The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-10-30

City was that OF new water supply.
The Passaic River at BelleviIle, Whenca
the city got its supply, was in most
deplorable condition. The cities of Pater-
son and Orange emptied their eewags
above the intake and the big city of New
ark disposed Of the greater part OF its
sewage in the same manner below 1t,
while between numerous manufactures.
dye and chemical works emptied their
refuse into the stream. In this way ths
water supply Of Jersey City had become
contaminated, noxious to the taste and
smell and a menace to the general
health of the city. The municipalities
looked about them for a new supply, and
they found that powerful syndicate had
secured, or pretended to have secured, all
the available watersheds in the northern
part of the State and held them SO that
any municipality which wanted a supply
of water would have to come to them
and pay whatever price they might
choose to exact or go without water.
The prices at which this syndicate held
this water were considered exorbftant,
and were taken up to compel the water
companies to come to terms. II public
corporation requires tract of land for
the purposes for which 1t is Incorporated,
which are generally considered to be for
the public good, the law permits them to
go in and take that property by condem-
nation. paying for it what disinterested
judges consider to be a fair price 1t was
thought that nothing could be more for
the public good than pure and wholesome
water and that any municipality desiring
water supply could acquire one of the
sheds this syndicate claimed to own by
this same process Of condemna tion. So a
bill was introduced into the Legislature
giving Jersey City the right to acquire a
new supply in the same manner that a
railroad obtains a new right OF way.
Nothing could be fairer, the advocates OF
the measure thought, and there would be
no difficulty in making the bill law.
But they reckoned without their host
The syndicate was all powerful and own
ed by men of prominence The late
lamented Garret A. Hobart and the saint
" John w. Griggs, who is still with us,
hurried down to Trenton and took per-
sonal command of the well trained lobby.
Mr.. Griggs made the speeches before the
committees and presented the legal as
effective missionary work from the se-
clusion Of the cloak room.
MIR, Hudspeth was the champion OF the
fight for passage The same energy and
ability which he had utilized in his many
battles in, the House for. the peoples
he did ali in his power to secure
this great boon for the people of Jersey
(lLy- Inc StHQlcate, Win It's ffOUdEt-
/ Griggs combination, was too powerful for
him and the bill never became law.
Notwithstanding all this attention TO the
public interests in the Legislature, Mr.
Hudspeth continued in active practice at
the Bar and was soon recognized as one
of the leading lawyers OF the State SO
when in 1888 the. then Mayor of Jersey
City. owing to the important suits pend
ing in the courts in which the city was
vitality Interested looked about him for a
skilled and able law officer, he selected
Mr.. Hudspeth and made him Corporation
Attorney During his term of office the
celebrated case of the city against the
Central Railroad Company and others TO
recover what is commonly known as the
South Cove Grant was pending, and Mr.
Hudspeth rendered valuable services IN
the matter Every reader of The Jer-
sey City News knows by this time that
the South Cove Grant was valuable plot
between Grove and Henderson streets,
which the State gave TO Jersey City at
nominal price. The city at first did not
thorifies not thinking it worth the sum
named in the grant
After lapse of time the Riparian Cor
missioners sold the land over again 70
| Central Railroad Company which took
possession of the property and improved
! it 10 a considerable extent Then cane
ed the value of the property 10 the cry
and took steps 10 secure possession OF the
others who were in possession resisted
the attempt most vigorously and pro-
tracted litigation followed Through All
weary way, the city winning in every in
stance, and finally the railroad company
took the matter into the united stales
Supreme Court. There, too, they were ue-
feated. and the city finally took possession
of the valuable tract. In al TINS long,
protraeted litigation MI Hudspeln so9h OK
an active part, and the services Wnicn Ne
rendered were OF great benetit TO the CITY
of Jersey City, and when the people come
to distribute their honors and rewards
to those who won this fight for the tax
payers, MIR. Hudspeth will be one OF me
| first to be remembered. And unless the
people are more ungrateful tnan lne pro-
Verbal Republic they will see that MI M:
Hudspeth is reelected senator neAl "sSe
Ia slight recognition OF the crealL quo
him for his valuable services IN tneit ~
Not only was Mr.. Hudspeth active In
this particular instance, but there Mslss
| here in which he proved time and again
that the interests of the people were sale
in his hands George + Merts tnen 11sI1 10y 10y
and when, in 1888, the late JOB LipplncotL
was elevated to a seat upon the Suprem,s ne
Court bench, he appointsd Mr, nuosptb,. ~ tb.
Court of Common Pleas of Hudson Coun-
ty At this time Mr.. Hudspeths term
as Corporation Attorney naa fq,o nos sse esfsr
| T.. Wanser was then Mayor OF TINS city,
and although a Republican OF the most
pronouneed type me- ne rffosgn1xsfSS nsgspefS 'n and the
I
| valuable services which he had rendered
| to the city, as will be seen by the letter
| which he wrote on the occasion or ac-
cepting Mr.. HudsDeth' g reslgnatlon;-
Mayors Office, City Hail.
Jersey City, N. j., Feb. z, lssS.
Hon R. s. Hudspeth:-
Dear Sir-I beg to acknowledge the re-
| ceipt of your very kind and courteous
letter of resignation of your office or
Corporation Attorney. 1 wish to thank
/ YOU very sincerely for your kind express
sion of regard and good wishes. am
very glad that can return them IN KIND
and Congratulate you upon your eleYa-
ton to the bench and wish you success
in your new position | think 1t Is my
duty to say to you that since entered
this office you have earnestly and hon
estly carried out matters of city business
within the domain of the Corporation
Attorney.
Very truly yours,
PETER F. WANSER,
Mayor.
| Mr. Hudspeths career on the bench is
| now known to every inhabltant of this
| county Fearlessly and intelligently he
| took up some of the worst evils with
| which this community was cursed and IN
spite of the strongest and most subtle of-
position. succeeded in stamping them OUT
/ Powerful influences were brought 10
bear to induce him to desist, but cajolertes
/ and even threats of political destruction
| had no effect upon him. and ne continued
resolutely to discharge his duty as MS
< n him