Perth Amboy evening news., 1909-06-17
A Commissioner.
Tells Of His
Position.
MEETING

! Duncan J. Currie did not appear hes
fore the water board last night to exs
plain why he had not completed his cons
tract for removing the abandoned sYxs
teen-inch water main from the Raritan
river although, at the previous session
of the commissioners motion was ears
ried instructing the clerk to notify Mr..
Currie to that effect.
Commissioner Snedeker said that he
had conversed with Mr. Currie in th4
afternoon and that the contractor had
stated that his counsel, Robert Adrainf
had sent letter to Mayor Bollschweile1
in regard to the matter-and that tha
board would probably receive 1t fronS
the mayor later Mr.. Snedeker added
that Mr.. Currie said the water board
owed him for some work done several
years ago and that he would not sets
tie until the board settled with him.
Mr. Currie, the commissioner continued,
said he was willing 10 adjust the mattet
in a friendly way if possible, or would
take it to court if necessary. Mr.. Cur<
rie also told Mr.. Snedeker that he could
remove the rest of the main from thu
river any time he wanted too, but thak
as the market was not good for pipe at
this time, and as after being ont Of tho
water several weeks the pipe deteriorats
ed and took on a sort of reddish color,
he was waiting until the market was
better, when he would then take up the
rest Of the pipe and sell it immediately
The contractor also told the commission,
er that he could settle swith the board
at once for the pipe in the river, bus
felt that an offset was due him, on acs
count of his old claim.
President Clark told Mr.. SnedekeR
that the counter claim dated several
years back and that when the contrac{
tor sued the board for the amount Of
the work, it was non-suited. Commis3
sioner Snedeker said that Mr. Curri6
had told him about the matter and des
clared that he found out at the time
that the water board could not be sued,
and that any suit must be brought
against the city, for which reason his
+, counsel sent a communication in req
gard to the present matter to the mayo1
Several Of the commissioners remarks
ed that evidently Mr.. Currie intended
to deal with the city in the matter il
preference to the board.
VIII Confer with M. ourrie.
After the matter had bes6 talsAsQrQnghly
I discussed, on motion Of Commiss{of5es
Haney it was decided that Rresidenf
Clark, Commissioners Snedeker. CitT
Engineer Mason and City ATTORNEY
Hommann should meet with Mr. Currid
+ and his counsel and try to settle the
matter without legal proceedings They
were at first in favor of instructinp the
city attorney to proceed against Mr.,
lCurrie for a settlement on the pine bub.
N t5a IF to 20 {bct toIJ
ibnedeker that he was willing to settle
in friendly way, took the foregoing
action.
From the remarks of several of the
commissioners last night it is not likely
that the board will pay Mr.. Currie q
counter claim and in case the committa
fails to reach an agreement with him
over the matter, the city attorney will
be notified to begin action Immediately
for the payment for the 166 lengths of
pipe in the main which the board sold
him over a year ago for So a length
and two and a half cents pound for
the lead in the joints. The board still
has the contractor certified check for
81 900 and as they claim he has had
plenty of time to take up the main.
want the purchase money due them.
In regard to the Runyon land matter
| Chairman Fraser of the real estate com.
mittee reported that in accordance with
a recent resolution of the hoard the
committee had ascertained what land
was needed to increase the supply and
had conferred with the city attorney
in regard to securing it. The city att
torney, he said, went to Trenton to see
Justice Bergen last week, to find Out
who owns the land which the board
wants, but found him busy, Mr. Fraser
tdded that Mr.. Hommann said he would
go to Newark today to see Justice Ber-
gen about the matter. Commissioners
Fraser and Haney said that they had
again heard that the Fountains had pur.
chased the twenty acre Davidson tract,
President Clark said that he also heard
the report again but did not know
whether it was true. Commissioner
Haney asked How are we going to
find out if it is trueRV
Substitute Fireman
On recommendation Of Superinten.
dent Crowell it was decided to employ
an extra fireman at Runyon for six
weeks SO that the three engineers and
three fremen may have vacations The
board will allow those who have been
employed over one year ten days va
The matter of having the ground
storage wells at Runyon inspected and
cleaned and an abandoned well put In
condition was discussed. On motion il
was decided to ask Contractor Bennett,
of Bemar, who drove the wells, to
meet the board at the next committed
session.
Want Main in Cornell Street.
petition signed by Carl Albert and
seven others was received, asking that a
water main be laid in Cornell street,
from Lawrie street to Brace avenue,
and in the two latter streets Mr. ALI
bert and John johnson submitted thu
petition in person and said that proper<
ity owners could not get any tenants foH
their houses on the streets, as people
would not rent them unless city watet
was installed. Mr. johnson said sim4
iilar petition was presented year ago.
The question was referred to the eoml
mittee on pipe.
CONTINUED on page Al