The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-17
g Liberty street.

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To the Hon. E. Hoos, Mayor of Jersey
Dear sir-In the recent interview that !
had the pleasure to have with you and
the other gentlemen connected with the
Board of Works, of Jersey City. l stated
that | would communicate in writing
with you on the subject matter Oh your
visit to my office.
AS l understand the present status, OF
the water question in Jersey City, tnat
city is at present supplied under a tenn
porary contract with the East Jersey
Water Company. to receive from Salo
company the surplus of water wnlcn Iney
may have under their centrol after sup
plying the City of Newark with certain
amount of water under a permanent con-
tract with that city, which latter conIaact
involves the transfer in the year lSOo 70
the City of Newark of the entire plant OF
said company, when the water contracl
between Jersey City and that company
will also terminate. leaving Jersey city
without a definite water supply calam-
ity which cannot be contemplated with
out alarm. In this probable emergency It
becomes matter of public safeIy lor
Jersey City to secure without an hour $
unnecessary delay, a reliable, permanent
and pure supply of water, this admits OF
no discussion whatever; delay is not only
dangerous but might be calamitous.
The question of pure water Tor the
growing cities of New Jersey mas been a
subject of professional study with me lot
more than forty years, beginning when
had the honor to hold the position Of
State Engineer of that State. in charge or
State Survey. being associated in that
work with the late Professors kitcheil
and George H. Cook; Professor Cook and
myself entertained the same views on this
subject and we looked with alarm upon
the rapid pollution of the water supply
throughout the State, owing to the large
increase of population in all directions.
The matter has now become one of the
most serious Importance to every man,
woman and child IN the State.
From the extensive and thorough inyeS-
m L nave
acquired a pretty accurate knowledge on
this subject and have little doubt of
my. being able TO aid your commiItee II, IN
the end solving the important problems
before you. In my opinion you need at
once &c eleaa ar s,3ation ith a Which to take
the whole people in your confidence so
that they will have a full understanding
of the matter, and with the aid ana CO.
work at once with the fullest appreciation
of all 1t is not necessary, under the cir
cumstances in which ] am informed you
than to determine whether there exists
an ample supply of pure water, over
which, by contract or otherwise, you can
obtain the entire control for not less than
fifty years. under what conditions and at
what cost; having determined this, let
such action be taken as can be legally
done to secure control of this supply,
keeping a careful professional supervis-
ion over the whole matter from first to
last.
These in brief are my views: l am ready
to enter upon the duty of carrying them
out to practical result in the shortest
possible time without expecting an ex-
travagant return for my services, as it
will not necessarily occupy all my time.
To avoid any misunderstanding or mis-
conception 1t may be proper for me to
state that have only a casual knowledge
of the discussion which has taken place
on this subject during the last few years,
nor have I any acquaintance with any
parties that know to be interested in
any plan or scheme.
In the past have written good deal
upon this subject and have used very
strenuous efforts to arouse the public
interest in relation to the absolute peril
of the situation, on the principle that
modern civilization as polluted water is
Very truly yours,
EGBERT L. VIELE.
In due course Of mail the reply came to
the General in the shape of this letter.
Jersey City June 25, 1897.
Mr. Egbert 1. Viele, 81 Liberty street,
New York City,
Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your kind
letter of the 3d. and am much indebted
to you for the Information. that you have
voluntarily given me. Our Board of
night decided upon the party whom they
determined to engage in the prosecution
of this work If In the future it may be-
come necessary to call upon you / shall
gladly do so. Thanking you for the favor
shown. am,
Yours respectfully.
EDWARD HOOS,