The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-04
Public opinion and the Water Ques-
Hon.

-
lion.
There cannot be the least complaint
made by any one on account Of the post
ponement of a decision in the water
urgent cry for speedy action does not
demand that action should be taken with
out thought, study and judgment. The
demand is that a decision be reached at
the first moment when it can be safely
done. The popular uprising for the i'm
mediate procurement of a new water
supply does not mean that the city must
rush head1ong into the arms of the pres
ent bidder or any bidder. 1t means that
If the present bid be proven fair and suf-
fcient it should be accepted; If not. that
instantaneous steps be taken to readver-
tise and procure new bids, SO that the
subject shall not be dropped until it is
settled and the contract made. As the
present proceedings have reached an ad-
yanced stage of maturity. there is a
natural hope that they may bear fruit;
but IL they will not ripen. the public in
sist that the officials shall at once begin
over again and labor diligently until a
favorable result is reached.
Besides the demand for a permanent
settlement of the question. public opin-
ion very plainly favors a temporary sup
ply to avert the possible renewal of last
summers horrors. The drought of that
season has inflicted an injury upon real
estate in Jersey City which can only be
repaired by years. It is positively alarm
ing to scan the reports of the agents
and dealers throughout the city. With
absolute unanimity, they tell Of houses
and unrentable. They speak
of the present season as the most dis
astrous that they nave ever had. No
new residents are coming hither and hun
dreds are moving away. The reports of
the Building Inspector reinforce this testi-
mony. There are at present hardly a
dozen dwelling houses in course of con-
struction in all Jersey City. Three or
four in Lafayette. half a dozen on Monti-
rsr1o avenue and perhaps as many more
isolated houses in scattered places make
up the whole sum of the springs build
ing operations.
This is "a state of things which will
hardly await the protracted operations
of constructing a new water system for
betterment. The retail trade of the city
WILSON begin to suffer and the bad
conditions are liable to be reflected in the
tax@levy this very year. When the Board
Of Appeals convenes. there will be a rush
of owners of non-rent paying property
to solicit relief. Things are liable to
go from bad to worse, unless our public
officials. in whom we nave placed our
interests. take some vigorous action to
check the downward tendency.
1t cannot be said that the drop in prop
erty which the real estate men report
Is the result of any bear operation on
the part of anyone. 1t comes as a sur
prise. The tone of the was
rather bullish this spring upon real estate
topics, and there is no doubt but the
dealers started out by asking stiff rents,
and building high hopes Of an influx Of
population. The business conditions in
New York pointed to a demand by bust
1narc mon and THAR ornnlaunc for oboo-
and moderate houses on the Hill. In
deed. New York real estate operators
all agree that there has been a marked
exodus from thatssoity ito the suburbs,
prompted by motives of economy.
Then why has this tide swept over us
and by us and ueft US no profit? The
real estate men tell US clearly. Those
people who have come to them with en-
cuirfes have all showed signs of fear of
say?" has been a common question.
From this fact, the inference IS fair and
plain that thousands of others have not
come to ask the question, prefer
ring 70 take no chances In a matter so
Vital to health and comfort.
1t will be the duty Of the new Street
and Water Board. which comes into of
fee next week, to take up without a
moments delay this matter of temper
airy Improvement of the supply. If pos
sible, something should be done by July.
If it Is feasible, we should have a total
ly new supply. II we cannot, we should
get all the water we can to dilute the
Passaic fluid as much as possible. Or
II It is possible to get a cheap filtration
scheme. it might give us some relief
for two or three years while permanent
works are building.
Anyway. as we remarked yesterday, the
City IS at a crisis in its existence, and the
fight must be fought in the direction of
progress. II we fall back into inaction
now, it means disaster to every interest
in the city. There IS only one thing to
do. go on from one effort to another un-
I'll we get the great need supplied. no
matter from what source and no matter
vt what cost.
What separated Them.
ssWhat is the difference between you
and me ?' he asked. There Is no differ
eneess she answered YEARLY IT Is in