Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1910-01-03
REPORT URGES
! STATE TO BLOCK
WATER STEAL
Commission Recommends Legis-
IatiOn to Check transmits
sion Of Potable Supply.
WANT 1T PLACED UNDER
| THEIR JURISDICTION
|Passaic Valley Best Starting for
Proposed System Of
Conservation.
[speeIal to the Newarl. slar.l


TRENTON, Jan. g. Submitting in
:. formation which tends to show neces-
sIity OF some Immediate legislative ac-
aon for the conservation of tie potable
vater supply of New eJrsey, the State
Water Supply Commission has pre-
pared its third annual report. in which
t recommends that the incoming Leg
islature enact as soon as possible laws
to prevent the transmission out of the
State by pipes. conduits or otherwise
of subsurface or underground water,
also, that such water be placed under
the jurisdiction of the commission
These recommendations are aimed di-
rectly 1t the water companies that are
now endeavoring to divert New Jersey
water to New York by underground
pipes.
The report recites that the commis-
sion has made a thorough study Of the
subject of water conservation, more
PARTICULARLY with reference to the
tnorthern part of New Jersey, and the
Testimony of engineers to the commits
ksion has been that The Passaic VAL
nv, with its unsurpassed natural ad-
antages and purity of its water, was
le system of State conservation OF
lotable waters. which could be event.
kpallyl extended from Sussex to Cape
lay" In this connection the commits
ion stands boldly for the creation OF
water district. or districts. and in this
ielation says ''the Inauguration of any
plantfor the storage of water in adc-
Hri,atc reservoirs, from which 1t may be
istfibuted as the growing needs of the
hublic demand, must be deferred until
he creation of n District The report
Continues:
1.-THE necessity and wisdom for SO do
lg at an early date has been clearly
emonstrated more than once during
he year last past from the facts dis
losed during hearings ON applications
onsfdfrei by THIS commissions. The
lost Important and deaifAala source
water supplies In the Passaic Vat
IS, which has not vet been acquired
municipalities or private corporr-
pms and is, therefore. in u qualificu
nse under the control OF this commits
IN. s that furnished by the Wanaque
YER"
The commission recites the numerous,
forts that have been made by cities
N the North Jersey section to corner
this water. It does not blame these
nunicipalities, but says the fact that
here have been refusals of grants
sas based on the contingency that the
living of grants would turn over
later far in excess of the present de-
lands of the applicants, and that Ii
is We're done an injustice would un-
otbtedly result. in the future.
"a SURRENDER of states Rights,
1.-THE grant of the application would
ave been in effect a surrender OF
ghts of the State, the value of which
the not very far distant future. will
represented by many millions OF
sllars. One of the applicants has now
hder its control a watershed and
orks of it's own, which it acquired
renty wears ago at a cost of $6.000,0 000
d with its distribution system has
st about S12,00o.000. From very care
estimates. it is safe to say that this
|pply pays fixed charges on. a valua-
IN of s15.000.000, and its reserve sup
is worth $5,000.000 additional. The
anaque shed, with the capacity OF
yelopment as proposed, would be
pable of yielding 70,000,000 gallons
ily. at cost of not more than &c.
900 At the end of twenty years il
uld pay fixed charges on valuation
ut least twice this sum-"
several other illustrations showing
value Of the Wanaque shed for
lte conservation are given, all along
same general lines. The commits
n says that as the plans of the APP
cants were not justified by public
:essity or reasonably anticipated
blic use,y t could only refuse the
~sIf ~.
bl.
The commissioners are of the opinion
at II the Legislature sees fit to create
water district or districts. 1t would
IN be possible for the commission t.
ry out plans whereby these waters
lid be stored and disposed Of from
le to time in sufficient quantities
on equitable terms. not only to the
nmunities whose applications were
uctantly refused. but to other munic-
llities as their needs might here
Ter arise.
The distributor could be made III
ch manner and In such quantities
would not consume the whole sup
in many years to come" the report
VS. 'It is true that the commission
now prevent the preemption OF the
ters of new sources of supplies by
municipality to the exclusion OF
9tller, but until the districts are
lated it is without power to provide
wise distribution of the same"
The report says there may be diff
erces of opinion as to the area en-
iced within the suggested district.
he plan Of creating the district by
iting several political divisions, or
rts thereof, into one had its advo-
les in the earlier consideration of
IS problem This plan. however, met
once with vigorous objection on the
L Of those to be affected. 1t was
yed that under II share of the costs
obtaining q supply for the communi-
embraced within the district who
&c in need thereof would have to be
ne by others within the district who
already assumed a burden In pro-
ing supplies for their own wants.
le commission then outlines its
which. il says. would meet all
tcentlsued on Third Pase.)