The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-07-20
SEE NO DANGER
ORANGE OFFICIALS ARE
SATISFIED.
Councilman Davis Joins others in De-
claring That Water Situation
Is Alarming.

After careful investigation of the con-
dItions at the Orange watershed In Mill
burn yesterday. Councilman Thomas A.
Davis, minority leader of the Orange Com
mon Council, and member Of the water
committee. arrived at the conclusion that
there is no danger at this time of
threatened shortage in the supply. Mayor
Shoenthal also visited the watershed and
voiced his criticism of certain things, but
would not say he considered a water
famine imminent.
Mr.. Davis. as told In THE EVENING
STAR yesterday. went to Campbell's Pond
In. company with City Engineer Frederick
T. Crane and Water Superintendent Isaac
N. Travis, both Of Orange. owing to re-
ports that the water in the pond was
again dropping, and in the absence Of
Chairman Edward S. Perry, of the wa
ter committee. who Is leader of the ma
jority in the Council, Mr.. Davis made an
extended and thorough investigation. To
a reporter after his return he said he found
conditions satisfactory at the place. The
reservoir had a large supply Of water i'm
pounded and he felt sure there was no
danger of a possible famine. Mr.. Davis
did not speak Of any leaks
Mayor Shoenthal, of Orange, said today
that he visited the water works yesterday
while Councilman Davis and other city Of
=
him, he said, that the water was going
down four inches a day. The Mayor
continued:
"A mistake was made when the dam
was not repaired last fall. The work
should not have been delayed, and the
pond would not have been emptied this year,
as was done. The water question is serious
/ one l have received several complaints s
| from Ridge street residents who complain
of the lack of service there. 1t is to be
regretted that the rights of way were
not secured last year; The delays IN Sc
next year, | am afraid.
1.-The lower part of the reservoir is dry
in places, and Il was reported TO me that
| the pond since June s. The rain today Will
be very helpful intend to see that active
measures are taken to conserve the water
supply that there may be no shortage"
AS last years experience caused the
committee no end of concern 1t was de-
cided yesterday by Councilmen Davis and
Romine to make personal Investigations
of conditions instead of relying upon the
reports given by the various men who are
employed at the water works which are
located a considerable distance from the
city OF Orange. The water committee mem
bers sir ce last years experience have been
visiting the upper reservoir and Camp
bells Pond with regularity during the
pleasant weather. While the failure TO
complete the proposed changes to the sys-
| the water committee, plans for perfect
| service conditions at the watershed have
| improved considerably over last year.
There still remains the problem. of caring
| for the volumes of water precipitated Into
| the storage basins during the year as
the old leaky dam, while patched up SC
well, that in the opinion of City Engineer
i Crane the city is now saving one million
gallons of water a day that was preyi
ously lest is still in an unsatisfactory
| condition.
Nearly 5000 has been spent Of late Il
fixing up leaks but until the dam !
water tight TO a rock bottom foundation
or the present masonry Is reconstruct II
| with supplementary improvements th'
water will run away to the river below
This situation will have to be met som'
time, and until 1t is properly solved th'
leakage of considerable quantities of watel
will be big factor to be reckoned with
Superintendent Travis. of the Orange
Water Department, reported that at
| o'clock Yesterday afternoon there was
| eight feet two inches of water in the
well at Campbell's pond whence water
Is pumped through the mains. When the
water is running over the Campbell S
Pond dam the depth of the well is four
| teen feet