The Jersey City news., 1906-08-18

From the same Board
Transmitting resolution passed by said
Board July IL, 1906, and approved by
he Mayor July 16, 1906
Resolved, That the Board of Finance
hereby concurs in the following resolu-
ton adopted by the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners June 25, 1906, as
follows. to wit:
Resolved. That the specifications pre-
sented by the Chief Engineer on this
date for the construction of stairs for
Congress street, Jersey City, to Eighth
street, Hoboken. be and are hereby
adopted and ordered filed and the Clerk
of this Board is hereby directed to adj
vertise for proposals in conformity there
with.
Received and ordered filed.
From the City Clerk
Transmitting copy of resolution passed
by the Board of Aldermen, at its meet
ing held on July g, 1906. as follows. to
wit
''That the Clerk of this Board be in
structed to request the Board of Street
and Water Commissioners to place signs
at all corners of the streets of Jersey
City for the benefit of the citizens and
the public at large"
Received and referred to the Commit
tee on Streets and Sewers.
FROM the water ASSESSOR
Submitting lists Of additions and can
cellations for the week ending July LII.
1906.
Received and ordered filed.
From the Clerk
Jersey City, N. j.. July 16, 1906.
To the Hon., the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners
Gentlemen
The work of placing the Water De
partment on a paying basis has been
proceeded with to an extent which now
warrants the prediction that with prompt
action, and the exercise of vigilance,
economy and care, the desired end can
be attained
As heretofore outlined to you. my ulti-
mate purpose was to cause the installa-
ton of meters throughout the entire city,
and with this purpose in view | have
caused to be instituted an investigation
of those meters which record large CON
sumption, and the prediction noted above
is based on the findings already made,
which though covering but a fractional
portion Of our plant, indicate an increas-
ed income on the same output of be-
tween one hundred and two hundred dol
lars per day, and this, / believe to be a
conservative estimate
The reason for this finding can be
traced to various causes, one of which
has been the failure te-detect inaccurate
and imperfect meters, and another, the
incorrect readings Of same.
The work of investigation and examin-
alton OF the lesser meters and the force
engaged therein. has not yet been com
pleted. Enough has been adduced, how
ever, to justify the statement that until
our present plant is restored to a salts
FACTORY condition it would seem the yer
lest folly to propose general installa-
tlon OF new meters until we evidence our
aDillty to properly care for those we al
ready have.
Attention has also been given to a
lumber OF other matters, some of which.
Ihough comparatively small, are none the
ess irksome, and which, in part. are Of
| character that can be- and have been.
DIRECTED oH-hand yet embrace others 81
much mareriality. but are of such ma
| -ufe that they require gradual correction
| .hecked or hampered.
The misuse of fire hydrants has hoo,
10Th irksome and costly, and a n,np !.
1 low in process of preparation iniicatina
very pipe line and hydrant and gate ii
he city, each of which latter shall have
numbered designation so that RESPONSE
'ilify for breaking and use of water car
| ,e established or minimized.
| TN assuming charge it was auckl,
made apparent that our employees wer,
argely engaged in repairing hylrant
,roken by those who either had no au
n0rity to Use them or were careless ii
their use, and temporary correction
Eas at once instituted whereby respon
'ibility was established and the author
u the trouble billed for the cost.
Methods have been adopted whereof,
Kept and recorded every day. tn
ioings Of each employe in the pipe lay
ng and repairing branch. and the cos
% the department of each piece of pip
AID. as well as the income and outgo Q
supplies. ,''-s' - . :
The cost Of pipe laying done by th,
department. with Its own employees, an
gears to be wholly disproportionate {,
hat laid by contract, and l would
therefore. suggest that this branch h
cut to include only sufficient main
teranee force consisting of NOT more thai
eighteen OF twenty men paid. as far a
possible, on monthly basis.