The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-09
THURSDAY. MAY ., 1895.
This paper is Democratic IN principles
end is Independent IN its ciews o" "' '0ea'
questions.
The Crisis in water.

this city Inc boaru u
no doubt. take final action upon the
award made by the late street
and Water Board to the Jersey City
Water Company of the contract for a
supply. What that action will be- we
have no mel of ~presaging, but whether
It be fhrmative or negative, the event
is likely to mark an epoch in the ms
tory of the city.
In ease the action is favorable or al
firmative, we believe a long era of CROWN
and prosperity is ahead of this great city
We believe that from the moment the
concurrence of the board in the contract
is expre ssed, the approval of the Mayor
wanser would interpose his single VIII
to thwart the greatest work In the IN
terest of the people hat Jersey City mas
aver undertaken. And then, from the
hour when the new water supply becomes
q definite certainty, we expect TO see d
new awakening of life and interest IN
BUSINESS dlil pIOPCAN
the return of families from the country
in the fall bring a marked lnnuA oi
nonulation to lake the place of the dls-
p,sted. people who have moved away.
We expect to see rentals once again
mada stable. prices of real estate ao-
vanced. new houses building. work for
,dls artisans. and the money that they
earn pouring over the counters OF our
retail traders.
:. This 5ts what we expect to see, Ii the
e,tv sets a good water supply-new lie.
Now we wish to say that these remarks
are not made to further the interest Oh
the Jersey City Water Company we
have no more friendship for that con-
Germ than we would entertain for any
otbar nroiector who offered the city a
good supply at a moderate price n
backed up it's offer with a supstahliai
guarantee. 1t is true we eagerly nope "
see the award confirmed tonight oul
only because it is so near maturity II
offers an immediate and inal solution OF
the problem. In this matter, we regaru
delay as deadly. Therefore, If delay can
ha avoided by the confirmation OF the
,rssant award. there is true cause for
public rejoicing.
az course. if the Board of Finance feels
itself compelled to reject the contract, we
=. ~ = eerooI 70 ha1iavp that the HE'LL
bers saw good reason for their ac'ion.
Far be it from us to indulge in wantoh
criticism of honorable public officials, De
catse they exercise their Independent
judgment. We hope their nvestigatloh
may Justify their concurrence. But Il
they refuse to concur. we shall at leas'
he ready to concede that the motive winch
inspired them was regard for the puphc
good.
Rut if the Board assumes the respon-
sibllsty of rejecting the Jersey City COM
pany,s offer and thus postponing ac'lol
indefinitely, it will be upon
n tn define it's position in some unmis-
takeable way so that the next effort mace
to secure a supply may not prove apor-
tive. 1t will be the duty OF the ne"
street and Water Board-in the non-con-
c1rreuce contingency-to go ahead IN
.t.n+anaonsly and invite new proposals.
Care should assuredly be taken that the
response to these should be within the
limits of, the Finance Boards ideas. In
ward the latter Board, if it rejects
the present bid, should in doing so state
specifically just what it wants, SO tha'
bidders may know how to shape tneit
plans so as to be acceptable.
But whether the Financiers accept OF
reject the present bid, an urgent ouey
falls upon them and upon the Street ano
water Board. This is the procurement
III 4 temporary supply to avert the nor
rors nfthe Passaic. which have made
racent summers intolerable in this city
and which came to a climax IN las
Years brought This is the need OF the
hour, above all things. and 1T is ever
1nore urgent than the matter Of a per
IlaQ
manent supply. 1t does, not matter
where 1t comes from, how it is Cd
timed or what 1t costs. We shouie
have better water this very summer
rhere is a which avs 1t coule
give us q altering plant in six weekes
rhe East Jersey Water Company say
II could give us eighteen or twenty mil
lion gallons a day Of P~eauannock Watel
n about the same-time. The Jersey Cit,
Company also seems ready to c~ontrac'
for q temporary supply. Well. let u
have 1t! Let us have 1t without delay
II we make a contract tonight. the tenn
porary supply will save US from SUFFERING
while the works are being built. II ",
d not make a contract, the temporar,
supply. will afford US relief while W
trv and find out what we want, wha
We are willing to pay and whether any
one will sell us what we want q gu
price.
THE world this smorning says n
price asked BY the Jersey City Company
s7.ooe,ooo. for the purchase outright 9