The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-15
WANT FILTRATION
A Delegation of Citizens
Visits the Street and
Water Board to
Advocate 1t.
IT IS Mr.. DEAR'S SCHEME
Will Only Cost Million and a
half TO try it, and the City
Will Drink Passaic
Still.
IT IS Mr.. DEAR'S SCHEME

I
Joseph A. Dear took a COMMITTEES oA
citizens before the Street and Water
Commissioners this morning to advocate
mis- hltering scheme. Among the gentle-
men were Messrs. Myron Furst, DR..
Quimby, George Taylor, NJ ]. Currie,
Reuben Simpson, Rev John L. Seudder,
REMAINING DuMont, James e Banks. E.
S. cowles, John S. Carseallen, Humphrey
W Carr, H. v. Condict, Jacob Ringie.
Frank Q. Cole, W. H. Beachand, Gustav
Blare.
OF course Mr. Dear constituted himself
spokesman. The Commissioners listened
attentively when the great filtration
agitator, in his customary entertaining
| and eloquent manner made a speech
which, if printed, would I'll two col 1rnns
of THE News" not including stoprages
for puffs Of wind.
What Mr.. Dear said was that the
filtration of the Pasaic River sewerage is
feasible; that it can be done at a cest
| not greater than $4,000, ,0Oo; and finally,
If the city officials will only discard
their own good judgment and follow such
advice as he and Expert Hazen win give
free of charge" he would be very much
pleased.
Rev. John L. Scudder made a brief adj
dress. He said the city needs pure water
badly, but believes that it would be bet
ter to spend million and half and filter
the present supply rather than 50.
for supply which it will take at least
three years to get.
H ". Condict made the speech he has
delivered on a half dozen different oc-
casions when he has found an audience
TO listen He spoke of the beauties of
the Passaic supply. its volume and the
possibility of making it pure and spark
ling by simply followin out the Hazen-
Dear filtration suggestion. Mr. Dear ap-
plauded him for his clever arguments.
Not long ago it was reported that Mr..
Condiet was anxious, merely from the
standpoint of a property owner. to have
Mayor Wanser make private contract
with the East Jersey Water Company
beek's complaint that he had used filters
in his brewery and found them to be of
| no practical benefit. Mr.. Condict ex-
plainsd that MI Lenbsck, of course; had
kind. according to the sps psalxers was the
threeTaere Slatss sa NJ pit pattern prepared
Frank O. Cole said the filtration plan
is comparatively a new one, and il
adopted by the city would doubtless bo
beneficial He declared that no matter
be now, Il is posstole to make it palat-
able at least.
Scientists have shown us that disease
germs are removed from polluted water
by filtration." he announced. "Our water
may be vile, but if properly treated it
can be made all right and at colnpara-
tration plant and it will have this effect
Corporations that are now debating to
US and demanding high prices for water
Will be panic-stricken and our terms will
be gladly accepted. The city of Lawrence,
Mass, has filtration plant, and its wa
ter is pure. We certainly must do some
thing. People can scarcely be expected
to keep on drinking Passaic water. We
want water badly, but let us move eau
tionsly and get it at as light an expendi
John D. Carscallen discussed the SUBJ
ject from a financial standpoint. He
high valuations, and lastly the debt OF
about sis,oOo0oO = S'''7
of city is not allowed by law to get
any higher than 10 per cent. on its rata
bles. We are at present in the neighbor-
hood of 20 per cent. of ours, and we ars.
uncomfortably close to the danger line.
Now. let us add about so per cent. to our
indebtedness. which a ssOoO,OOO contract
would do, and / can assure you THAI;
we are on the brink Of a precipice. Yess
gentlemen are our servants and we wan&
you to remember one thing. we want an
economical management of public af-'
fairs"
Mr.. Carscallen took took occasion to
condemn the inStalnent Improvements
system. He said it is being carried too
far. and if not checked will bring about
a condition Of affairs such as existed
when the citys per cent. securities
were finding few buyers at 50 and 50
cents on the dollar.
Dr. Quimby spoke in his usual witty
He has been talking water. since 1879.
He says he does not feel well if he
doesn't get a drink of Pasaic every day.
The doctor does not look a bit well and
it is feared by his friends that the Pas
sale is getting in its work.
made pretty m little speeches for Mr.. DesSs
benefit. They will be rewarded in Mr..
Dear's paper.
Mr.. Myron Furst discussed the subject
from the standpoint of q merchant.
This question of acquiring pure water
is business proposition. As a merchant
to stock my store full of high-priced
goods that people do not want I get such
goods as people demand and which are
within their reach. financially. Ii is the
same way with this water problem. We
do not want a high-priced plant, say one
to cost So 0Go,OOO when we can get what
The question naturally arises What is
the best method of securing a satisfac-
the members of this Board have an am
ample araoe supply s of good I pnrs Slrs wa. an
If the city were in a prosperous condition
financially ii would be all right TO 90
200 miles if necessary TO get pure water,
hat under the existing circumstances.
why desert an unlimited supply when
by merely making a trifiing expenditure
we can filter the water we have and be-
well supplied?" Our tax rate is at the
top notch and our assessments are there
also No one has the right to mortgage
the future of the city when it is not
necessary"
Gustave Blan and Joseph Anderson all
SO spoke on the subject.
No promises were made.
RECEPTION TO MISS KILBY.