read by
MI. croes, s and MI Mi ysrme mfsn stepping =
II object interposed both Judge
Stevens and Mr.. Charles l.. Corbin, ito
a third party interfering. We ask q rul-
Mr.. Vermeuie quietly took his seat
and Mr.. ,Y~redenburgh Automatically
Croes. who believed he had gained an
advantage in that tilt.
ESTIMATES NOT GUESSES.
Still further pleased was Mr.. Croes
when Mr.. Stevens gave him al oppcrtu-
nifty to ~straighten out that unlucky .es-
innate to the Board of Trade, and refer
ring to it he said that his estimates had
Invariably been approXimated after pur-
clases and that gave him confidence in
sis Judgment.
Then these estimates were not guessfs
as counsel called them?" asked Mr..
stevens glancing at Msssrs. Edwards
and ~Vredenburgh.
Mr.. Croes admitted that they were
not made on actual surveys. He also
said that Syracuse is now building a
system after his plans, and that the
actual cost was within 2 per cent. OF
Don't you know that the ate
rights of Scaneateles creek, from which
Syracuse takes her supply, are in 1iti-
CATION" asked Mr.. V~redenburgh.
81 don't know"
Did you estimate a supply for Jersey
city in 1887 or 1892"
Il did for the Lehigh Valley Com
What for?" asked Nj. vr~edenburgh.
81 don't know; they didn't tell me
III. croes had another bad quarter of
an hour with Mr.. ~Vredenburgh, who
wanted to know where the water had
to be delivered, how and wha was the
size Of The pipe. but to. each question
Mr.. Crces replied that he couldn't re-
sEow did you. propose her to bring
last Jerseys bid. and cid your plan
bring the water in the same way!'
asked Mr.. V~redenblrgh.