The Jersey City news., 1906-08-15
TILL Z AssS 4 aisEli 4 u Il q M ls 81

This branch has been given not a lltti
attention and thought. with view I
the correction or amelioration of col
ditions which have long appealed to th
the day are now paid only when seryic
is actually rendered. CONSTRUCTION
now separate from maintenance SO thai
at the end of a given period it can be
told how much we have added to the
capital value of our plant and how much
maintenance costs US.
The question of removingSuppiiesf from
pipe yard, when they are unsatisfactori.
ly protected, to the Wayne Street stable,
which affords better facilities, was taken
up, but its settlement has been held in
abeyance until it is definitely known
whether the stable is to be utilized for
other municipal purposes.
The correction of arrearages of water
rentals, at my direction, now being pro-
ceeded with, and it is expected that by
November first, prox., they will have
practically ceased to exist.
The free use of water by the schools
and charities, ets., and our inability to
more than guess as to the volume so
consumed, has also been taken up.
though conclusion has not yet been reach
ed The legality of this gratuity is ques-
tionable, and | have indited a circular
letter to be sent to the various benefi-
Charles, requesting that pending a settle-
ment of our legal ability to furnish water
without cost meter shall be installed
at their expense, whereby we can at
least know the quantity we give away.
If it is subsequently ascertalned that we
are doing something without warrant of
law, the cost of water installation should
be made good to the consumer.
The investigation of the supplying of
water through meter to our large CONSUME
ers and heretofore referred to, produced
such startling results, and was of such
Importance, that to the partial exclusion
of many other matters, much time was,
and is, being devoted to the subject
1t will be remembered that during the
past eighteen months. the department
has at cost of more than one hundren
and twenty-seven thousand dollars ($12I,-
00O) been engaged in laying two new
water main systems. one for increasing
the supply and pressure in the upper
Hudson City section, which system is
now completed and in use; the other for
same purpose. to benefit the lower city
and Lafayette section, which is expected
to be completed and in use within cou-
PIE of weeks. The cost of these two sys-
TENS being borne, not by Water Account,
but being paid for out of fund provided
by a general bond isue and the actual
work being done by contract outside of
the department, it was reasonable TO
expect that our own force had been
meanwhile, engaged in laying that lesser
quantity of pipe required to keep pace
with our natural requirements, and while
the pay rolls during the period noted will
indicate a very substantial expenditure.
sufficiently substantial to warrant belief
that the necessities of service had been
provided for, it would now appear that
such belief was not well founded.
1t was likewise reasonable to expect
that, anticipating the completion of the
two main systems heretofore noted, pro-
per care would have been taken to pro-
vide against that waste which such com
pletion foreshadowed. This has not been
done
1t is confidently predicted that
Newark Avenue main system, our con-
sumption will indicate an immediate in
crease of three to five million gallons
daily, for which we will have to pay III
the Water Company's insistment is
maintained by the Courts thirty-fiye dol.
lars $3.50 per million, or total of from
one hundred and FIVE dollars ($105) to
one hundred and seventy-ive ($175) per
day in excess of what we are now charg-
ed with while the return to the city
would be perhaps but ten (10 per cent?
there would be increased waste by reason
of the increased pressure nor is this all,
our daily output would aggregate rather
more than forty million gallons. which is
not only tremendous and almost Bnpar-
alieled per capita consumption, but repre-
sents more than four-fifths of the entire
capacity of our new works.
With the object of at least a partial
correction of water waste, | have direct
ed that house to house canvass be
made of the entire city, in order to de-
tect leaky service pipes and fixtures, and
have them repaired and kept in order by
the owner. with the alternative of shut
ting off the supply.
This action will result in the continual
engagement of some employees whose SER
vices would have, otherwise, been super
tluous. but even the initial and direct
m0ney-saving to the department should
at least, treble the cost of inspection.
If retrenchment is necessary. if econo-
mics are required land the language of
the resolution designating me as Execu-
tive Head of this department either
means that. or it means nothing) then /
would fail in my duty to you, and like
wise in the duty which / owe to the pub
lie and to myself if / neglected to direct
your attention to the necessity for a
curtailment in the number of employees
now indicated on the various pay-rolls
Il the department | can but suggest
i is for you to give those suggestions
that vitality which viii emphasize them,
md thus assure me that the responsible
ity which. without my solicitation, you
nave vested in me, is a responsibility not
shifted. but shared.
| would first suggest that all pipe lay
ing be done by contract. 1t can be done
much more expeditiously, and at dis
tinct saving. | am further prepared to
now indicate to you what reductions can,
IN my Judgment. be made in the various
pay-rolls of the department at the pres
ent time and in the near future, whereby
can be saved to tbe department annually
aetWeen twenty and twenty-five thou
sand dollars.
In rendering account of my steward
ship, L have refrained from recounting
the many obstacles which have injected
themselves to retard progress, and the
petty annoyances which had to be put
aside.
The past month has been one of hard.
earnest and conscientious work to bring
about better condition of things in
the doing of which no thought has been
given to self. No question Of politics nor
personal feeling has been permitted to
have weight in arriving at DECISIONS
As to the general result, while progress
has undoubtedly been made. it's measure
not satisfactory to me, nor can | bt
satisfied until, as the result of the find
ngs. correctives are Instituted and thS
resultant benefit begins to make itseli
aDDarenf