The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-01-30

This shows over the previous year an
increase of Sc, 25S.36, Notwithstanding the
le4ueuon made on private houses amount
i14g to $1,000. The Assessor turthef
points out that from $4,000 to $l00, 1000 is
spent yearly for new water mains IN DIS
tI.cts which make no returns for at least
ten year and as a further instance OF
water used for which no rents can be
amount Of water consumed by the public
schools, public buildings and fire houses,
all of which, he adds, makes no returns
to the city. In Mr.. McGrath's opinion the
amount of arrearages now outstanding
win more than meet the city's indebted
ness to the East Jersey Water Company
if only these rents are collected. There,s
the rub.
Yesterdays conference was behind
closed doors and none of those who took
part in it would say what transpired, but
where there's water there'll be a leak and
it became known that the Mayor and the
Finance Board were in favor of metering
the entire city even if these meters would
cost So to S400, 600.
Mayor GIoos has all along contended
that if meters were placed in private
houses, factories and other buildings, the
waste of water would be stopped and the
city be able to keep within its income.
Again it was urged yesterday that the
reservoir on the hill should be repaired
at once. That work, 1T was estimated,
would cost from s5000c0 to $800,000, and
then again where is the all important
question: Where is the money coming
from TO do that?
Commissioner VIM. F. Midlige said that
the water department must be put on a
paying basis at once. 1t was clear, he
said after figuring up the receipts and
expenditures of the department that a
thorough reform in the system was need
ed and must be affected Immediately. To
go on as the city has been going was
unbusinesslike and costly.
Clerk George T. Bouton of the Street
ard Water Board was at the conference
and he submitted his report containing an
exhaustive mass of details concerning the
Commissioner John Mullins. who evil
IDENTIFY thought they ought to be punched
up into one item and not charged against
ments'' was another snag in the path of
Mr. Mullins mental progression. He
thought that with rigid economy in the
water department, determined effort to
collect the water taxes, and care dis
played in preventing the waste of water,
Jersey City ought to have no debt in the
water department.
Commissioner Jacob Ringle reiterated
what he said in "The News some time
ago when discussing the water debt. He
insisted that the East jersey Water
Company's bill should have been attend
ed to before any other claim was paid,
instead Of paying out first wages and
minor claims.
Then replied MIR. Bouton would you
make the employees wait for their salaries
and withhold urgent claims for supplies?'
Commissioner Ringle replied that SOME
way OuSill 70 ne 1OuuQ Dy w llCH the ODH-
cations OF the city could be promptly
met.
81 know what every true business man
does" said Commissioner John Mullins
when he has bills to meet He provides
for them. and in order to do SO he cuts
down expenses. =
why not then meter every house insthe
city?" asked President Lembeck
That, I think, Is a good fdea?' replied
Mr. Ringle, but that, of course, would
entail a heavy expense. We could, how
ever, forthe present, meter only the large
consumers, and afterwards we might put
In meters in private house. The trouble is
about third of the city waiter as wasted
public buildings and the Fire Department
used q great deal of water and there was
no means at present of aScertaining really
what they did use
why is it, asked Mr. Mullins, that
find in arrears previous to 1899, sum over
s60,0002''
It was explained that there were many:
claims which could not be collected, and
again the bulk of these arrears were
against estates which were now being
closed up and ultimately the city would
indebt admess to THE CITY,
TT is no use nincing matters about this
We ought to cut off the supply If people
won't pay their water bills Its no use
going on as we do at present" said Mr..
nj was then agreed to do that, and the
MEMBERS of the Street and Water Board
retired to the Assembly Chamber to hold
4 sst,esciaI meeting. Commissioner Sullivan
presided and the resolution before referred
TO was passed