The Jersey City news., 1906-02-05
NEW wATER MAINS


property in the sections affected we
eventually secured the appropriation of
moneys. for the augmenting of water
mains in localities where seemed the
greatest need and two contracts were
awarded for rhe work.
The contract designated Newark
Avenue ETC., Main covers much the
larger territory, and will consequently
affect the greater population comprised
in the lower city and the Lafayette, Ber-
gen and Greenville sections. As the re-
suit of that portion of the work already
completed, the cid city is already ex-
periencing the benefit of increased pres
sure. and when the entire work is I'm
ished (which we apprehend will be in the
early spring. and We are thereby per-
mitted to allow an unQiverted flow of
water to the Bergen and Greenyille sec
lions We confidently expect that there
will exist no reasonable claim of insuffi-
eient supply.
Tie work under contract designated
Summit Avenue Main'' which is intend
ed to relieve the upper Hudson City High
Service section, is completed and in use
1t has already greatly benefited this sec
ton, which benefit will for any possible
requirements of house service be full
and complete when the city shall have
assumed control and charge of it's new
water works and is thereby enabled to
govern the pressure of water delivery.
Aside from that accommodation afford
ed householders in the locations afore
referred to, there should be re-
duction of insurance rates to those
work was shown to be necessary.
In the upper Hudson City section
this reduction should be immediate as
the fire provision is already ample and
the same result should closely follow in
the Bergen and Greenyille sections upon
10 Aleaftr 81 Af hn
work which affects that section.
NEW WATER WORKS.
1t will be remembered that without
formal tender to this Board and while
proper questions of such compliance
with specifications in the physical char
acter of the work were being considered
and even while the greater question of
safeguarding the sanitary condition of
supply was being daily examined into.
and action taken under the guidance of
this Board for the removal or ameliora-
tion of sources of contafninafiofi, the con
tractor for the new works, with but a
few hours previous notice to us, turned
on the new supply. This being at yari-
anee with our interpret tation of the con-
tract, new legal difference was thus
preeipitated with result that while no
/ final determination has been reached. the
Beard has chosen TO indicate a legal ac-
/ ceptance of the works. leaving the QueS-
| tion as to what, if any, rebate on con-
| tract price shall be deducted for short
comings in performance. Predieating
| that the works had been completed as
aforesaid, and accepted, question then
arose as to how payment should be
made, the Company claiming its right
| to bill and be paid for water by the mil
| lion gallons, the City insisting that hav-
| ing accepted the works on a forced ten
| der, it was responsible only for the
L. IL
tions for deficiencies, and pending the
| final court settlement of this later dis
| putation a temporary decision has been
/ made by the Vice-ChaeelIor whereby we
| are now paying the contractors without
| prejudice to either INTEREST," four per
cent emf A%) ea% ~ on the -o contract ont price of
| for the care and maintenance of the
works. over which they yet assume con-
| troll.
When the end will be reached. or what
| the eventual outcome will be- is wholly
| matter of guesswork, but the unsettled
conditions serve in the meantime to re-
| tard or wholly negative that revision of
rates and other concurrent action which
appears necessary to the placing of the
| water department on a practical busi-
nesslike basis.
! PARKS.
Aside from the fact that the usual and
customary care has been given the parks
aud that there has been no deteriora ton,
| there is nothing worthy of the recording
except that moneys have been provided
| for the improving of the heretofore un-
used portion of Reservoir No.s3, and its
conversion into a public playground for
| the benefit of the youth of this section
The improvement is now being proceeded
| with as rapidly as the season will permit
of and will doubtless be completed and
ready for use in the early summer
| A PRACTICAL MANIFESTATION
| OF PUBLIC SPIRIT.
One of the pleasing occurrences of the
I year was the presentation to the city by
! Cornelius Zabriskie, Esq, of a plot Of
| ground adjoining Public School No. 9.
! This gentleman was for many years an
| actual resident and his business interests
yet remain largely with us. The active
interest which he has always shown in
matters which made for the welfare of
this community has in this gift been
made substantially manifest The plot
which consists of twenty-five (22) city
| lots, is purposed for playground for the
youth Of the city and we have awarded
\ a contract comprehending its improve
ment on those lines.
SOUTH COVE PROPERTY.
| We are able to record no change in
/ the conditions which existed last year,
/ conditions which have existed, materi-
l . y
/ That municipal holding of such appa-
rent value should be allowed to remain
| for upwards of quarter of century
| as an unpr0ductive property, naturally
/ suggests inquiry as to why this is so.
This asset is nominally in our charge; we
| say nominally, because while we are
charged by law with its control and care,
there have been absolutely no moneys
| provided us for its improv ement From
| time to time business men of our city
1 combination of interests have endeayor-
| or all of the grant, but We could nor
treat with them definitely or conclusively
| for the reason that deterring legal OBJ
/ several times in the past decade and DUR
ecutives. devised plans for tle improve
along lines which appeared 10 US as
| promising well for City interests. but for
| the same reasons our efforts came to
nearer a settlement of fhe legal diff.cul-
ties which seem to have been injected in
| the case than we were years ago
1t is our belief that the City, through
rs law officers, should concentrate it's
efforts and tenaciously and persistently
| carry this. case TO conclusion. Our
| supposed holding can either be made q
valuable asset or IFS illnsiye character so
established that we will no longer be
| able to fool ourselves
ENGINEERING BUREAU.
/ The work Of this bureau being Of such