The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-22
PURIFY THE WATER
Newark Insists That the East
Jersey Shall Keep It's Res.
ervoirs Free From Vege-
table Matter.
Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City Ne-7s."l

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City Ne7s."1
NEWARK, Oct. 22, lS97.-City Counsel
Prices suggestions regarding the response
bility for the existence of sources OF pollu-
ton in the Pequannock watershed were en-
bodied in a resolution presented alta meeting
of the Water Committee of the Board OF
Works yesterday afternoon by Commissioner
Van Duyne, The counsel takes up the letter
addressed to Engineer Sherrerd by Clemens
Herschel, engineer of the Water Company,
on August 80 last, in which Mr.. Herschel
writes as follows
81 am instructed to say that the East Jer-
sey Water Company does not construe the
contract as requiring them to maintain
cleared of vegetation the bottom OF the
reservoirs and sixty feet about them, nor
does it construe the contract as requiring
them to exercise the city's powers to remove
possible sources of pollution, after having
once located and constructed the reservoirs
at points at which the water to be retained
therein, and to be delivered therefrom, has
not been made unwholesome or made I'M
pure by any matter OF substance coming or
arising from preventable sources OF pollu-
ton"
The company, according to the 1nterpreta-
ton placed upon the quoted statement py
Colonel Price, contends for a construction OF
the water contract whereby the corporation
cannot be held responsible for the character
and purity of the water supplied by SAID
company from reservoirs, condults ana
works constructed and built BY 1t for and at
the expense Of the city of Newark. By such
contention, the resolution says, it IS manifest
that the company proposes TO shift and I'M
pose upon the city OF Newark all RESPONSE
bilitv and expense involved III preserving
the character and purity OF the water from
the works which are ROW solely controlled,
operated and maintained by the company
and which do not come under the control o.
the city Of Newark until September "A, l9oo'
The resolution goes on to state:--
"This board, on behalfo of the city OF New
ark, hereby dissents from any such construc"
ton of said water contract between the city
of Newark and the East jersey Water COM
pany as is eontended for by the sad com
pany: and this board asserts and is SO ad
yisad that such construction of said water
contract is not justified by the language OF
its provisions. -
officers, agents and servants, are hereby
notified that this board, on behalf of the
municipal corporation of the city of New
ark. will hold the said East Jersey Water
Company strictly responsible for tile whole
someness and purity of the Water supplied
from the said reservoirs, condultS and water
works to the water supply plant OF the city
of Newark, until the twenty-fourth DAY OF
September, in the year nineteen hundred, on
which date it is provided III SAID water con
tract the said reservoirs, conduits and water
works shall come under the control and
management Of the municipal authorities OF
the city of Newark
Formal notification is also given In the
resolution to the water company of twenty
four different places where dangerous pollu-
ton exists or is likely to exist IN future.
These places are enumerated in regular
order as taken from the first report hled by
Assistant Engineer Ball. Formal demand is
made that the company take the necessary
action Immediately to thoroughly abate, re-
move or remedy all the designated sources
OF pollution.
1t is also provided that a copy of the reso-
luton shall be served upon the president or
other general officer of the company, and
such service reported to the next meeting OF
the board. together with an affidavit made
by the person serving the paper. the affidavit
* he 6lod among rhe records of the board.