Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-08-14
MORE FACTS ABOUT
WATER BOARD DEAL.
CONTINUED from Page -
yes, we were,' was the reply.

Yes, we were, was the reply.
Mr.. Voorhees, also said that he
thought the price was exorbitant and
told the board so at a committee
meeting.
you have a sufficient supply of
water?" was questioned.
I'VE have" said Mr.. Voorhees,, F"
and l cant sec why the land is worth
so much money"
A controversy over the South Am
boy supply was held, Mr.. Voorhees,
stating that the borough used 200,-
600 gallons a day, and Perth Amboy
about 100000 gallons a day.
Counsellor Voorhees, then asked
for the population of Perth Amboy,
with a view of showing the increase
of consumption OF water in the past
few years.
The witness said that the purchase
of the Fountain tract would not, in
his opinion, greatly increase the wat
er supply.
In reply to a number of questions
about the water supply Mr.. Voorhees,
said that the well question, as yet, is.
only an experiment.
did you refuse to vote for the
land purchase at the conference on
June 2d?"
Il did," said Mr.. Voorhees,. 81
would not favor the purchase at those
figures. | also told the board to pur-
chase it if they wanted to. am only
one. We want the vote unanimous,
said the board. l then refused"
Mr.. Ludi, clerk of Madison town
ship, was then called and presented
the tax duplicates Of 1904-1905 and
showed the amounts assessed at Run
yon during those years. James Foun-
tain, twenty-five acres, valued at
500; all the other valuations being
of similar amounts.
Samuel ]. Mason, engineer for the
water board, then gave testimony.
Mr.. Mason was asked about the Foun-
tain land by Judge Lyon, and describ-
ed the tract in question, saying that
although he had been engineer of
the board for two and one-half years,
he was not prepared to place a value
on the land per acre, not having made
sufficient explorations of the land.
On being further questioned by
Judge Lyon, Mr.. Mason said the land
was worth for water works purposes
about 5000 an acre, on account of
the nearness of it to the pumping sta
ton.
Mr.. Mason said he had not told Mr..
Voorhees, anything in regard to the
value of the land, at least he did not
remember so doing.
Further questioning revealed that
the land was considered worth more
than previous land on account of the
property being adjacent to the pump
ing station, being the most central of
all the land, the city now owning
land all around the Fountain tract.
Mr.. Mason contended that 5000, 900
gallons a day more supply could be
added to the present flow with the
new purchase.
"How much would it cost to estab-
lish a pumping station on this tract
to be purchased?'' was asked.
"About 100000" said Mr.. Ma
son. 1--WE could then supply Sayre-
vile and South Amboy, together with
other municipalities with the increas-
ed supply said the engineer.
Cross Examination.
Mr.. Mason was requested by Will
lard P. Voorhees, to state the differ
ence between the ground storage sys-
TEN and artesian well water. The
fact that Mr.. Mason had advised the
board to continue the installing of
the present system, was a result of
the successful experiments made by
him.
A map of the plant was explained
by the engineer, showing the differ
ent tracts now owned by the city. The
engineer was also requested to give a
full explanation of the plant at Run
yon.
In the cross examination it was
brought out that Old Bridge, a near
by town, might be supplied in the
near future.
About one-third of the Fountain
tract is covered with water at pres
ent, said the engineer. He said his
estimate as to the value of the land
to the city was only a guess.
James G. Rossi was then called. He
said he was a graduate of the Central
school, of Paris, France, and was a
civil engineer by profession, having
built a number of water works, and
was also at one time connected with