The Jersey City news., 1902-07-14
new WATER
Is Pure.
William Il. Corbin Answers
NeWark's Jealous Attack
on Jersey City's
Supply.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD
No More Pollution in its Shed
Than in Any Other in
This Vicinity.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD

Considerable Indignation was express
ed in this city this morning over an un-
warranted attack upon Jersey City's
new water supply which appeared in the
Newark SUNDAY Call'' yesterday.
Among other things the "Calr' said
And when it is finished, it will be a
good deal of botch. The whole scheme
was rotten enough, but everything might
have been forgiven if the net result had
been a supply of pure and wholesome
water. But the Rockaway River at
Boonton can never be good drinking wa
ter, or safe beyond question for domestic
purposes. 1t takes the drainage of
Dover and Boonton and Rockaway, and
a well-populated farming district, and it
will be subject to contamination always
and to1a steadily increasing extent.
1t will not even be practicable to FL
Ter at cheap rate. without pumping.
which would double the cost. The great
blundcr was in the choice of a site for
a reservoir or reservoirs. They should
have been placed miles further back in
the country, beyond the reach of con-
tamination. However, there is no help
for it now, and the blame must be placed
on the corrupt officials and the bad state
of public sentiment in Jersey City.
OFFICIALS REPLY.
Ex-senator William d. Edwards and
Engineer Edlow W. Harrison, who rep
resent the company that is constructing
the plant for Jersey City's new supply,
are in Europe.
Mr. William III. Corbin, counsel for the
East Jersey Water Company, denounced
the Calls" attack as unwarranted and
untruthful. He intimated that Newark
was jealous of Jersey City's supply.
Newark herself chose the smallest and
most expensive supply in the Northern
part of the State, which is limited. and
the prospect of seeing Jersey City in the
possession Of supply superior to her
,wn has somewhat soured the Calls
iisnosition.
Mr.. corbin said:-
"The plan adopted for the Jersey City
water works was chosen by the city
boards after receiving bids several times
and receiving propositions for almost
every possible plan.
"The Rockaway RIVER affords an abun-
dant and admirable supply just about
double the quantity of that of the city
of Newark. and the water is equally pure.
In fact the analyses so far as rather in
favor of the Rockaway River.
LITTLE FEAR OF POLLUTION.
..As to pollution, all these supplies
e. lNo nxs,J or
must every public water supply. With
growing populations they will not pro-
teet themselves, but there is no reason,
as think. why Jersey City's water sup
ply should not be maintained perpetuaily
in a wholesome condition. 1t is the most
accessible. as it is the best of all the
tributaries of the Passaic River, and In
its natural state one of the best water
supplies IN the United States.
as to the dangers of pollution and thu
efforts necessary to avoid it in future,the
city took the supply with its eyes open,
and will undoubtedly do what is needfui,
to insure its safety.
'.srhe plan, so far from being botch,
is an admirable one. affording by the
most direct and convenient route vast /
supply of good water and when it il
o,ice in use, there is nothing that need
give Jersey City any anxiety about wa
ter supply for many years to come, eN-
eenf tho prevent of pollution of the
sources of supply. This duty rests equal
* upon every municipality that takes its
water for public use from surface flows.
Mr.. frors;ji also said that Jersey City's
now supply was one of the best in the
world.