The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-18
W
NO ACTION TAKEN
Board Of Finance Allows the
Water Contract to Pass
in Silence at It's
Open Meeting.
DISCUSSED IN PRIVATE
Expert Vermeule Explains the
Specifications and Compares
the Contract Point by
Point.

As foretold in 1.-THE News yesterday,
no definite action was taken by the Board
of Finance last night on the water sub
ject. The Board met at eight o'clock. All
the members were present and so were
Cooperation Counsel Blair. the Mayors
Secretary. John Nevin, and Cornelius c..
Vermeule, the water expert. Counsellor
William D. Edwards dropped in for a
moment, held a short consultation with
Mr.. Blair and then departed.
The water subject was introduced when
Clerk Finck read the resolution passed
by the Street and Water Board awarding
the East Jersey Water Company a per-
manent contract. On motion Of Commits
sioner Simpson the important document
was referred to the Committee of the
Whole for consideration.
A communication from Good Govern
ment Association No. l was next read by
The Clerk. 1t was to the effect that the
association desired the Board to withhold
concurrence in the resolution of award,
the association deeming it&nwise to en-
ter into a contract for a Permanent sup
ply of water at this time. The letter was
fled at the suggestion of Commissioner
Simpson.
The same. disposition was made of a
letter from the Board of Trade requesting
thai concurrence in the award pe with
held until such time as an expert, TO be
employed by it, can inspect the East Jer-
sey,s plans end report upon their feasible
ity and ~desirahility. There was no fur
Their reference TO the water subject until
the COMMITTEES on Concurrent Resolutions
RECOMMENDED the payTnent Of Expert Yer
meuless salary for TWO months, amounting
10 s5S3-S3. h claim was paid.
AT the conclusion of the business meet
ting a recess was taken and the Commits
eioners with the Corporation Counsel and
Mr. Vermeuie remained behind closed
doors for more than " hours. The plans
the East Jersey Company propose follow
ing in the construction Of a plant were
gone over carefully, Expert Vermeule be-
ing rigidly questioned on points which
were not clearly understood. The for
carefully gone over. Mr.. Vernaeule took
the specifications item by item and showed
that in every particular the company had
complied with the provisions. He gave it
as his opinion thai it IS impossible to show
that the company's proposition is not for
NAL. AS to its feasibility he said there
was absolutely no question.
The point was raised that in gathering
water in the Rockaway. Valley the Morris
Canal Company's rights might be IN
fringed upon. No one could speak au-
meule and Corporation Counsel Blair
seemd TO agree that in the event of a
contract being entered into with the East
Jersey Company, no difficulty would he
ing water rights with the Canal Com
pany, it being intimated that the two con-
Germs are closely allied.
1t was also said that some difficulty
might be met with at Boonton where the
J.. Couper-Lord estate WIS a vast area
and claims priority rights in the flow
and even in the valley above Powerville.
Relative to the sites selected for storage
Teservpirs and the location of intakes Elk
pert sVermeule said excellent judgment
had been exercised. The reservoirs will
be in valleys, at the lower end of which
1t will be possible to raise dams to such
sure the city a supply for a veal at a
rate of consumption of 50,00O,0o0 gallons Il
day.
Relative to the ability of the company
to have pipes of sufficient carrying ca
pacity made to insure the city the guam
tity it desired, Mr.. Vermeule said there
was no question. He called attention to
the error the company had made in New
ark,s plant and insisted that it would be
out of reason Ia believe that engineers
would make another such costly mis-
take.
The quality Of the water was talked of.
The Commissioners have all visited the
sources of supply Offered by the company
and agree that its purity is all that can
Three of the Commissioners do not feel
friendly toward the East Jersey Company
ana WOuids II Is said, nave opposed the
making of a contract with that concern
had any other company offered as desir-
able a plant.
h company; It Is 50 commended by
the screws ever since the water subject
has been agitated. and has done its ut
toners.
All the members of the Board favor
the acquisition Of a new supply, however,
and a majority of them have expressed
the opinion that the proposition now be-
fore them offers more advantages to the
city than any heretofore submitted.
The Board is to meet again next Tues
day evening. It is to be a special meet
ing, but no action win be taken on the
contract. ~ Gopeu
From d reliable source it was learned
that definite action viii be taken early
IN January 1t is regarded as reason-
ably certain that the award to the East
Jersey Company win be concurred in by
the unanimous vote of the Board.
Fs d nnmu A TNn