The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-01-12
TO PUBLIC VOTE
Special Election Will Be
Called to Decide the
Water Supply
Question.
MAYOR FAyoRs 6O,Ooo,o0o GALLONS
Board of Finance to Hold
Special Meeting to Dis
cuss Board Of Works
Resolution.

The water conference between the
Mayor and the city officials held yester-
day afternoon, resulted in this, that
Mayor Hoos will in few days call for
special election so that the people may
approve or reject the purchase of the
fifty millions of gallons water supply
yes" said the Mayor, this morning,
in discussing the conference, Il am in
favor of purchasing the 5O,OO0,oOo supply
I will as soon as see fit issue procla-
nation for the election and the question
for the people will be:-Shall we or shall
we not buy the fifty millions supply?
Some are in favor of postponing the
election until the regular spring election
was suggested, but His Honor re-
plied:-
'.That won't do to mix up this matter
with politics. The issue must not be
clouded it must be separated from every
thing else.
you favor the purchases"
7 do answered the Mayor, ana my my
earnest belief is that this plant OF hfty
millions will be sufficient for the city Tor
twenty-five years at least, If the water
is properly metered.
At Yesterdays conference the discussion
was the recent proposition of the Board
of Street and Water Commissioners,
which was as follows:-s
Resolved, That In accordance with and
conformably to specifications for new
water supply heretofore adopted by this
Board, July 5, 1885, with proposals pre-
sented hereunder August lS, 1898, with
awards of contract made by virtue there
of to P, H. Flynn, December 9, 1888. with
contract entered into with said Patrick
H. Flynn, February S 1899, with reso-
luton in matter OF change OF reservoir
site adopted by this Board October 81,
1899, and with resolution notifying con-
tractor to increase the capacity of his
water works adopted by this Board Janu-
q rAlNxrt of n q
intention of the city to purchase the
water works, water supply, water rights,
lands, reservoirs, pipe lines, rights of
way and all appurrt5eSnances a and easements Is
said specifications and to the extent or
70 million gallons of water daily forever,
when the water works are completed and
posal submitted by the said Patrick H.
FLYNN as aforesaid, under Plan No. l.,
namely, $S745, 900, this Board being of
the opinion that said proposal under said
Plan No. ] is the proposal of that re-
sponsible bidder which offers the terms
most advantageous to the city.
All the members of the Finance Board
were present, and MeSSrS. +. He1ntze, A.
Hauck and j. S. Nolan, of the Street and
Water Board, together with Corporation
Counsel A. L. McDermott and Mr.. w. D.
Edwards, H. Belden, r. w. Harrison, rep
Co.. and Garwood Ferris for the city. The
members of the Street and Water Board
expressed their belief that unless the city
bought the seventy millions supply, at
some future date when it needed more
water, that supply could not be proc,sred.
Further they argued that 1t was a matter
of economy to buy the larger supply now. low
light, however. His Honor insisted that
the purchase was unnecessary and 1t
meant burden on the city. Jersey City,
gallons per day, which was quite ample.
When a 70,000000 supply was needed the
citys population would be doubled and
that wouldn't happen for many years ears odo TO
come Besides, the additional $1,16OO00
the difference between the price OF the
fifty millions supply and the seventy mil
lions supply would for that time, be
dead loss. The Mayor plainly said that
the arguments used in favor of the pur-
chase of the larger supply were not con-
vincing to him that it was for the best
interests of the city to DO 50. He added
that he was in favor of buying the lesser
quantity.
Are there any assurances" inquired
Commissioner Mullins, that If we should
buy the fifty million plant that the water
will be up to contract?"
'Yes; under the contract Jersey City
has the privilege of testing the water Tor
four years after the completion OF the
standard. Jersey City needn't take 1t,
replied Mr. Edwards.
A long talk ensued. but nothing de-
cisive was reached The Board of FL
nance will hold special meeting tomor-
row to take action on the Street and
Water Boards resolution. 1t Is thought
that the Board will non-concur and the
resolution will be sent back to the Street
and Water Board for them to change the
figures to 50,00000O gallons supply.
1--WE will not, think" said one of the
Street and Water Commissioner, alter
our resolution from seventy to fifty mil
lions should the Board of Finance decide
to non-concur in 1t. Our stand has been
made for 70 millions. because we believe
and we still believe that the larger supply
is better for the city in the end