The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-01-13
BOONTON'S
OBJECTION
Fears AImShOuSe Sale May Hurt
Its Drainage System.

FreehOIders Discuss Matter of Re
scindlnG Option, But Original Res
oIutfon Stands-Transfer Had MOI
! Been Made Because Prospective
| Purchaser Found a Supposed
Judgment Against County.
At the meeting Of the Board Of Free
holders on Wednesday morning the mat
ter of resembling the option for the sale
of the County Almshouse property was
considered. This was suggested by Mr.
Carter, who said that If the property
was to be sold for the building of reser
vior that there was a possibility of this
1 project being serious detriment to the
town Of Boonton.
That place, according to MIR. Carter,
has system Of drainage that is salts
factory The Freebooter from Boonton
said that in the event Of the East Jersey
Water Company obtaining possession
and the waters of the Rockaway being
utilized for Jersey City's supply, that
the towns now using that stream as an
outlet for sewage matter would be with
out system Of drainage. If the COM
pany acquiring the right to use the water
supply failed to provide means of drain
age, the town of Boonton alone would be
put to an expense of $3.50, 900 or more to
properly dispose of its waste matter.
Another objection offered by Mr.. Car
ter, who said he represented the senti-
ment of citizens of Boonton, was that q
reservoir such as has been proposed
would be menace to the health of resi-
dents in that part of the county, and
therefore cause depreciation in the
value of property. He explained that
the proposed contract called for supply
of 70, 0OO, 900 gallons of water daily, and
the river would furnish only II 900, 900
gallons. The contract demands that 70
per cent of the reservoir must be covered
by eight feet of water. Mr.. Carter con-
tended that with the best supply pos
sible, the remaining % per cent. would
be bare ground and an excellent place
to breed malaria He realized that the
sale of the Almshouse property would be
good deal for the county, but that it
might mean the loss of several hundred
thousand dollars to Boonton. Hanover
and Montville.
A motion by Mr.. Carter to rescind the
option was declared to be out or order.
Mr.. Cook then asked counsel for the
board if that body had right to recon-
slider the matter.
4 Counsel replied that it would prob
ably involve the county in considerable
| litigation.
| Mr.. Hoagland believed Mr.. Carriers
| - e. -
all projects OF this nature the contractors
agree to dispose of sewage.
Mr. Carter said the system of disposal
might not be satisfactory to Boonton.
Counsel asked the gentleman if the
Sc wage of that town now emptied in the
Rockaway, and on receiving an affirma-
tive answer, said that Boonton was vio-
latipg State law.
! Mr.. Post said the people of Boonton
were greatly exercised over the matter,
and that he certainly would not cast a
vote that would help to enrich the county
ten or fifteen thousand dollars, but mean
the loss of several times that amount to
two or three townships. MIR. Post stated
that he had been led to believe the prop
erty in question was to be sold and cut
up into building lots.
i Mr.. Gillen said he voted for extending
the option because he thought IL would
be good sale for the county.
MIR. Cook informed the board that a
bond was always given in such cases
compelling the company to take care of
any existing sewage system with which
the new project might interfere. He
added that the reservoirs were always
kept filled, but several members dis
puted this.
MIR. Carter moved that the matter be
referred to counsel to ascertain if the
county was bound by any previous agree
ment and was not in position to recon
slider.
MIR. Cook moved as an amendment
that the original resolution Of August 10.
1893, stand, which extended option of
Aimshouse farm Ito B. ]. Crane for
$4,000.
The amendment prevailed by vote Of
! 16 to 3.
Counsel then told the board that a
check had been offered in payment for
the property some time ago, but that the
deed had not at that time been prepared.
He also stated that the prospective pur-
chaser Of the property had learned of a
judgment of $4,000 against the county,
obtained five years ago by a Mrs. Hough,
who fell from a bridge that had not
proper guard rails. For this reason the
sale had not been contaminated, al
though the deed had been ready for the
transfer for several days.
Members of the board stated that the
Judgment in question had been paid, but
that there may have been a failure to
properly record the same.
On motion of Mr.. Hoagland, counsel
was instructed to take immediate steps
to remove the objection.
For the Road Committee, Mr.. Hoae-
land stated that several roads due for
acceptance last summer, but which had
not been completed at that time, were
now ready for action by the board. He
: offered resolution, which was approved,
releasing bond of Augustus Munson &
Co., and accepting these roads Section
8, Morris township; sections Sand s b,
Rockaway township, and sections 1, 3
i and in Roxbury township.
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