The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-11-20
Officials Receive Assurances
That the New Water
Works Will Be Ready
March, 1902.
CONFERENCE HELD TODAY
Even in Case OF Delay the
City Will Not Suffer
From Thirst.

A conference took place this morning
in the Finance Board rooms on the water
question at which were present Mayor
Hoos, Finance Commissioners Henry
Lembeck John Mullins, J. H. Carnes, w.
f. Midlige and j. Ringle, Corporation
Counsel Allan L. McDermott, Street and
Water Commissioners R. G. Smith, F.
Heintze. Jas. Sullivan. A. Hauck and ],
s. Nolan, Clerk G. T. Bouton, Engineer
c. Ferris and H. H. Bowley, NJ. j. Ken
nedy, Edlow w. Harrison and W. D.
Edwards, representing the Jersey City
Water Supply Co.
Some time ago the East Jersey Water
Company notified the city that after
October %, 1902, the temporary supply con-
tract would be terminated. The question
thenu arose in the minds of the city
officials:-Would the new water supply
under the P. H. Flynn contract be ready
by that time? The engineers had from
time to time reported to the Street and
Water Commissioners that the construc-
ton work at the dam and other opera
tion at Boonton had not progressed rapid
~ enough to their satisfaction and unless
a great change were made the works as
suredly would not be ready by the time
specified in the contract. That instrument
contained, however, a clause stipulating
penalty of $500 per day for every day, after
the time specified, for non completion of
the contract and the officials were easy
on that score knowing that even if the
new supply were not ready water could
easily be purchased from Newark, Hack
ensack or Bayonne. But to make as
al al
ence for today.
It was a very amicable discussion,
turning solely on the time of completion
of the Flynn contract. The representa-
tives of that concern, Messrs. Kennedy
and Edwards, asserted emphatically that
the company would be ready to turn on
the water on the day fixed in the CON-
tract.
The works will be ready long before the
time when the city will need the new sup
ply. There is no doubt about that" ex-
planned Mr.. Edwards.
From henceforth the construction work
at the dam win be pushed. Already much
progress has been made by Contractors
Rehill & Edwards. with the tunnels
through the Watching Mountain and the
inspecting engineers have expressed them
selves as satisfied with the efficiency of
the work and the progress made
Mr.. Kennedy added that he saw no diff
Guilty whatever in having the work COM
pleted by March /, 1902, the time stated in
the contract.
Engineer Garwood Ferris demurred to
that statement. He could not see, he
said, from the work done and what re-
manned to be done. how the contractors
could finish the work.
Corporation Counsel Allan L. McDer-
mott suggested that Mr.. Ferris as City
Supervising Engineer, should except to
the work in detail and not when the work
was finished.
That would suit us admirably" re-
piled Mr.. Kennedy smiling, "and let him
give US certificate for work done"
Mr. Ferris didn't agree with that. To
give certificates for work done in detail
wouldn't be good thing for the city.
He preferred to stop bad work at once
and when all was done object en- bloc.
''Wen,'' asked Mayor Hoos, "supposing
the works are not finished by the time
mentioned, will there be any difficulty in
getting water?"
mot the slightest" added Mr.. Harrison,
"besides it is not necessary to consider
that emergency. The works will be ready
to turn on the water the day named
There is no doubt about that
With these assurances the conference
ended