The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-21
TO REJECT WATER BIDS.
Commissioners Conclude to
Readvertise For a
New Supply.
BIDDERS WANT THEIR MONEY BACK.
Belief That the Plans Sub
mitted AL Conflict With
Vested Rights.

propositions now before them. This con-
clusion was reached after a conference
today. Yesterday afternoon John e
Sheehan. Of the Sheehan. O'Brien. NC
Bean and Rogers combination called on
Mayor Hoos and asked him If the city
proposed doing anything definite. He al
so asked if his company had any chance
of procuring the contract. Sheehan asks
$40. OoO.O 600 for a 1900, 600 gallon plant.
Mayor Hoos replied tina he did not think
an award would be made for a slo,wV,ooo
contract. He also said that if SUCH an
award were made he would not, IN iact,
could not approve it. Mr.. Sheenan' N
view of these conditions, asked maj the
city at once return him the certified cnech
of 500, 900, which he had deposited with
his proposition as an evidence OF gooo
faith.
A short time after Mr.. Sheehan had de-
parted. Colonel George B. Inman gained
an audience with His Honor. He asked
about the same questions Mr.. Sheehan
did. and received like answers, also asked
that his certified check of slOo,0oo De re-
turned to him
Mavor Hoos summoned President
Hauck- and informed him hat IN JUSTICE
to the bidders action, one way OF tue
other. should be taken without lurtner
delay. This morning the Street anu
Water Commissioner conferred, ana the
conclusion to throw out the bids ana re-
advertise was quickly reached.
The Commissioners believe that py re-
advertising they will be enabled to arouse
greater competition. draw in the East
Jersey Water Company and receive d
nroposition that it will be advantageous
Ia the city to accept. Speaking OF the
situation today, Robert Davis SAID
.I believe the best thing they can 40
Is to readvertise for proposals. lhe
Mayor will not approve any OF the hsn
nrice plans now before the city, ana lof
INV part 1 cannot see how he could on
sistentlv approve an award to the 1soch-
away people. His Honor does not thAiA
any too highly of the Rockaway plo' ina.
z ,s 7 infer as much from what ne sald
when the plan was first considered. iie
street and Water Commissioners and tie
Finance Commissioners have looked over
the ground carefully, have cohsultea
nraminent lawyers. and have now come
"a the conclusion that it would be ioits
Ia make an award either to Flynn. OF lhe
Rackaway and Hudson concerns. ihe
law relative to the acquisition OF a new
simply of water is a peculiar one, anu
must be reckoned with when anything -
done A false move might easily result
in tvine the hands of the officials SO that
If would be out of the question to 90 any
thing. -
From the best information possible 10
obtain it would appear that an award 20
FLYNN or the Rockaway Company woulo
not be sustained by the courts. lna'
being the case it is useless to make an
award and tie up the question for an IN
definite period. The Flynn people ana ehe
Rockaw Company both offer sources VI
supply streams, creeks, brooks and lakes
that the East Jersey Company owns OF
controls, or which its ally, the MOTIFS
Canal Company, has u~ndisputed rights III
sIf the pending propositions are thrown
mt IT is nv firm belief that the city VIII
have procured an Independent supply ne
fore six months have passed. Nearly al
the concerns having propositions before
the city now will bid again. The Eas'
Jersey will submit a proposal and l pc
aieve a contract. that will be satisfactory
in every particular will be made The CITY
wants water and the sooner we get 1t tnf
better it will be. An award must be mace
TO a reliable company and one that VIII d.
able to carry out its agreements.
Commissioners Heintze and Boltwoot
will doubtless oppose the rejection of tn
proposals.
Finance Commissioners RingIe an
Simpson and Street and Water Commis
sioners Heintze and Boltwood, all o
whom are opposed to the making of an.
contract with any concern having
imposition before the city save the Rock
away and Hudson Company, dropped Il
today to see Mayor Hoos. The meeting
was by no means a prearranged one, tn
gentlemen say, but strangely enough tn
water problem was the only subject dis
c,Issed. All the gentlemen have diferen
views on the question.
Each and every man ~pooh-hooed Engl
ueer Vermeule's statement that unless tn
city acquires a water supply at this tim
the East Jersey Water Company will sc
cure control of the whole Rockawa
watershed and in the near future comps
the city to buy water from it at any pric
1t may see fit to demand.
Commissioner Ringle declared with cor
siderable emphasis that he did not believ
the courts would countenance any sue
move on the part of the company to chea
the city of rights bestowed upon it b
nature.
Mr.. Simpson was less credulous an
seems inclined to the belief that the Eas
Jersey. if uninterrupted, win soon get ur
disputed rights to the waters of the Rock
away watershed. The proposed intentio
of the Street and Water Commissions
TO throw out all the pending proposition
somewhat disconnected the confereei
They are opposed to such a move, mair
tanning that an award should e>mad
the Rockaway people. It was argued tbs
no one had any right to dispute that com
pany's ability to carry out its contrac
because it has complied with the city
demands the same as other bidders an
deposited a an evidence of good faith
check for 100000.
1t was agreed that the Rockaway water
shed is the source of supply the cit
should acquire. The question of pollutio
was considered and 1t was concluded ths
any contractor, with the city behind hin
will be nabled to prevent the pollutio
of the streams which go to make up II
Rockaway flow. There was some HIT
difference Of opinion as to how great
supply should be acquired, but 1t "
finally concluded that the Mayor WI
right in holding out for a supply Of 7
less or greater extent than 100000 ga