New-York tribune., 1896-01-14
IT is NEWARK'S PLANT.

IT is NEWARK'S PLANT
10 the Editor of The Tribune:
Sir. An editorial article In The Tribune of this
morn ne states inferentally if directly that the
city Of Newark depends for its water supply upon
contract with private contractor. the East Jersey
Water Company. This statement Is incorrect. The
city of Newark owns its water supply absolutely.
Ev "A contract made with the East Jersey Water
Company in lsS9 that company b"cam" bound as
contractor furnish the city at stipulated price
,sGo0 with n supply Of pure water sufficient In
Quantity to insure daily delivery OF Jo11ro gallons.
md TO provide the necessary works and appliances
10 insure the delivery o: this water AT the city
reservoirs by gravity alone under head and press
IRE which would enable the city 10 make dis'rihu'
ton without using other force throughout rs on-
tire limits The contracting company agreed to
procure all the lands. water and rights necessary
for this purpose.
II will b, observed that the delivery was to h"
made by gravity alone. In order insure suili
clont elevation from which 20 obtain the supply
qur.d by the contract the contractor was compelled
to iakc ii from tn headwaf"rs Of the Passalc ana
the Poquannock watershed was therefore secured
FOR this purpose This the best source OF supply
and furnished the pur,st water available The
contractor was not only Obliged to purchas" large
tracts lands construct reservoirs of large capac-
ty SECURE tho necessary rights Of way and lay
line OF pipe for over twenty miles TO the point of
intake but to obtain the rights OF all persons in
I
lehigh Valley Railroad Company - lrss""s oi the
Morris Canal. the Society Of Useful Manuiactur"s
private rights u this ~nt"r from it, sources IN IN"
mountains TO tdc~ater Ev the terms of the con
tract the necessary property and rifhts ""I" =" b
secured and To" Necessary works consirnct"i hiH1
rl.d 80 ,Re city and the water furnished for its
| -rrplr read, for us~ on Mal l. iN's
The contract a. that date was So far completed
mat water wts de!iv-fcI 90 ttc clty's r,s~rvo.r-
sufficient for the dt's nse. To" company CLAIMED
| r~lucs,.l payment Tho ci., refused 20 make pay
menf urin -at SHED that tn" source ~ Supply was
was b. Wcv-r. by a sIppemeniai contract thel
agreed ma The ttlc 70 all ne pro2ciy rrlp'rrn II
| Transferred ', the Cry and this was done The
'mpSn, @ @ asre1e n % ih ' Tie % basn'c ' should be paid
only wh,n it Als demonstrated o. the satisfaction
| -'rt'e,.ly p.rforn,a Al the snrnn dine drpositius
in bldg S'.'o of ihe bonds delivered N payment
Trc recent contract e the East Jersey water
,,,niy y, ~r,@- ra- naic upon ;he ,hojTy .,i-
dcnly that The pipe constructed FOR inc rty ~ New
amount required ~ 'he contract Of thc ci,, Of New
ark 'o""e" gallons Ia, but A. ms ilmr e thee
ben SUM ent To- furnish ihe ciy ~ Newark from
| the day - water was turned on-Mny J. lN2 Win
| the quantity necessary fog pes"ni use u WAs
claimed by the engineer that ID was OF sufficient
szc nni capncty to furnish ne 'Ntire supply c'n-
'ract~d for. Il Vas shown however by ne teS;
just made that IT Is not sufficient ana that II VII
[ of Newark Nth an additional supply p'pe ana II
believed mat thr experience" ~ IN" is, yea OH
| be necessary for the company 10 furnish an addi-
iiOual reservoir FOR impOunGing water. Il Is Tor
tunair that the city OF Newark is protected :"
, fully against these contingencies Asid" from the
responsibility Of the Company. II retains suitceni
amount Of ;he consideration money 10 secure full
| and complct" performance. which do not unicr-
stand that The company seeks IN any way 70 AVOID
You are quite right In saying mar u Is p'i POI
| cy on the part Of any municipality 10 permit rs
water supply to be under private control II shouIl
In every raS hr.ong - ana hr 'n" property "I '"r
| city. This u demonstrated by the experience oi
| This city We have population OF about 22l~pD
2-.rs UV) gallons Win ear" IN us ilstrlDuoh. ~
0c0D gallons Will be ADEQUATE FOR me needs oi IN"
city up 20 september l., ~" ~ wnich 'ine W. ar
entitled % receive IN" fuIi amount contract"i TOT
J1o0oOoo gallons day, ana the c9ntractors riEh,
| OF the plant for any purpose eases ,,,.
II, ~ ~ h,. nnr I1,ter pco.r,men, as I am i'm.
TrrmcJ bv The o,,icers in charre are about SsDoo
=, =, a,,sC,,, th,, without lucr,,se in m, rnc
furnish he suppv the irtcres, on prior debt of
| the Water Department OF the city ot about A"",.
~" anu ,un''Sn S'ins ~ ~ sb1rf~ % ynnrs " ~ '' "
II is p.tv that tho people of Jersey city should
be- disnppolnted IN obtaining temporary supply oi
rernis%in, xoy,rk vim It's SUNNY wIu afrori +.
| whol.v Inadequate to meet their wants relieve
! ,hcn Ia amy considerable extent Their wisest
| course IL to So 'ure an independent supply. to bc
| sou. dis,sslon I'm tho newspapers and elsewhere Of
he quesifon whether the state should furnish
y,,cr IN tho ,nuricipalitics A little consiera tion
| n mis- subject vii convince any person who's"
| mind is omen l., conviction that this Is mpracc-
able The State has already given authority To the
! cities TO secure water and water rights by con
Gent supply Except far as thcs, waters and