The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-19

M'EWAN'S OBJECTIONS.
Clerk Bouton Disposes Of
Each One as Foolish and
Without Foundation.
AWARD TO BE MADE NEXT WEEK
Mayor Hoos Will First Hear
All Sides of the Water
Question.

water contract to P. H. Flynn, reached
Mayor Hoos this morning. The objee-
tions follow
l. Only one bid; consequently Board un-
able to make comparisons and restrictions
as required by words of act, award 70
that bidder who offers the terms most ad-
3 Not sufficiently protected against pol
luton.
8. The excessively high price asked by
bidder.
4. The proceedings from beginning were
secret and no opportunity offered taxpay-
ers to express their views.
5. The specifications were so drawn as
not to admit of competitive bidding ESQ
drawn as to prevent previous bidders from
bidding under these specifications). Il Is
therefore in violation of the Van Relpen
decision.
g. The insufficiency of the water shed.
The consumption of water at the present
rate of increase in Jersey City Will re-
Ions per day, the full capacity OF the
proposed Flynn plan and of the Rocka-
way she'd The plan, therefore, is only a
temporary makeshift and not final So
luton of the water problem.
T. The present Rockaway River town
population per square mile is practically
equal to that of the Passaic River, above
Dundee Dam. in the year 1870, ana the
increase is equally rapid
8. No expert drew or passed on specl-
fications, plans or Rockaway water she'd
g. The city now has a contract ter
minable at its pleasure, and which Sc
cures it a supply so long as necessity
therefor shall exist of water equal 70 II
not better than the Rockaway, and at
substantially the same price. Under the
Flynn contract if the city Should exer-
else the option of purchase its bonded
indebtedness would be increased to over
% per cent. of the ratables; and if it does
not purchase the works 1t will still be
firmly bound to purchase water Tor
twenty-five years and will entirely lose
its present freedom of action in regard
to water supply.
Perhaps no man in the City Hall is more
familiar with the proceedings attending
the award to Flynn than George T. Bou-
ton. Clerk of the Street and Water Board.
He took a conspicuous part in the prepar-
alton of the specifications. and he has ex-
amined the plans very carefully. He has
attended every conference, and by making
research has equipped himself to discuss
the subject intelligently When shown
the McEwan objections this morning, he
dissected them in this manner. Taking
objection No. l. he said:-'sThe statement
of Mr.. McEwan is untrue. If he knew
anything about the water subject he
would know that there was more than
one bid.
ellis second objection is without founda-
ton Every man who has examined the
plans disagrees with him on the point IN
question.
mo 9. We have never had any means OF
gauging what plant is worth except by
comparison with bids previously submit
ted On such comparison the price is not
excessively high. On the other hand it IS
low.
mo. A. The Board met at least once
every week, and frequently oftener, and
any and all persons had opportunity to oe
heard. Any objections filed would have
been given mature deliberation.
ssNo. 5. His assertion on this point is so
utterly at variance with the facts as to
hardly require being negatived. The
specifications are almost identical with
those used last February when bids were
received from four responsible bidders
People who are familiar with the specifi-
cations disagree with the protestant.
.No. g. The watershed offered by Flynn
is the largest ever offered the city by
any bidder at any time and is capable OF
delivering more water than is called Tor
in the specifications. While the specifica-
tions call for a. 70, 100000 gallon shed and
for an initial 50,OO0000 gallon pipe and for
Dooo'oVo gaiioii sieo -, sAe
period the 1act remains 'ns'. 70 oon 900
offered VIII proouce nloie 'il'n 'e'sYV'0'v :
gallons and tnal aoui'ioiiai -
contiguous thereto can be acquired so
easliy tnal iOV,VV0'0vv e'..i 40
readily When the Guy au.noll.'es 4as ss4s. :
provided Tor postefies III ~ -,
years TO coine' .nes " !.
that can reasonao,s ~ - ,ss,,.,,- -
IL tehipoiais ~" 800 r7asrs
TOT posesii'S al,as,,;ft
theh liils iiisas ~ haa,, 1,
l coiisiIei -. - -
well e-1net n,os14aats 90 nsnalIv drawn so
mai nropressive payments are made, or
- ao,,+,.ao+o, nroceeds with his
80, 10 is naid on account Our speci-
ssa4;o,,, ,,er7nit of NOT a dollar being paid
,,ntiJ tba work shall have been completed
ana accented by the city, and the work
scannot he accepted by the Board until a
majority of the people have so decided by
! their votes. Nor need gallon of water
he bought and paid for until the city au-
| s,soxstias .re ca tisfied that il is pure, The
..s5ea,,4o,,5;ng i that the water shall
| course through our mains so that every
| o;+;zen of this community shall be come
ao.ao,al with the authorities.
Juose eo-ed1pi ,,.,a 80
'sNo. .. rms statement - d ooiu oiio
| 49, ,,,,,,,her of affections. 1t has posi-
1 the HuihooA - oD1~ -