The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-01-13
ON-cONCURRED
Result Of Finance Board
Conference Regarding
Water Resolution
NO 100000 GALLONS
Mayor Reiterates His Opposi-
ton to the Proposal as
Uneconomical.

I6SOlullO1leS OIL lHG ASCt eeAAN " -
in relation to the purchase of 'e,OOG,eeo
gallons water plant.
The first resolution was the notification
to Contractor p H. Flynn, requesting MIN
TO build the 20 million plant, and the sec
ond notifying him that the city desires to
buy the 20 million plant for $S,7 600.
AT this mornings conference, in addi-
ton to the Finance Commissioners, there
We're present Mayor E. Hoos, Corporation
Counsel A. L. McDermott, Corporation
Attorney ]. w. Queen and Private Secre-
tary E. A. Hoos.
The argument in favor of the PROPOSE
ton was taken up In substance it was as
follows: The STREET and Water Board mao
come to the conclusion that the limit OF
a so million gallons supply for the city as
contemplated in the first instance, Woulo
undoubtedly be reached in 10 or ~ years al
most if the consumption of water increas-
ed as it has done in previous years az
about per cent If then that rate con-
tinued the so million supply would emo
in the time estimated Hence. the Street
and Water Board argued that it would DC
more economical for Jersey City to con-
tract now for 70 million gallons supply
rather than the 50 million gallons pant
ssHow about the s1,116.00O difference III
the price of the two?" said Commissioner
Mullins, ''the interest on that hgure a.
the present 3ls rate of interest would mean
over $4,000 a year
The answer to this was made that At
would be cheaper even at that TO buy the
larger plant than wait for several years
TO gain more enlarged supply. Mr.. Fer
ris argument at a previous conference
was recalled. as follows:-By ordering a
70, million gallon plant at once, with tive
pipe lines the city will be able to get this
second gipe line on much more adVan-
tageous terms thanit would be able to ger
it if it waited for nine or ten years before
ordering the enlarged supply. The second
pipe could be laid and the water WORKS
could be enlarged much core cheaper by
the present contractor while he has the
facilities on the ground than by the same
contractor or some other contractor years
hence It wol1id cost at least $500 900 more
than it would if ordered now for 8, l5O,uOO
extra Indeed, hardly believe the extra
pipe line could be laid and the works en-
larged in the future for less than $1,000,
with the income of the Water De-
partment at ssO7 900 a year at present,
and with this income increasing annual
", it would be possible by sensible finan-
ciering to have not only the old water
debt of IS, 1876, 900, but also the new water
debt of $S,745, 600 wiped out by 1924, and
Jersey City would be left in undisputed
possession of an ample supply and with
out a cent of bonded water debt.
This astonishing result could be Sc
cured by refunding the water bonds at
31s per cent. as quickly as they become
, due, by issuing bonds at 31a per cent. to
care for the new water debt of $S745,000
and by putting the yearly surplus of the
water account into a sinking fund"
The answer to this in Mr.. McDermott's s
opinion was that the figures presented
were based on an undetermined consump-
ton. whereas if the water supply were
metered, there would not be so much
extravaganza.
The Mayor then reiterated his epposi-
tion to the purchase of the 70 million
plant 1t was unnecessary as he had all
along stated. He would, however, vote
for fifty million supply The Corpora
tion Counsel too opposed the enlarged
supply and ridiculed the contention that
the watersheds required for the addition
al supply would eventually be gobbled up
by others 1t was also absurd to sup
pose that second pipe line would pre-
vent a water famine in the event of a
break.
There was during the protracted dis
cussion slight leaning on the part Of two
Of the Commissioners to favor the pur-
chase Of the 70 million plant, but the ar
gunents of the Mayor and the Cor9ora-
tion Counsel prevailed and the noncon-
cur resolutions were agreed upon. On COM
ing into open meeting the formal vote
was taken, all voting aye.
"We ought ito have a conference with
the Street and Water Board on this mat
ter,'' said Commissioner Ringle, and II
was agreed to meet the Street af!d Wa
Ter Board on Tuesday morning next.
Since the Mayor and the Finance Board
are in favor of purchasing the 50 million
supply that conference will be to en-
deavor to induce the Street and Water
Board to change the form of their rcso-
luton, making 1t read 50 instead of 7(
million gallons supply. 1t is, however
pretty well understood that the Commis-
sioners will not give way and there is
every prospect Of an interesting deadlock
ahead
When the conference was over the
Mayor was sen by a News representa-
tive and he said about the special elec-
tom
'It was my intention to issue a procla-
nation very soon, but nothing will be
done until after the conference on Tues
day.
..You are in favor. of the purchase OF
the fifty million supply?D His Honor was
asked.
yes, and am further in favor o
metering the water in the houses. b.
doing SO the present waste Of water vii
he checked and the SO million gallons sup
ply ample for twenty-five to thirty year
to come
The Mayor added that if he should issu'
the call for a special election it will b.
made so that sufficient space Of tim
sfali eIapse between its publication an'
the election day
4 want the people he said. 'ro fire.
Know upon what they are expected t
vote. ana. secondly. e!s@ ~ may Eay'
ples,fv OF time ii which = make up. thell
minds. There's going 8 BE- no haste orel
ztfiis important ma; ter sad | win see taa