The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-16
WATER CONFERENCE
Street and Water Commits
sloners Will Probably
Award a Contract
on Monday.
VARIOUS SCHEMES CRITICIZED
As II Stands the Board Fayors
the Flynn Bid-Defects
Of Other Plans.
VARIOUS SCHEMES CRITICIZED

The Street and Water Commissioners
had another conference this morning. The
water problem was under discussion. The
members are desirous of getting it off
their hands before CQumissioner-elect r.
g. Smith takes his seat. Commissioner
Brown is thoroughly familiar with the
subject, and his colleagues want him to
take part in the award.
There We're with the Commissioners
this morning Engineers Vermeule and
Ferris, and Corporation Counsel McDer-
mott, who gave the members such legal
information as they desired. The officials
remained in conference until noon, and at
that time it looked as though the vote
would be 8 to in the event of an award
The Board is to meet Monday afternoon
at two o'clock, and unless the present pro-
gramme is changed an award will be
made.
The first proposition considered this
morning was that of the Rockaway and
Hudson Company. The officials do not
dispute the assertion that there is plenty
of water in the shed offered by the COM
pany, but the plant embraces so much
East Jersey Water Company territory
that they fear endless litigation and an
ultimate defeat of the city's efforts to pro-
cure water. The watershed, too, is con-
sidered to be open to pollution. The inter-
cepting sewer proposition is not favored.
All that territory about Boonton is grow
ing and the officials believe the time IS
not far distant when it will be practically
impossible to prevent the waters of the
Rockaway at that point from becoming
contaminated. The cheapness OF the
plant appeals to some Of the officials IN
terested. but majority favor the acquis-
ition of a plant which will be sufficient
for many years to come without putting
the city to the expense of constantly
building proecting sewers and retaining
men to police the watershed.
II is maintained that it will be cheaper
in the end to pay a little more for a plant
which will need no reconstruction Tor at
least twenty-five years than to buy one
which will require the constant expendi-
ture of money
The Inman proposition was considered
again today, but there is some fear that
the companys watershed will not be
capable of giving the city the supply II
will require at the expiration of twenty
FIVE year contraat~s There are other OBJ
jections TO the Inman proposition.
The plan of the O,Briens Sheehan, Nc
Bean & Rogers finds some favor with the
officials. The plant is a simple one and
would cost practically nothing to main
tain. There would be no need of policing
the shed. The company, too, is free OF
East Jersey influence or interference The
objectiol to the proposition is that the
establishment of an intake at Lower
Montyille makes it impossible to deliver
the water at High Service SO that pump
ing will be necessary. The officials are
ALI opposed to the acquisition of plant
which which will force the maintenance
of the present pumping stations.
The bid of Patrick H. Flynn was taken
up last The watershed offered is all
that can be desired. 1t is free from pos
sible pollution and has a drainage area
sufficient to give the city ALL and in fact
more. water than it can use. The COM
pany has sound financial backing and has
good counsel.
The concern maintains that it interferes
in no way with East Jersey rights. That
the supporters of the plan believe it can
be carried through in specified time is
evidenced by the fact that the city has
check for 100000 as a guarantee of
good faith. The Flynn proposition pos
sesses many features which are missing
in the others. The outlook is that an
award to Flynn will be made.
The new Board of Finance will have to
review the action of the Street and Water
Board.