The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-10-14
CALL ON FORT TO
AID IN FIGHT ON
WATER OCTOPUS
Battle to Preserve States Rights
Begun in Earnest at Big
Meeting.
NEWARK AND JERSEY
CITY JOIN in WAR
Adopt Resolutions Through
Which 1t Is Proposed to En-
list Help Of Governor.

At a meeting held in the Mayors
office in Jersey City today at which
were present representatives of the city
governments of Newark and Jersey
City. it was agreed that the mayors of
Newark and Jersey City at once wait
on Governor Fort and get his ideas on
the proposition of a special session of
the Legislature for the purpose of curb
ing the East Jersey Water Company
IN its diversion of State waters The
resolution has a proviso that in the
event of the Governor not seeing the
necessity of special session of the
Legislature at this time he be invited
to- conference to be held In the New
ark City Hall, to which will be invited
representatives of both city govern
nents
1t was also agreed at today's meeting
TO send circular letters to the boards of
trade in both Newark and Jersey City,
asking them to cooperate in the fight to
conserve the waters of the State. Mayor
Wittpenn, of Jersey City, said he would
get in communication at once with
Mayor Haussling, Of Newark. and seek
an Interview with Governor Fort.
City Counsel James r. Nugent, OF
Newark, advised that the sonly way 20
fight the water octopus is to get a spe-
cial act, which will provide that SUBJ
surface water will not be diverted. He
said that while the street and water
board of Jersey City might gain a tenn
porary advantage In tearing up pipes
the sure way of curbing the monopoly
and saving the waters of the State is
special act of the Legislature, the pres
ent legislation being inadequate.
City Counsel Nugent got to the may
or's Office In Jersey City early, going
by train. The other members OF the
Newark party went in an automobile.
In this party were City Engineer. Morris
r. Sherrerd and Board of Works Com.
n,issioners Eggers, Budd, Denman and
lambert. Jersey city was represented
by Mayor H. Otto Wittpenn, president of
the Board OF Street and Water Com
missioners John J. Heavey, who Is lead
ing the fight in Jersey City; Street and
Water Commissioners Brackner, Finke
and Carlock, superintendent of the Jer-
sey City Water Department John w.
Griffin, Chief Engineer Charles A. Van
Keuren and Water Registrar Charles K.
Hart.
city Engineer Sherrerd opened the
discussion by stating that, while Jersey
city might harass and fight the East
Jersey Water Company, where 1t wants
to lay its pipes, tl.r city of Newark Is
In no position to wage such cam
paign, due to the fact that none of the
conpany's pipes entered the city of
Newark. He said that the city of New
ark had no jurisdiction over Beileville
Commissioner Heavey said that the
Jersey City officials were under the i'm
preston that the East Jersey Water
Company would have to cross streets
In Newark.
There Is no question that something
should be done to curb the water
monopoly" said Mayor Wittpenn
"What we want to find out is just what
is best TO be done"
Superintendent Griffin said that the
fight should be made by publicity He
said that there should be, shown
public demand for a special session of
the Legislature. 1t should also be
shown, he declared, that unless the
water monopoly Is checked at once. the
northern part of the State will be with
out sufficient water supply in the
years to come.
city Engineer Sherrerd said the only
JuhIluCdbAOn tlidt COoid pC SHONh ny
the East Jersey Water Company for
taking water from the state would be
q promise from New York State to
supply New Jersey with water, which
he thought a remote possibility. He
said that If in the years to come New
Jersey should want the water that will
be diverted by the East Jersey Water
Company, it will be hard to get it back
owing to the vested rights the COM
pany will then have.
Now is the time for action" said
Mr.. Sherrerd "The State Water Sup
ply Commission is advised by the at
torney- general. Under the existing
state laws there is nothing to prevent
the East Jersey Water Company from
using sub-surface water. There is no
specific statute which prevents the
company from taking this ground water
from the State M
Mr. Sherrerd said that while the
Jersey City. authorities might harass
the company for time, the company
had certain corporate rights and 1t
might get court injunction to pre-
vent Jersey City from interfering with
Its pipe lines.
CITY Counsel Nugent here stated that
legislation is needed and at once.
s'The only solution of this problem"
said Mr. Nugent, is immediate legls-
lation."
Commissioner Heayey urged the for
nation OF strong organization to wait
on the Governor at once. Commissioner
Eggers suggested broadening the fight
by getting the boards of trade of New
ark and Jersey City interested
Commissioner Lambert then offered a
resolution which was unanimously
i. adopted. asking the mayors of Jersey
City and Newark to at once wait on Gov
ernor Fort and get his views on spe-a
cial session Of the Legislature. II that
interview Is not successful the Gov
ernor will be invited to attend con-
terence to be held in the Newark City
HAL at which will be present represent
atives OF both city governments and
tConfinued ON second Psse.)
Krnut Cutters.
Aacknet 4 Dorenus Co.. 7s6 -7as Broad st ADV.