Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-08-14

the construction of the water plant
of this city.
Mr.. Rossi said for water works use.
the Fountain land, in his opinion.
was o worth over 800 an acre,
also that the cost of establishing a
pumping station on the Fountain land
by a rival company is not to be con-
sidered, as it would be almost impos-
sible for a plant to be built on the
thirty acre tract. He also said it is
in his opinion not probable hat a ri
val plant would wen pay $4,000 for
the thirty-two acre tract and estab-
lish q water works there.
The city could sink wells and get
the water from the land anyway
without purchasing it, said Mr.. Ros-
hsi.
Cross Examination.
In spite of the efforts of Willard
p. Voorhees, to break Mr.. Rossi's tes-
timony, the fact that the land was of
any use for any other company could
not be sustained.
This was one of the of the
board for the intended land purchase,
they claiming that if they did not Sc
cure it some other company might.
James Growney, a well known res
| ident of this city, was then called.
1.-The land at Runyon is worth, in
my opinion, about 800 an acre" said
he. -Four hundred and seventy
| acres purchased in the past by the
board only cost $4,000, and l do
not think the present tract could pos
sibly be worth more than three times
the former land, which was purchas-
| ed for $50 an acre"
Former Commissioner Johan Jen-
sen next took the stand and gave his
| opinion as to the value of the Foun-
tain tract. 81 think $50 is enough
for it," said he.
Clerk of the Board Adam Eckert
was asked to give the minutes of a
previous meeting to verify Mr.. Voor-
hees' and Mr.. McCullough's testi-
mony. Judge Lyon said he wanted it
in the form of testimony.
The meeting in question was held
March 2, 1904, at which time a road
question was involved.
n uullDCl VI DlOlOSil dBll's tbhtD w
| William Major, were examined and
offered as evidence, they being views
of the land in question. These were
placed in evidence to be used in the
final proceedings before Vice Chan
cellor Pitney, when the testimony of
today's hearing and the hearing last
week is presented to him.
T1or1y Lrobort Of tba hoard moc 70
quired to produce a number of letters
from the Board of Freeholders, and
, also some from Asbury Fountain,
which were placed in evidence. After
further questioning of Mr.. Eckert
and a short cross examination by
| Special Counsel Voorhees, and City
Attorney Hommann, Judge Adrian
Lyon declared the testimony complet-
| ed and after a session of almost three
hours the hearing vas adjourned.
The result of today's hearing is a
decided success for the citizens who
retained Judge Adrian Lyon to rep
resent them in the question of the
/ water board purchasing a tract of
land from James and Asbury Foun-
tain for the sum of SIS, 500. All to-
days testimony brought out facts
that have not been disclosed at the
| previous meeting.
President C~onvery's statement,
81 wouldn't pay a cent more than
$1,000 for the tract; Commissioner
Voorhees, objection and opinion of
the deal; Mr.. Rossi's, Mr.. McCul-
lough's, and Mr.. Jensen's figures in
| regard to the value of the land, all
have about the same fixed price.
Another point in favor of the citi-
zens is the testimony of Mr.. Ludi,
clerk of the tax board of Madison
township, VINO showed Oh his records
that the land was only assessed for
800 for twenty-five acres.
Patrick Convery, president of the
water board, Auguste Rossi, and Mr..
Davidson, three other witnesses who
had been s%ubpoenaed, we're not called
to testify.
Master in Chancery Kinsey's stem
! ographer took down all the state
ments made, which will be presented
to Vice Chancellor Pitney next Tues
day, at Newark. From the present
| outlook only one course is open for
| the vice chancellor, and it is believed
by many who were present that the
water board will not be allowed to
make their intended purchase.
All the witnesses today gave clear
| testimony and Commissioner Voor-
hees' statements gave a new view to
many facts that were, until today, not
| clear as to their meaning.
After Judge Lyon had declared the
testimony closed, the two eounsels
: for the board confirmed his stand.