The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-11
COMMISSIONERS ANGRY.
The Contract Gained by Deeep-
tion Should Be Terminated
at Once, They Say.

When the Jersey City officials recov-
cred from Mr.. Hirschel's startling reve-
lation, they were hot in the region of
their collars. When they figured it all
out and found that Jersey City, sunder
the most favorable circumstances, can
only get 6,500,0O0 gallons of Pequannock
water-probably much less--they We're
paralyzed.
What do they mean by turning on any
such supply as that?" demanded Com
missioner Hooker. ut is 10 use to US
and had l known what the quantity was
to be l would never have consented to
having it turned on. / want it under
stood now that am opposed to the con-
tinuation of this contract. The whole
thing is farcical What will people think
of mixing four or five millions of Pequan-
mock with eighteen or nineteen millions
of Passaic. We are askd to pay $43 per
million gallons for this meagre supply.
We will not be able to reduce our pump
ing expenses one dollar and any money
paid to the East Jersey Company be-
comes a sheer waste.
1T was represented to US that we
would get at least 20,000,000 gallons every
day, and it was for that reason I voted
for the contract Now l want the con-
tract upset, and think it is the duty of
the law officers of Jersey City to act at
once. No sane man will submit to such
contract 1t is outrageous and it would
have only been justice to all the cities
and towns buying water from the COM
pany to have been informed earlier of the
lncapacity of sthe pipe line. We do not,
I believe, want to drive Newark back into
the Passaic for its water when 1t is being
deprived of a quantity that is wholly in
sufficient for us. The predicament is
one that could have been avoided il. there
that the main from which we were to
have been supplied is collection of
taps, showing very clearly to. to my m1na
the event of it's pipe carrying sufficient
water, to supply Bayonne and gobble up
Just as many ct Jersey cty yba IS
q revelation that had not anticipated.
/ had an idea we would get perhaps
twelve million gallons day, and even ven
seemed wrong
ssIt is a disappointment; but it is as
wei that the question has beer been falgada fagitaaaed
TO talk Of holding Jersey City to such
santarions is absurd. IT I had the pow
er would cut off the new water that
is being given US right now. -,
said Commissioner Harding. = wanted
this ceremony postponed; but the water
company Insisted upon going ahead ahead = +
contract with this city. Engineer Hir-.
schel knew just how much water Jersey
g be Turned on. we were practically
deprived OF the pleasure Of seeing the
ceremony. 1t was all over before we
the company win set up the claim that
it is carrying out its contract with this
city t is greaa55 pity that spont fbs
accept. What we are getting is INSULT
h' The Whole n sDlfe performancs M tee to me has Pc
euliar aspect and I am in favor of flav-
ing that water shut off at once. It is
company has spent We cannot be ex-
pected to pay for the blunders of others.
For my part ] will not. sit quietly ano
tent of $500 or more day for the bene-
fit of the East Jersey Water Company.
Our consumers will derive no benefit;
with few pailsfull of Pequannock.
am in favor of having the case taken
in court at once
supply all the 1 time said eommissioneF
postponed until Monday N / had heard
Engineer Hirschel should have told Us
a mockery of our contract. The public
will think we should have discovered
these facts, but every one must bear in
mind that the facts were kept from us
and we were misled all the way through.
Engineer Hirschels proper course was to
have enlightened us. He knew we would
object to accepting such supply. But
no, he went ahead. made bluff at MAX
ing coed his contract. and a long and cost
ly lawsuit will doubtless result. I will
be opposed to paying for this meagre
supply Why to a cupful Of Pequannock
there is a million gallons of Passaic. The
whole thing is an outrage and looks like
trick