The Jersey City news., 1899-10-24
new DAM SIT:
Engineer Ferris Writes to
the Board Of Works In
Relation to Storage
Reservoirs.
Mr.. FLYNN's S ESTIMATES
He Presents Absolute Data as
to Proposed Lobations, the
Result Of Surveys.
Mr.. FLYNN'S ESTIMATES

/ The Street and Water Commissioners at
| their meeting this afternoon received a
communication from Engineer Garwood
Ferris in relation to the location of the
storage reservoirs to give Jersey City its
new water supply under the p. H. Flynn
contract The contractor has changed his
views about the Banta property where he
! originally intended to build the dam and
asks to be allowed to use another site
The engineers letter and request from
Mr.. Flynn are as follows
Jersey city. Oct 49, 1899
| Hon. Board of Street and Water Com
| missioners, Jersey City, N. j. =
| Gentlemen-Your engineer takes plea
| sure, in accordance with intimat1on con-
| tanned in his report of September ~ IN
forwarding herewith a copy of COM
munication from P. H. Flynn (and Jersey
City Water Supply Company in which
the contractor amends his request OF
June 2S, for permission to construct dam
on the Banta' property, which ne ac-
companied by a tender of reservoir
location in the Longwood Valley to pro-
vide the additional storage required for q
70 million daily supply? AS a result of
careful surveys the contractor is now IN
a position to simply ask for permission
to change the location Of dam that origin
ally rendered to location on the
"Banta' property. The reservoir thereby
created viii possess the essential element
of his original proposition, viz:-All the
additional storage required for ~ mil
lion daily supply will be secured by sim
ply raising the dam and increasing the
height of the dykes, thus doing away with
any necessity for considering any second
reservoir.
In the specifications under which Mr..
Flynn bid will be found the following
in case future exploration and borings
shall demonstrate that the sub-soil Of any
of off
for the construction of safe and practic-
able dams the contractor will be allowed
to furnish other reservoirs of equal value
and efficiency, and acceptable to the
Engineer
The contractor has definitely stated that
the original site offered lis not safe or
practicable and under the foregoing ex-
tract from the specifications ne clearly IS
to be allowed to furnish other storage OF
equal value and efficiency and acceptable
to your engineer.
The storage the contractor now tend
ers is, from an engineering standpoint,
certainly of equal value and efficiency
with that originally rendered. In one re-
spect it is better in that great pro-
portion of the water impounded is above
the effluent pipe, and a less proportion
below It where it's only function is to
act as a settling basin, hence the storage
now rendered would certainly be accept
able to your engineer.
It remains, therefore, only to consider
whether the acceptance of the substitu-
ton proposed would in any way affect In
juriously Jersey City's rights under the
contract.
The change in location could in no way
affect Jersey City, either for good or bad,
so long as water was bought by the
million gallons. not also in the event OF
the purchase of the plant; provided, It
should then be equipped with storage for
70 million supply and the second t5v
nillion} pipe line. For the price of plant
SO enlarged is defined in contract. Sc
cured by $4,000 bond and is confirmed
in Mr.. Flynn's letter of June Is. 1873. In
fact. the only contingency possible which
could affect Jersey City injuriously would
be in case Jersey City purchased the %
million plant with 70 million water rights,
etc (by which Mr.. Flynn would be re-
leased from his obligation to increase the
capacity to 70 million gallons daily for the
price stated in his proposaD and that
thereafter the enlargement OF the Boon
ton reservoir would entail greater cost
than the enlargement at original loca-
tion.
The contractor has made up, with great
detail, as close an approximation as pos
sible of the comparative cost OF the en-
Iargement of the reservoir at the two To-
cations. His result, as stated in his pres
ent communication, is that, at present
prices, the Banta reservoir would cost
about $53 600 more to enlarge than 1t would
be to enlarge the original reservoir.
Your engineer would state that all of
the above details and figures have been
placed at his disposal for inspection and
yerifcation and that from such inspec-
tion and such verifcation as he has gone
into he has no doubt but that the differ
ences In quantities as estimated py the
contractor are approximately correct, and
that the prices at which such difference
are computed are prices at which the
work could not be performed. II the
probably enhanced cost of the increase
Of the Banta reservoir stood alone
much closer inspection and verificatfon OF
these estimates would be imperative with
a view, possibly to liking definite
in case Jersey City avalled of its option
to purchase the 50 million plant But,
fortunately all this is obviated- The
contractor now. as result Of a more
particular survey, proposes to further
amend his original proposal by construct
ing over two (2) miles of additional ma
decreasing the pipe conduit go million
capacity by a like amount. There Is no
question but that this is a very great bet
terment even if the works should never
should enlarge the plant at its own cost
II would require just that much less
pipe go million capacity to effect such en-
largement. The saving thereby effected
would amount, at present prices. to at
least twice the additional cost of enlarg-
ing the State reservoir as compared with
the enlargement of the reservoir at orig
inal location.
In conclusion 7 would wish to con-
graduate your Board on the outcome of
what has appeared to many as weari-
been found to overcome what appeared to
be grave complications, and plan has
resulted which, In many respects. is SUI
perior to the original tender: After the
foregoing. 1t Is perhaps needless to add
that your engineer believes the best in
terests of the city would be served by
notifying the contractor that his request
was granted for permission to change the
location of the dam TO the site accept
able to him on the Banta property as
coupled with his offer to make the
changes from pipe to masonry eonduits |
outlined in his letter herewith In a mat
ter of such Importance your engineer |
desires to work In complete harmony with |
your Board and therefore awaits advice |
that such notice by him to the contractor |
would meet the approval of your Hon |
ora BILE body before he would feel at |
liberty to take any action whatever in the |
matter.
Respectfully submitted.
(Signed.) GARWOOD FERRIS,
Engineer in charge.
The request Of the contractor sent to
Mr.. Ferris is as folows;-
Brooklyn N. Y, Oct. Z, 1899.
Garwood Ferris. Esq. Supervising Engi- |
neer, Jersey City, N. J.