The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-08-20

ardson had told him that from 100000
to 10000 gallons of the water supply
of the city was sent from the pumping
station at North Bridgeport. All this was
polluted by the water from he mill
stream.
HAD TO ABANDON IT.
The pollution proved to be serious
that Bridgeport had to altogether aban-
don the Mil stream as a source of sup
ply. at least temporarily. The Daily
Standard" of august 10 gives all the par
t~iculars. as folows:-
The Mill river supply is the only
water which has been distributed to con-
sumers in this city since last night. In
compliance with the order served on the
Hydraulic company yesterday afternoon
by the Clerk of the Board of Health.
that corporation Immediately ceased to
use the water derived from the stream
on which Tait's mill in Trumbull is To-
Gated. Thus the water now in use Is
from the Mill river system only. which.
so far as is known. is absolutely pure.
When the notice was served on the
company yesterday afternoon, Director
r. B. DeForest and 1. DeVer Warner
called at the office of the Board of
Health and asked if they could arrange
for a conference with the members of
that body. The three members in the
city were communicated with and ar
engagements made for a=special meeting
of the board at IL O'Clock this morning.
AT that hour the clerk met DR.. Warner
and Mr.. DeFNorest at their Office in the
United Bank Building. and a session was
commenced which lasted for an hour
and a half.
CAREFUL BUSINESS.
During this time the entire matter was
gone over, and the report of Chemist
Wheeler was shown to the representa-
! tives of the water company. They had
previously seen it in the Standard but
were not a little surprised when it was
explained to them what the presence Oh
some of the substances mentioned IN
the report really meant. But they stat
ed that they were willing to do anything
which the Board of Health might sug-
gest in order to purify the supply. 1t
was as much to their interest as to that
of the city to have the water pure as
we'll as plentiful.
DR.. Warner said that as soon as the
order of the Board was received an or
der was sent to the pumping station to
cease pumping and that no more water
would enter the pipes from this point
till the stream was pronounced fit by
the Board of Health. 1t might be that
it's use for city water purposes would be
entirely suspended. There had been a
time when the city depended mainly
upon this stream. This time was past.
T.. A. Nf;l1 Diryar SuCt6m- there was
water enough to supply the city for an
indefinite period and there would be
an abundance of water even if the
Peouannock River supply was entirely
obliterated.
From this station at North Bridge
port there had been pumped on an aver
age about 1000. 900 or 5000, 600 gallons OF
water a day. The total consumption of
water in this city was as a matter CT
fact greater in proportion to its popula-
ton than in any other city in the United
States. The city of Providence, which
is much larger than this, uses less water
thar is consumed here. He wanted the
members of the board. however. to ap
preciate the true situation as far as the
water company was concerned.
1t was his aim and that of the othea
members OIL the pOdlu - ~
nave the city water absolutely safe,
and to tnat end they have tried to re-
move all possible sources of complaint.
In Easton the entire water shed had
been purged and the same policy had
been followed wherever trouble was
found.
PUTTING UP THE PRICE.
AS far as the TAFT mill property was
concerned, they had tried for a long
time to purchase it. They had not sue
ceeded for the simple reason that the
owners of it would not accept "a rea,
sonable offer for it. The company was
willing to have a committee appointed
to appraise it. Then it would take the
report OF the committee and add to it
80 per cent. and pay that amount for
the place.
The Taits were unwilling to take any
thing but an exorbitant amount for the
property, and his they would not give.
1t was his opinion that the pollution OF
he stream might have been made with
a. view to forcing the company 10 pay
he terms asked. The way things had
turned out, however. this source OF sup
ply could be abandoned with no incon-
venience at all. 1t was the desire of
the water company to do everything TO
keep its system in good condition, which
the Board. of Health might ask or think
nroper. All that was necessary was fo1
the board to suggest the changes, and
the company would supply the money
with which to carry them out.