New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-02
WILL DEMAND TITLE.
NEWARK WANTS cANIsrEAR RESERVOIR
AND ECHO LAKE.
THE BOARD OF WORKS WILL INSIST THAT rHH
EAST JERSEY WATER COMPANY SHALL

THE BOARD OF WORKS WILL INSIST THAT rHn
EAST JERSEY WATER COMPANY SHALL
FULFIL IT'S CONTRACT.
The Newark Board OF Works will tomorrow
adopt a resolution demanding that the East Jersey
Water Company convey 10 the city OF Newark the
tide to the Canistear Reservoir and also to Echo
Lake. in the Pequannock watershed as part and
parcel Of tho Newark water supply plant. under
the contract between the company and the city.
The resolution was submitted 10 the Board. sit
ting yesterday water committee. and was
adopted. subeat 10 the action by the Board itself
at the regular meeting tomorrow.
The ownership o. Canstear Reservoir has been
In dispute for several years. The plant. hrst
built by the East Jersey Water Company. included
only Oak Ridge and Clinton reservoirs. OF ca
paeity respectively OF 2,5oo. 10000 and i;soec.o
should deliver 100000 gallons daily each day Of
tne year under AL conditions the water 70 be
10000 gallons snui September 1890. and in con-
sideration OF the company waving the interest on
II was 10 have the use OF the surplus water. Sub
Srquenty the company made contract with
the pipes at Macopin with tho Jersey City main
a. Beeville. II was then discovered that the COM
panys engineer had made error OF calculation
as TO the capacity OF the large pipe from Macopin.
and that Il could carry only 5000 coo gallons daily
This involved new arrangements. second pipe
1000 900 gallons dsv II also became necessary 10
ger new wateTs5ed fcSo Tske was scored
and raised by a dam at the outlet. and about six
square miles Of drainage added 10 IL. Then the
company TO the head % the watershed. and.
procuring additional land and water rights, built
Canistear Reservoir with capacity OF I'D Co., 90
gallons
It was given out that these additions were neces-
stated by TIE contract with Jersey city and that.
as Newark was entitled to only 100000 gallons
daly It could not claim the 100000 gallons daily.
Newark claimed everything above the old tributary
10 me intake The contract provides that no legal
contract. IN September. 1870, but this question
% ha Owntrsai2 Was eft open until recently when
in the Pequsnnock Valley that Oak Ridge Reser-
voir. which WIS principally drawn upon. more
than half emptied. and Clinton Reservoir was
drawn down seven feet. The water OF Echo Lake
nermeucaly closed. II was built 10 allow its water
10 now into Oak Ridge, but the company. realizing
part Of the Newark plant Would at once be estabo
Hsned' refused TO tap the reservoir.
had the water in Oak Ridge examined. and the re-
port showed that IL was contaminated Last Thurs
depended only Clinton and Oak Ridge reservoirs.
- Meanwhile the Board OF Works had COMMISSIONED
Hoboken TO examine the water and yesterday the
expert made his report TO the Boards Water Com
Oak Ridge, Clinton and other places He found
mat the largest number OF species. and by far
organism in oak RiSra was he msios,Ts u sns
to shallow portions OF he reservoir. The expert
was asked II this vegetable growth was detri-
the waep IF he comd se sG ns %9d nI arn
not pure, but TO its whoesomeness II ne liked
the taste he could drink a bucketful.
President Van Duyne suggested that another
pert be engaged to corroborate Professor Leeds in
case suit was brought. and he suggested President
Thomas A. Drown OF Lehgh University. motion
70 engage him was passed President Van Duyns
then presented A motion calling upon the East
Jersey Water Company TO fulfil its contract with
the city.
The terms of payment OF the 10000 10 Tho
East Jersey Water Company for the entire plant,
as provided in the original contract. was that pay
ment should be made either In cash Or bonds at
per cent The first payment OF $4,000. when
the plant completed. 4 per cent bonds.
These sold by the company a premium.
The OF 10000 was held in escrow by the city.
Some time afterward supplemental contract
made. by which It incidentally provided that
the last payment OF 100000 should be In bonds.
thus apparently destroying the city's option. The
bonds command A price Of about Sl6 on the par
value OF 800, making gain for the company OF
100000 over and above the cash price. The de-
nand by the Board OF WORKS il that the balance
OF 100000 shall be paid IT. ca sh. on this point
undoubtedly there will be litigation.