The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-03-21
UP TO FLYNN.
City Officials in Secret
Conference Frame New
Water Proposals.
WILL GRANT EXTENSION.
WILL WAIVE PENALTY.
But Contractor Must Give
Temporary Supply for
Amount of interest on
Purchase Price.
RESULT OF A LONG POW WOW
If the Offer Is Accepted, the
City Win Save SO. Per Mill
ion Gallons on Watershed.

ION Gallons on WaterOSeQ.
Because of the talk yesterday afternoon
between the city officials over the water
contract, and the many difficulties sur
rounding it, it at last looks as If the
tangled skein is being slowly but surely
unwound. and Mr.. Flynn, the Jersey City
Water Supply Company, the East Jersey
Water Company and the Mayor and Al
dermen of Jersey City all know what
They're up against to use popular
phrase.
The situation is this: Mr.. Flynn prom
ised to supply Jersey City with water by
February Is, 1902 He hasn't done It. The
works he promised to turn over then are
not half finished He has asked for an
extension of time. The city on the other
hand has been considering the enforce
ment of the 500 per day penalty for nom
completion of the works as well as the
necessary time. and over that there have
been several conferences during which
many varying opinions have been aired.
Yesterday, however. the matter crys-
tallized itself into a proposition by the
Street and Water Board, whicA body, ac-
cording to the run of things in this city,
would first have to grant the request Of
Nj. Flynn.
That Board is willing to grant an ex-
tension of the contract to Mr., Flynn and
waive the question of liquidated dam
ages provided
The contract having virtually expired.
Mr. Flynn must supply water to Jersey
City until the works at Beonton are ti1l-
ished at an annual cost not exceeding
what Jersey City would have to pay as
interest on the water bonds fioated for
the purchase Of the works.
In the contract Jersey City is to pay
81. .5s5. 600 for the plant when completed.
-Four, per cent interest on that amount
would mean over 100000 annual charge
Today the city is paying for its tempor-
airy supply from the East Jersey Water
Company sS5 a million gallons for an
average daily supply of ss2, 100000. The
years charges would mean over 100000.
SO that under the plan proposed to Mr..
Flynn the city would be buying water at
about SIG million gallons until the works
are completed Had the Rockaway River
supply been turned on February 2S last
Jersey City, until she bought the plant,
contracted to pay Mr.. Flynn sS6 a million
gallons. The difference between SIG and
sS6 while just the thing for Jersey City,
will certainly be as agreeable TO Mr..
Flynn. But this proposition, it Is said,
will offset the waiver to the claim for
liquidated damages.
SO then the proposition is now before
the Mayor and the Finance Board. and
what they will do with it demains to be
seen at a conference to be held on Nom
day afternoon with Mr.. Flynn's repre-
sentative.
In the history of the water controversy
the Street and Water Board demanded the
views of the Mayor before they took any
action The Mayor demanded that the
Street and Water Board take the initia-
tive and refer their conclusions to him for
final action. Hhus they stood. each de-
manding to see the hand of the other, and
both accusing the other OF playing poll
tics. This was the situation on Wedncs-
dav afternoon when a public conference
was held and it was decided to hold pri-
yate conference. yesterday with the result
stated
This conference on Monday with Mr..
FLYNN or his representatives, is looked
upon a decisive step forward Mayor
Fagan himself is more satisfied than ever
with the state of affairs He was asked
this morning:
rs there anything to say publiealiy
about water?"
Nothing"
was the conference long one?"
yes 1t lasted until almost o'clock.
1t was called at O'Clock
"Do the prospects seem any better than
heretofore"
Yes, much better
The city is urged to take action on the
question of extending the time Of the
contractor as soon as possible. It IS also
urged to state whether or not it will
make new contract for a temporary sup
ply after october l next. when the pres
ent contract ceases. It is pointed out
that the mains at present carrying the
water to this city are taxed to their ut
most capacity now and by next October
new mains will have to be laid TO meet
the increase that viii be necessary in the
amount of water supplied These new
mains, the East Jersey Water Company
saws. it will not lay unless new con-
tract is made for the temporary supp'y
and the extension OF time granted 10
Flynn without the collection Of the pen-
atty of $500 day.