The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-07
ANOTHER DEADLOCK.
Commissioners in a New
Tangle Over the Water
Specifications.
ENGINEERING ADVICE DEMANDED
Mr.. Bouton Refuses to Put in
a New Piping Plan on His
Own Responsibility.
ENGINEERING ADVICE DEMANDED


The Street and Water Commissioners
did not repass the new water speciiicz-
tions as announced yesterday. After the
conference, with Mayor Hoos. at which it
was practically agreed the specifications
should be amended and Immediately re-
adopted. the Commissioners went over
the documents and concluded that they
also would make an alteration or two.
This required time. so adjournment was
taken urtii one o'clock today. Today
there was another hitch and nothing has
been done yet
The first part Of the programme. how-
ever, was carried out yesterday. The
Board by a unanimous vote, rescindsd
Its resolution of June 90 by which the
specifications were adopted. The resolu-
ton ordering the readvertisement Of tho
specifications was also~rescinded without
a dissenting vote. Both resembling doca-
ments had been prepared early in the day
and by mutual consent they were hurried
over to the Finance Board which body
had remained in session for the sole pur-
pose Of disposing of the resolutions. The
Finance Board kept its part of.the agree
ment by recalling its concurrence in ths
resolutions of approval of the specinca-
tions and the determination to advertise
for proposals.
The programme was to have everything
in readiness as quickly as practicable. so
that there be no need of change of the
original plan to issue call for bids On
August 16 Every recommendation mads
by Mayor Hoos was embodied in the
specifications so that in no particular.
no matter how minute. has His Honor
any objection to the specifications. Each
and every suggestion made by Corpora
tion Counsel MeDermott was also adopted
and even the phraseo1ogy was altered to
make the documents all that he desires.
The new feature which the Commission
ers determined to Introduce was a change
in the size of the pipes. The specifea-
tions originally called for two pipes. one
with a capacity of $4,000 900 gallons, to be
built at once; 1.-THE other, of $4,000, co., when
needed. The idea was to get such an
ample conduit now that no new outlay
would be needed for many years. while
the final pipe capacity of s0,oto,0oo gall
Ions would insure the flow of the entire
100000 gallons of water to be provided
in the watershed in spite of internal
ton due to age.
! I
having two pipes of 100000 each. He
thought this would save expense at the
present time The Board at first resisted
his ideas, and after much debate he,
waived the proposition. The Street and
Water Commissioners. however have
since consulted with engineers. and have
found that in every instance the Mayors
suggestion has been warmly supported
Consequently it was settled that today
the specifications would be amended Sc
that two pipes of a. 100000 gallons capacity
each would be called for. When the
change had been agreed upon the Mayor
was informed. He was much pleased. and
so expressed himself
1t was ever this the hitch occurred to-
day The Street and Water Board was
to have met at one o'clock TO readopt the
specifications. The members went into
secret session about that hour, and then
the trouble began. The Board divided
into the same two old factions-Hauck,
Nolan and Smith against Heiptze and
Boltwood One faction favored the two
4o. 900 600 gallon pipes. The other wanted
both this ana the $3.50 plan embodied as
alternatives in the specifications
Clerk Bouton also took hand In the
circus He refused to insert the 40.o00ooe
gallon clause in the instrument without
expert engineering advice.
In providing for pipes of 50ooo,o0o ana
Sc. .oeo. 900 gallons capacity he had only 70
follow previous specifications. he said, and
look up certain data which were to be
found in the specifications used BY New
ark IN preparing specifications for 40 eso, :
0c0 gallons pipes he had nothing to go ny
and insisted that he should be released OF
responsibility by the Board engaging an
expert engineer.
& In that contention he was warmly sup
ported by Commissioners Boltwood ana
Heintze The other members objected.
1t being Impossible to agree upon any
thing definite this afternoon the Boart
met and adjourned to meet again toHlar-
row morning ait ten o'clock
IN the meantime there Is to be r9;l-
ference With the Finance Commissioners.
Who We're to have met TO eoEcur IN she
specifications this afternoon. and i ~
very likely that an agreement Viii 9e
reached. Hauck Nolan and Smith Will
doubtless be supported III whatever Ih;y
do by Finance Commissioners Midllse,
Heppenheirner and Bailey.