The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-06-11
FTELEY DECLINES.
Tells the Mayor His Busi-
ness Will Not Permit
Him to Serve the
City.
GIVES SOME VALUABLE ADVICE
Mr. Hoos Will Lcok Around for
Another Engineer-Jun-
kets Advocated.
GIVES SOME VALUABLE ADVICE

AT noon today Mayor Hoos received the
following communication which will
doubtless interest every owner of property
and resident of the city
June 9, 1897.
Hon Edward Hoos, Mayor of Jersey
City
Dear Sir-Your favor of this day is in
my hand, and l regret that my inability
to serve Jersey City on account OF prev
ious professional engagements may nave
caused YOU some disappointment. AS to
your request that give you my OPINION
in regard to the proper way OF sowing
the problem of a new water supply Ior
Jersey City, my present knowledge of
the question is not such as to give sufh-
cient weight to any statement that may
make. | can. only say that l have been
surprised to see that you have not fol-
lowed the course taken by the majority
of the large cities of the country, /. e., to
select the best engineering talent at your
command, to appropriate the necessary
amount of money for an exhaustive ex-
water supply. and after reaching a de-
cision as to the best available source and
plan of construction to formulate specifi-
cations for the building of the work on
your own plans. then to advertise for
bids which under these conditions you
could easily obtain from responsible par
ties in sufficient numbers; and, in short,
to construct, own and maintain your
own waterworks There may be objec-
tions. of financial or other character,
they can be overcome. the solution pre-
sented is, think, the simplest, most eco
nomical and most satisfactory in the end.
A. FTELEY.
The declination of Mr. Fteley to serve
the city was somewhat of a disappoint-
ment to the Mayor. His Honor had
spent considerable time in looking up Mr.
Fteleys career and it was not until he
was thoroughly satisfied that the gentle
man yas just the one Jersey City re-
d auired in the present emergency that he
suggested his name at the official con-
ference which resulted in the decision to
employ Mr.. Fteley if possible. Mayor
Hoos is not downcast, however. He be-
lieves that by the exercise of care the
city will be able to find competent, dis
interested man to take the place which
was offered Mr.. Fteley.
When asked If he would call another
conference of the officials interested in
water supply, the Mayor replied that he
would not. The fact that Mr.. Fteley can
not serve will be known tonight His
Honor argues, and as a result all the
officials concerned, knowing that the
/. water subject is to be taken up will be
scratching their heads and inquiring of
friends for the names of other competent
engineers. That Is the course the Mayor
viii pursue at any rate. He has decided
to consult with gentlemen of prominence
in the engineering world and then COM
municate with those who are mentioned
In that way he expects he will be able
to get a list of perhaps dozen engineers
VINO. if properly compensated, will ac-
cept an offer from the city to assist in
adjusting the water problem. The names
of the engineers he communicates with he
will make known to all the other officials
He will also lay before them such docu-
ments as he receives from such engineers.
In that way the Mayor believes the off,
cials will be able to agree upon man.
Concerning Mr.. Fteley's suggestions the
Mayor would say but little. Relative to
the proposition that competent engineer
ing talent should be engaged the Mayor
is in hearty accord
To deal with a subject so important
to the interests of the city and its well
fare. His Honor believes no expense
should be spared in the preliminary
work. He agrees with Mr.. Fteley that
representatives of the city should look
over the several sources of supply in the
State and then report which one they
consider the proper one for the city to
acquire.
concerning the ClHer Suggestions OF
Mr. Fteley, the Mayor would say moth
ing. His reason, he said, for not dis
cussing them is that the other officials
may have ideas at variance with his.
Consequently he wants to hear their
opinions before expressing his own on
a subject which he has not had proper
time to acquaint himself with. AS soon
as the officials agree upon an engineer
or engineers, as the case may be, Mayor
Hoos will suggest that all who will
have to vote on the water question ac-
nf1U rho on a fn11 Of in
spection of the water sheds and ascer-
tain from them the most desirable points
at which to build dams and reservoirs
Before any definite action is taken the
Mayor and other officials propose fa-
miliarizing themselves with the water
subject.
It is probable that the Mayor and
Street and Water Commissioners will
have an informal talk with the Finance
Commissioners, who meet next Wednes-
day evening.
The names of no other engineers have
been suggested to the officials as yet.
nTED At 0nTnGENARIAN