The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-11-27
MORE FIGURES.
Water Certiorari Hearing
Will Probably Close
Today.
A CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION
Errors in the Experts Tables Make
a Queer Difference Of Fifty
Days Supply.

The hearing in the certiorarl OF the
Jersey City Water Contract which has
spun out over several weeks, has at last
narrowed down into a duel between Elk
perts Vermeule and Croes as to the reda-
bility of certain tables of figures com
putting rainfall, run off, groundfow and
watershed capacity. Mr.. Vermeule has
made up one set which Mr.. Croes shifts
| at. and Mr.. Croes' figures are ridiculed by
| Mr.. Vermeule.
Almost the entire hearing conducted
was devoted to Mr.. Croes'
| estimate of Mr.. vermeule's estim-
ates and his was not of course confirma-
tory of that gentleman's mathematical
calculations.
1t appears that Mr.. Croes in making up
figures took, as he said, the
formula as laid down in the Geological
| Survey His results were different from
Mr.. Vermeule's and ex-senator w. D.
Edwards. for the Jersey City Water
Company made Mr.. Croes admit that he
had not strictly adhered to the Vermeule
formula as a basis for computing rain
| fall, run off, ETC., etc.
Mr.. Edwards went so far as to give
Mr.. Vermeule's figures and request Mr..
Croes then and there to figure out the re-
suits. That gentleman demurred and
muttered:-
This looks Like a Civil Service ex-
animation" but readily took out paper
and pencil and figured away. The result
made Mr.. Edward SIX
$50 yoE didn't follow Mr.. Vermeule's
formula and obey the instructions as to
other streams?"
IT did in the spirit" was the cautious
reply.
but you d~isregarded the instructions
as to directions, and made your own
corrections?"
"No. I made my corrections and put
Mr.. vermeule's figures on top"
Then you nave corrected his correc-
tions?' persisted Mr. Edwards.
FIGURES AID NAUSEAM.
Mr.. Croes admitted that he had used
his own judgment and discretion in ac-
cepting Mr.. vermeule's data, but softened
his previous statement by saying that
Mr.. vermeule's computations were better
than those of any man he could recall,
a compliment which made Mr.. Vermeule
smile.
Mr.. Edwards returned to the attack
when he asked Mr.. Croes how he ex-
planned an error of half an inch ne had
made in the ~groundfiow. Witness re-
piled that the error didn't amount to
much.
How much does half an inch on a
rainfall Of sixty-iye and q half miles
amount tor" asked Mr.. Edwards sweetly.
"Oh, about 500, 100000 gallons" replied
SThats ten a ~supply?, said Mr..
Edwards, and witness replied meekIy
$ you omitted to calculate the
Witness would only admit that in
one part of his tables he had not taken
into account for one months eyapo1ta
1 xfoo ~ n- -rottnd6nH hnnor1uo HI di6 !, ri
think it would come into effect.
Didn't you use the Sudbury water
shed tables in computing the estimate
of the Rockaway shed?"
And that shed is near Boston, aaa
continued Mr.. Edwards.
H PERSONAL EQUATION.
Eyes, I believe So"
was an important item in calculating
the run off of rainfall and Nj. ver-
meule's figures that after it, the ground
equivalent to five inches of rainfall AS
to the difference of calculations Mr..
Croes explained that while both experts
counted Tor the dissilnila.dty existing,
oh then. said ALI. EdWsrds, laugh
figuring was to make your sid as suit
able as possible and as damaging to Mr..
Vernlsule as possibleY" tGreat laugh
My personal equation. /" said Mr..
Croes warmly sIs to make It as fair
his side equally fair
$50 that your side -" began Mr..
Edwards, who was interrupted BY the
witness saying, II have no side
That's news for us?', retorted Mr..
Edwards. and there was general merri-
Tnent because at the previous hearing
Mr.. Croes said that Lebbeus B. Ward
peid him to make up his report criti-
Ching the Jersey City Water Company's
Mr.. Edwards managed to boil and sim
raer down the personal equation ele-
ment in the connection of water experts
tables, that finally within q given period
| 6,6-10 of flow off the water shed Instead
amounting to the small sum Of a fifty
days. supply Of water at 50,000,0GD gallons
SOPORIFEROUS STATISTICS.
The witness admitted hat from time
| to time he had obtained data of the Pc
| quannock water shed from Mr.. Clemens
Herschen, the engineer of the East Jer-
| Sey Water Company, but he didn't think
of getting figures to estimate the figures
of that shed.
Tut you went to Boston to get
| figures ~ asked Mr.. Edwards, and wilt
| ness fell back on his reply he didn't
think Of getting figures Of a n~eighborine
watershed to that OF the defendant com
Dany during the past very dry season.
More analysis Of figuring followed until
2 pause was made and Superintendent