Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-13
CONSERVATION IS
KEYNOTE IN STATE
WATER REPORT
Commission Urges That Steps
Be Taken to Eliminate
Flood Waste.
REFERS TO PROBLEM
IN PASSAIC VALLEY
Needs of Newark and Northern
Part of New Jersey Are
Discussed.
Especial to tn. Newark start

1lN~
TRENTON, Jan. DEMONSTRATION il
the keynote of the annual report of thu
State Water Supply Commission, issuet
today. Not only Is it urged that thu
State take the necessary steps to estab'
lish adequate means for conserving thu
able for public needs In time of summer
drought, but also that the influence OF
the commission be ~broadened to include
the question of water power develop
ment.
'Other states says the report, "have
made this a fruitful subject of legisla-
tive attention, to the end that a great
natural asset has been developed and
millions of horsepower of latent en-
ergy, for generations allowed to &c to
waste, has been utilized. What other
commemorative have accomplished in
the development of water-power supply
New Jersey, with its great wealth of
natural advantages, can do
Beginning with the statement that
the last year has witnessed a marked
quickening of public interest in the gen.
| GIdI QutSliOII VI ITO D Va IN
States natural resources the commits
sion goes on to say that of the several
phases presented by the problem of
conserving these tremendously valuable
assets none has received so much at
tention as the potable waters of the
State.
Metropolitan Districts.
THE combination of a rapidly grow
ing population, particularly In the met
ropolitan district, and protracted
~droughts have served to emphasize the
urgent need of immediate action on the
part of the State looking to h con-
struction OF large reservoirs adequate
to supply the needs of p%opulous COM
munities now facing serious embarrass-
.ment by reason of the shortage of their
present supplies" continues the COM
mission.
After stating that. during the last year
the commission has been studying the
problem presented by the situation In
the Passaic valley and neighboring
communities in northern New jersey,
which has been most pressing in its
demands for attention and has had re-
peated conferences with representatives
Of the several municipalities most con-
cerned, the report goes into a history
of the legislation of last winter, which
1t regards as having been among the
most important ever enacted in this
State. Particular stress is a upon
the beneficent character of the law per-
hitting Interested municipalities to join
In an application to the commission for
the construction of joint water works
and reservoirs for the purpose of secur-
ing a common source of supply. In this
connection 1t is noted that the cities of
Newark and Paterson have Joined in an
application for a preliminary estimate of
the cost of acquiring lands and water
rights and the construction of a reser-
voir to impound the waters of the
Wanaque river for the purpose of sup
plying those municipalities with water.
1t is stated thai other interested munic-
qualities are expected to join In the APP
plication.
Operating under this law the commits
sion says that In the development of
any plan of reservoir construction to
furnish municipalities with water sup
| plies, due consideration will be given