The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-10
THAT WATER DEFICI7
Conference Of Finance Board
and Street and Water Conn
missioners to Devise
a Remedy.

There is to be a conference at eight
O'Clock this evening in the private office
Of the Finance Board between the FL
nance and Street and Water Commission
ers. Water in all its phases is to be dis
cussed.
The deficiency of $500, 900 or more in the
water account will be considered first.
The Street and Water Commissioners will
ask the Finance Board to make some pro-
vision for the payment of the hung-up
claims of the account. II every dollar
due the water account is paid between
now and May l next there will still be q
deficiency of 500, 200. When the present
Street and Water Commissioners took
charge they found a deficiency OF s250,000
By making reductions In various branches
of the department $50, 900 has been saved.
The Commissioners say now, however,
that it will be out of the question for
them TO properly maintain the department
and reduce the deficiency further. The
quantity of supplies purchased has been
considerably reduced n everything pos
fsible has been done to keep claims
against the account from piiing up.
One very serious effect of the deficiency
is the inability OF the Board to lay any
more water pipe. A few days ago fif-
teen men employed in laying water pipe
were discharged because there is nothing
to do. There are any quantity of petit
lions before the Board for new water
pipe, but nothing can be done, as there
is no pipe to lay. The Mcneil Pipe and
Foundry Company has shown a DISPOSE
ton to give the city no more pipe. The
company has not been paid a dollar i'll
a long time, and it's representative hav-
ing learned that the water account is in
bad shape has advised the company to
furnish no more pipe until what has been
furnished is paid for.
1t will be shown the Finance Commits
sioners that the department is being OPP
Grated as economically as possible. Presi-
dent Boltwood, on behalf of the Street
and Water Board, will lay certain facts
before the Finance Commissioners which
he feels assured will convince them that
if every department of the city pays for
the water it uses the Water Department
will become sel~f-sustaining.
1T is a sure thing says President
Boltwood, that if a man is running a
business at a loss of 500 a day he will
stop OF Il6re Will pG ID crash. IL - tHS
same way with the Water Department.
1t is running behind all the time, and 1t
is bad business to allow such a condition
to continue. If the several city depart
ments will pay for the water they use
there will be no more rouble. We are
anxious to max the department self-sus-
tanning and to accomplish that result Will
meet any suggestion the Finance Commits
sioners have to make
1t was reported today that the Finance
Commissioners will raise sufficient money
the difficulty in the Water Department
until next May. 1t is said. too, that it
is possible arrangements will be made to
nave the several city departments pay
for the water they use. For the purpose
of as~certaining about how much water IS
consumed all the public buildings are be-
ing metered. Whether any definite plan
of relief will be decided upon tonight is
not known.
1t is possible that the officials will also
discuss the new water supply question.
Bids are to be received by the Street and
Water Board on February %. 1t is prob
able that the officials will tonight agree
20 inspect every plant that is offered by
bidders.
Mayor Hoos will not attend t~onight's
conference. He will. it is understood, in
spect the watersheds offered by the coTn-
peting companies with the other officials.
Low bids are looked for more than
have ever been presented before.
BY comforting frequently, the officials
more tremendously for the interests Of
t1a oi<ry