The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-18
WATER INVESTIGATION
Board of Trade Urges the
City Authorities to Act
on Bids.
COMMITTEE OF THREE APPOINTED
Accounts in Water Depart
ment to Be Overhauled
and Waste to Be
Ascertained.

The Board of Trade decided last night
to ascertain where the city is at in refer
ence to the water supply. and investigate
the condition of the water account, and
to the latter end a committee was APP
pointed to hire an accountant to help
them in their research.
Thoroughly refreshed after the quiet
fun, at the expense Of a New York
World agent, told in another column
of this paper, the members of the Board
applied themselves to business, and the
first thing considered was, Of course the
water; and Mr.. Joseph A. Dear was In
his element.
He thought tina 1t was high time that
the city authorities came to some con-
clusion about the water supply. That
dry subject had, he said engaged the at
tention of two Administrations, and they
were no nearer a settlement now h
during Mayor Cleveland's time. when 1t
was first agitated. He. Mr.. Dear, did
not wish to criticize the bids, except in
a general way. They did not form a ba-
sis of determination for the Board of
Trade. Two or three perhaps were with
in the city's reach. and were safe, and II
aQODIGQ WUQlQ Stll1C Tx NCAeAo 40>1
for thirty or forty years.
Unless resumed Mr.. Dear, this
matter is faced resolutely it does look
as If we were committed to the tender
mercies of the East Jersey Water Com
pany. If the Board of Works fail to act
now they may act until they are black
in he face, for they will never get an
other bid. There is a possibility of secur-
ing relief by the State action, and there
fore the Boards of Finance, Works and
Mayor Hoos should give serious consider
alton to the bids, and if possible make a
contract for a water supply. It's that,
or buy by the gallon. If we could buy
from the East Jersey Water Company
cheap. l wouldn't for one core, as in the
Bartlett case; but we are not to get so
advantageous an offer from the East Jer-
sey Water Company. l believe in honor
in business transactions. We have asked
the contractors for bids. They have put
up 800, 900 as an earnest Of good faith;
We have no right to keep their money,
but should act on their propositions
before any other proposition from
whatever source is heard. | move
to come to some conclusion about the
water supply"
Lawyer Samuel C. Mount, seconded it
and it was carried.
President Furst moved to appoint a
committee Of three to ascertain the facts
in relation to the water supply, ana an
vestigate the condition of the water ac-
count. The Mayor, he said, had told the
people that the city was paying for twice
as much water as was being used, and
there was a great waste somewhere IL
was a serious matter, he said, and a
statement emanating from the Board OF
Trade would carry weight. II the city
needed only sixteen millions of gallons
of water daily. why should it contract
for seventy millions?
The presidents motion was carried and
these gentlemen will form the special
to dive into the water &C,
Counts. C. Mount, Joseph A. Dear and
DR.. L.. j. Gordon. They were empowered
to hire an assistant at s. a day, put were
not to exceed 800.
Mr.. William e. Drake move that the
committee to secure the naming OF 9
cruiser after Jersey City. pc requlested
to report at the next meeting OF the
Board. agreed to. -
Some minor matters were atlenueu ~
and the Board adjourned.