The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-09-24
LOOKING FOR PURE WATER
Commissioners Once More
Visited the Rock
away Shed.

| Hauck Nolan, Heintze and Boltwo0d, FL
fnance Commissioners Simpson, City Clerk
NJ. j. O'Donnell, Counsellor w. D. Ed
wards and Engineer Ferris went to Boom
ton yesterday as the guests OF z. Il.
Flynn. The officials were out to examine
the sources of the supply of water which
Mr. Flynn is offering the city. The party
left Hoboken at half past nine o'clock
yesterday morning, arriving in Boonton
| shortly after eleven O'clock. Engineers
Van Duyne and Connolly, representing
Flynn, were at the station. Carriages
were in waiting to take the officials to
the points they wished most to inspect.
Shortly after a start had been made an
accident was narrowly averted. Commits
sioners Simpson, Heintze and Boltwood,
W. p. Edwards and Engineer Ferris oc-
cupied one carriage. Their driver had
just drawn out into the street when a
runaway horse came dashing down the
road at break-neck speed. 1t seemed al
most impossible to avert collision The
coolnesss of the driver, however, prevented
disaster Cutting his horses, he swung
his wagon round. The turn was made
none too soon however, as scarcely had
the team been brought to a standstili
when the runaway dashed by, the wagon
to which the animal was attached graz
ing the side of the carriage in which the
Jersey City gentlemen sat. The gentle-
men were excited and alarmed. An hour
later, however, the members of the party
were chatting merrily as though nothing
unusual had occurred.
AT Boorton the officials dined. They
were then ready for the long drive over
the mountains which was in store for
them The Rockaway River was inspect
ed at Boonton and while as a whole it
was clear and sparkling there was one
portion where the water was dirty and
appeared covered with oil. The cause was
inquired into minutely, as at Lower Boon
ton Mr.. Flynn's plan embraces the es-
tablishment of a receiving reservoir The
discoloration of the water was found to
be due to the location of an immense rag
factory on the river bank Representa-
tives of Mr.. Flynn assured the officials
that the factory will be far removed. Mr.
Flynn already has an option on the rae
tory and will be enabled to remove 1t
Just as soon as an award is made to
him The site of the Lower Boonton
Reservoir was inspected and to the off
cials was satisfactory IN every particu-
lar Assurances We're given the officials
that everything possible will be done to
prevent the river from becoming polluted
in any way AT Boonton both sides OF
the river are becoming solidly built up,
factories are springing up and the river,
it was admitted, IS becoming more con-
taninated each year
Engineers Connolly and Van Duyne, on
behalf Of Mr. Flynn, announced that
plans for a perfect sewerage system nave.
heens prepared by Mr.. Flynn. The plans
involve the construction of large receiy-
ing sewers on both banks OF the river
which will empty mile or more neloWs
the Lower Boonton intake. The oHlcIa1S
were satisfied that the sewage OF Boom
ton can be easily disposed of and thal
pollution can be removed from the M
take. At Upper Boonton, where the river
and canal run together. the water was
not as clear as it should be. Mr. FLYNN
representatives, say that can be remedied
by means of an intercepting sewer
From Boonton the officials went to
Dover where the river and canal meet.
1t was a noticeable fact that the canal
water at that point was clearer than that
of the river. The river is somewhat con-
taminated at this time, but what pollution
exists can be carried away by large sew
ers. it is said. The clearness of the canal
water at Dover is due to the fact tnat
practically the whole flow at that town
is derived from Lake HoDateong. A de-
sire to see just in what condition Lake
.Hopatcong is was expressed and the Off
ciais were driven there. Hopatcong is
one of the sources of supply offered by
Flynn Several of the lakes north Of
Boonton and Dover, all of which are
tributary to the Flynn system, were in
spected and found to be in magnificent
condition. The officials did not hesitate
in expressing alarm at the rapid pollution
Of the Rocllaway. They We're agreed that
if the city is to acquire the Rockaway
as a source Of supply no time should be
lost in doing it., as the longer the delay
the more difficult it will be to take care
of the pollution.
Lower Montville where it is proposed
to establish an immense reservoir, was
visited. A supply equivalent to years
consumption at the rate of fifty million
gallons a day can be stored there. Tribu-
tary to the MontvillA reservoir there will
be a supply of seventy million gallons a
day the year round. The watershed Of
fered by Flynn is not only capable of in
suring a supply Of seventy million gallons
but by raising the dam a Montville a
supply could. be stored which would more
than meet Jersey ~City's needs for fifty
years The watershed is regarded as in
exhaustible 1t is the best and most ex-
tensive shed ever offered the city.
The officials express themselves as being
pleased with the Flynn plan. The only
question now agitating the officials is the
cost. When the Rockaway and Hudson
Company offered a daily supply of fifty
million gallons for $6000,G00 1t was esti-
mated that it would cost 000 to en-
large the plant so that 1T would deliver
seventy million gallons a day. Flynn's
plan insures seventy million gallons
day and as much more as may be needed
for something less than IS Geo. 090 Next
week the making Of contract will be
considered by the Street and Water and
Finance Commissioners and Mayor Hoos.