The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-17
slick EAST JERSEY.
City Officials Say Their Last
Offer is Not as Generous
as it Seems.

There is no change in the water situa-
tion today. The city officials have not
as yet arranged a time for caucus to
consider the apparent liberal proposition
the company was forced to make.
There is one section of the proposition
that is causing comment. The company
first proposes to give the city all the wa
ter it possibly can free of charge up to
April u, when the time for the fulfill
ment of it's contract to furnish between
twenty and twenty-five million gallons
daily expires. The city only is to get
what it uses free of charge. as in another
paragraph the company demands the
payment of s43 per million gallons for
every million delivered by the city to Bay
onne Harrison and Kearny.
The apparent generosity of the 'free of
charge proposition is shown up in its
true light when it is remembered that
every gallon the company is now furnish
ing goes into the 36-inch cement main
from which Bayonne. Harrison and
Kearny are supplied, A section of the
Hill is dependent upon this main for its
supply. but the day the water was turned
on it was found necessary in order to
give an adequate supply to those con-
sumers dependent upon that main an
adequate supply. to turn on water pumped
from the Passaic. Consequently the de-
livery of free water is regarded by the
city officials as a blind to make it appear
the company is endeavoring to make
valuable concessions to the city. while in
reality it is giving away practically moth
ing.
OF the average 100000 gallons daily be-
ing furnished. that section of Jersey City
south of the railroad cut. is getting about
100000 gallons. and the quantity is
drowned by the Passaic that is mixed
with it. The more the proposition is
considered the more satisfied the city Off
cials are becoming that the company is
leaving no stone unturned to force them
to bind the city to an agreement for an
uncertain supply that the company con-
tends will be adequate. as soon as it con-
pletes the proposed new pipe line. Before
Mayor Wanser or the Finance Commits
sioners are requested to pass upon the
proposition. the Street and Water Com
missioners will first consider it. There is
a report abroad today that the Street and
Water Board propose asking another con-
ference with the water officials in order
to have more definite arrangements
made.
The whole situation nowhinges upon what
the water company will consent to do in
regard to supplying of Bayonne. Har-
rison and Kearny. A demand. it is said,
will be made upon the company to agree
to not in any way attempt to rob Jersey
City of the three municipalities mentioned
as customers If the company refuses
the city officials it is reported, will re-
ject the pending proposition and. fight the
company as it did in the case of Harri-
son.
The company has Kearny practically in
it's clutches. and also Bayonne, which it
is to supply under sub-contract To
carry out its contract with Bayonne. how,
ever, the company would have to lay new
mains and secure a right of way through
the streets.
This will doubtless be a hard task un-
der the circumstances. All of the city
ras are aea s0qs to retain 6e1s ba
if the courts decide in favor of the Jersey
City Company award for permanent
supply, there will be no difficulty in maxi
will go a great ways toward paying the
interest on the new plant.
The uncertainty of the surplus being
to noon today the. water shows that during m
gallons were delivered The first days
dseiyery was so Ss4slsS sec99a
$4,000, making total for the six days of
409 .142 gallons, which would have cost
the city something like $1,000 had it been
paying for it The daily supply is 50
any difference in the water Had the
existing contract been enforced the city
would have been paying $1,000 for some
benefit from.
Yesterdays supply was less than any
day since the water was turned on, the
day noon until Monday noon when it was
only 5.6S8,540