The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-06-19
City Officials Not So Sure
as They We're That They
Want Lebbeus B.
Wards Expert.
GOOD, BUT He CONES HIGH
His appointment Means the Ex-
penditure Of $4,000 by the
City on a Mere Water
Gamble.

d state OF mind and Mayor Hoos' peact
is being disturbed by outsiders who are
advancing all kinds of suggestions, WISE
ana otherwise. His Honor is endeavor.
ing to steer clear of trouble and he says
ne viii act only when the question comes
before him in an official way
The Mayors first caller this morning
was Lebbeus B. Ward. He as usual
talked on his favorite subject-water
"hat ne said or what suggestions he
made the Mayor declined to say.
Mr.. Ward is certainly well posted on
the water supply question: said he
mayor. and like to hear his views In
fact. it pleases me to hear from eyerv
one on the subject, but those who COM
munfcate cannot expect me or the other
omciais interested to adopt every prop
osition that is made. I want to see the
officials act harmoniously and do every
thing in business like way"
Shortly after Ward retired from the
Mayors Office, Messenger Golden present.
ed the card of Lewis K Davies. con-
sulting engineer of New York. The May
or gave him an audience Mr.. Davies dis
played a familiarity with New Jersey
sources of supply that surprised His
Ho-lor Mr.. Davies is a young man and
ne remarked. in an off-hand way, that he
wodid not expect the whole earth for
compensation if retained Mayor Hoos
said he would give the Street and Water
ana FINANCE Commissioners Mr.. Davies
ADDRESS, so that they might wait on him
at his office in New York
Yesterday, at least two members of the
street and Water Board had practically
agreed that James r. Croes was to be
the engineer to their Board Today there
is a change.
Mr. Croes. if engaged, would accept not
dollar less than $500. For that sum he
was to make a. new survey of the New
Jersey watersheds and prepare plans and
specifications. In making the proposed
new survey. Mr.. Croes would REQUIRE. he
SAD, the assistance of perhaps four or
nve competent surveyors. The expense
OF the assisting surveyors would have to
rs1es porne by the city, This, together with
other expenses attending the preliminary
work of advertising for bids, would run
the sliminary eostsup 10 sfhe neiphbor-
hood of s20099. Without making tbe
slightest effort to conceal ANYTHING
Mayor Hoos and the Finance Commits
sioners say that the city is not in a no.
sition financially to make any such ex
penditure which, after all, might not re-
suit in the city acquiring a new supply.
8 another fact to- be considered is that the
nance Commissioners also want. and in
1act demand, an engineer of their own.
with whom they may consult before pass
Ing Anything connected with the ac-
QUESTION of a new supply.
The contention of Mr.. Croes that lin
justice to himself and all the officials in
terested In the water problem, a new
survey OF the watersheds should be made.
mas given rise to many questions and has
caused taxpayers to wonder what course
the city proposes pursuing
Julius H. Pratt, whose letter appears
to have had considerable weight with the
officials, suggested that the city con-
struct plant of it's own. The PROPOSE
ton, consequently, to have a new survey
of the watersheds, has given rise to the
question whether the city proposes build
ing on its own hook or acquiring a supply
by contract. Mayor Hoos settled this
question this morning, when he said to
a News" reporter:-"It will be impossi-
BILE, as understand it. for the city to
build a plant. To begin with, we can
not. at this TIME, afford to build a plant.
and again we have no law under which
we or any other city can build water
works. That is an obstacle we cannot
overcome Consequently, the building of
plant by the city is out of the question |
and the only course left open to us is to
advertise for bids and make contract
for the furnishing of a pure and bounti-
full supply of water. gathered within the |
conhnes OF the State and delivered to us |
by gravity.
Under existing circumstances, I can
not see why new survey of the water |
sheds is at all necessary 1t would in |
volve the needless expenditure of a large
sum of money, from which, ! am in |
formed, absolutely nothing could be OBJ
We want water that is pure and good |
and plentiful. As we are forced to adj |
vertise, reliable bidders will certainly, BY |
bonds. give us good water, build a good |
plant and provide US with a bountiful |
supply from sources which we will in
spect before accepting 1t is true we |
must act quickly. ! want all the Off
cials to work harmoniously and by do
ing SO I believe we will be enabled to
tory to everyone
The first thing the officials have to do |
Commissioners look at the subject in
some such light as does the Mayor. They |
want competent engineer, but they in
81 even $40, 900 for one is ridiculous. The
Commissioners c maintain that any COM
j;htent engineer who IS familiar with the
ith perfect ease. prepare in thirty
plans and specifications under
b it will be entirely safe to advertise |
Btosals. On the basis of thirty |
sployment, the Finance Commits
ntend that $50 day is fair |
ion for the work. They are I
allow the Street and Water
:pners to expend that sum for
nation of plans and specifica-
Perhaps a thousand or fifteen
flore, If it is found for the best /
the city. The Finance Com
Themselves, in selecting an
i'll endeavor to re-engage G. /
at the same salary he was
the previous administration,
ear. which is $291.66 a month. /
ms of the Mayor and Finance
ers to the expenditures Of a /
for engineers has caused those
II the Street and Water Board
red Mr.. Croes to think a Sec
an agreement arrived at, at a
ce in the Mayors office two days
Finance and Street and Water
!. lafissioners are to agree upon their |
3ectve engineers not later than next
stiay. That afternoon all the officials
10 meet in the Mayors private office
sd agree upon further plans
An effort is In progress today to boom
J5hn H Ward as water engineer. He is
i.abbeus B. Ward brother. but is said
to differ from him--in more ways than
~ - ~