The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-06
M4
EAST JERSEYS BILL
Street and Water Commits
sioners Vote to Pay
500, 900 for Water
Supplied.
COMPANY PUTTING ON THE SCREWS
City Must Raise Money to Meet
the Claim-Another Water
Deficiency.
COMPANY PUTTING ON THE SCREWS

The water subject occupied the atten-
ton of the Street and Water Commits
sioners yesterday afternoon. 1t had been
reported previous to the meeting of the
Board that the East Jersey Water Com
pany proposed putting the screws OF the
city, but in what manner no one knew
or could imagine until the Board passed
the following preamble and resolution
Whereas, For some time past this city
has been receiving water from the East
Jersey Water Company and the amount
to be paid is a subject of controversy and
difference between the said company and
the city authorities of this city: and
Whereas, The quantity of water al
ready furnished by said company justi-
heS some paymen on account therefor,
pending the settlement of the contro-
yersy and difference heretofore referred
to.
Resolved, That the sum of 500, 900 be
paid to the said East Jersey Water Com
pany on account for water heretofore fur
nished. This payment to be made by
said city and accepted by said company
without prejudice to the legal rights of
either party, pending the settlement or
decision of the matters in controversy
between the said city and the company
relative to said water.
r L LIZ a " o ltfeA1
nous vote and without discussion. 1t Is
understood, although none of the Com
m~issioners will affirm the report, that he
East Jersey people a few days ago served
notice on the city that unless they were
paid something for the bountiful supply
which is poured into the city's mains
direct from the ~Pequannock Valley daily,
such supply would be cut off without fur
Their delay. The prospect of returning to
the filthy Passaic for water alarmed the
Commissioners and they decided to make
a paymen on account.
1t was also said today hi the company
took this time to put on the screws, as
being on the eve of an election, the Re-
publicans feared the consequences of an
abrupt return to the abandoned Passaic
sewage.
Ever since the East Jersey Company
has been furnishing the city a Temporary
supply it has been doing SO without my
agreement as to price. Mayor Wanser
endeavored to force the company to
charge not more than $40 a million gall
Ions. The company would not accept his
terms and for the purpose of bringing the
subject before the courts and having
established a fair price, the circumstance
of the delivery to be considered, the com
pany has, through Collins & Corbin, in
n~eighborhood of $400, 900 from the city.
While the $100, 1000 paid yesterday will
be deducted from the city's regular water
revenue, 1T will be necessary In the event
VI LIS CoAipdHy recovering S5 per m1ll1On
gallons for all the water it has supplied,
for the city to raise funds on bonds to
meet the claim.
Mayor Wanser predicted tina such a
course would have to be pursued and an
nounced when he consented to the ac-
ceptance of water from the company that
he did so reluctantly, knowing the hard
ship that would ultimately result.
What the officials fear now is that they
will have to insert in the tax levy Zach
year a substantial amount to maintain
the water department. 1t has been rough
ly estimated that the ~ontinuan of a
temporary supply at s43 per million gall
Ions will create a deficiency in the water
account annually of about $4OO, 900. 1t is
on the basis of a temporary supply at
s43 per million gallons that the officials
who voted for. a permanent supply
claimed the latter would be cheaper for
the city.
One of the first problems that will con-
front Mayor Hoos will be to devise some
plan for raising money to pay for the
water already furnished the city by the
East Jersey Company without agreement
or contract.