The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-06-08
WATER CONFERENCE
Mayer Hoes and Finance
and Street and Water
Commissioners Dis
cuss a NeMsSup-
ply.
COMllFFEEsF SECURE an EXPERT
Eminent New York Engineer to
Be Invited to Prepare Plans
and Specifications.
VermeuIe Resigns His Position as
Engineer to the City-Meeting
of the Street and Water
Board.

After an animate but very harmoni-
Gus discussion, yesterday afternoon. be-
tween the Mayor and members of the
Finance and Street and Water Boards.
it was agreed to invite the aid of al
expert for the preparation of plans and
specifications for a permanent water
supply.
This conference over the water Ques-
ton was invited by Mayor Hoos, who is
anxious to settle the question, and the
members of the Boards were prompt in
thei1 attendance.
9TH is a nice thing for a Dutch
Mayor to do" laughingly observed
President Henry Brautigam of the Board
of Finance, ito invite Dutchnaen on
Pfngst Monday to a conference on
! water. Now if it had been beer
The rest of the sentence was lost in the
laughter of his colleagues, who had
T taken their seats in the Mayors con-
! ference room. where these were pres
/ enfsf Mayor Hoos. President II. Brauti-
H. gaEn and Finance Commissioners R.
!; Simpson, H. Kellers, James Bailey and
& w. F. Mnflige; President Boltwood and
4 Street and Water Commissioners f.
4 Bsintze A. Hauck, j. S. Nolan and R.
d Brown.
& "G~entieznen,'' began the Mayor, Il
y have asked you to meet me to talk over
II this question about water. 1t is of
& vftaAlimpertance, and I think that Jer-
seyxCity should settle this as quickly as
b possible. I want everything above
4; board, and I know you do. I will stand
sby you for the interests\o of the city. It
is fer you to say what engineer you
will have
Have you any suggestions to offer?"
asked Mr.. Haintze.
T have told the people in a letter
which was published in the public press
what my views On the subject were"
1T appears to me- said Mr.. Simpson,
that the first thing we must do is to
get an expert, and l am in favor of two
why two experts?'' asked the Mayor.
que ssHauza and i I t think lpd the mn 'in IigRt Me
can have on the subject the better. No
n man knows it ALL replied Mr..
81 Believe in having a man of ma
tional reputataon; no cheap expert" said
my views precisely, said Mr.. Kei-
lers; 'let us have the best man to draw
up these SPECIFICATIONS"
spe aaS: s5 asim a dFaS NJ his Bal plsns AND AND
the then HE let US examine the ground after
by Mr.. KeAers and Mr.. Simpson a to
the character of the specifications and it
was generally agreed that they should
and all competitors. 1t was evident that
the gentlemen present were moi in favor
Of filtration, although the. may request
price for a fiftering plant. Coming back
e the main question Of an expert, the
from Mr., John W. Hill. an engineer Of
name Of Alfonso Fteley.. consulting en-
OiHAAn IF 4h4 ~ @-l- IL -
was suggested, and on motion of Mr..
Brautigam, and seconded by Mr.,
Hefntze, the Mayor was requested to APP
point a committee Of I'VE TO wait on
Mr.. Fteley and on any engineer whose
name might be mentioned.
I'll appoint Commissioners Brauti-
gam and Simpson to represent the FL
nance Board, and Commissioners Heintze
and Nolan to- represent the Board of
This committee Of Ave viii sins0 at once
communicate with Mr.. Fteley and re-
port before another conference in a few
The first caller Mayor Hoos had today
was that professional water crank. Leb-
beus B. Ward. Lebbeus has a new idea
and he will doubtless haunt the Mayors
Office, If permitted. until he makes His
Honor's life miserable.
The favor was unaware that Lebbeus
was in the building: As a consequence
his private office door was left open.
Lebbeus, robed in black. glided in and he
failed to glide out until His Honor had
remarked about fifty times that the duties
of Mayor permitted him to give callers
not more than a half hours audience.
1t appears that Lebbeus is well acquaint-
ed with Alfonso Fteley, the consulting
engineer, and knows when and where to
find him.
Mayor Hoos is one of the committee
which is to wait on Mr.. Fteley and en-
deavor to induce him to assist the city in
procuring a new supply of water Mr..
Fteley was practically agreed upon once
before as expert engineer, but on that
occasion it was impossible to secure his
services. The officials hope for better
luck this time. They anticipate under
the guidance of q gentleman so well
versed in water matters as Mr.. Fteley
Is reputed to be, to procure a supply at
aprice which will in every way be salts
factory to the taxpayers of the city. The
only possible objection to Mr.. Fteley is
said to be that he knows Lebbeus Ward.
Mr.. Ward has come to be recognized as
q general -obstructionist.
The Mayor will not discuss his plan of
action in tho water matter. He says,
however, he will not proceed until he is
sure that everything is all right and that
in the mfnutest particular the best in
ferests of thescity are being conserved.