Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-10-23
BOOM IN
SOUTH JERSEY
Governor Wilson Discusses
Land for Water Supply.
(From tho NEWS oorre,pondent.)

(From ne NEWS C~orrespondent.)
Trenton. Oct. 23.-In connection
with giving enthusiastic endorse
ment yesterday afternoon to the res
olution passed by the State Water
Supply Commission for the acquire
mont of the Wharton Tract, 10000
acres Of land, in South Jersey, Gov
ernor Wilson declared his 1rm belief
In the future development OF that
section OF the state. After the
members Of the Water Supply Com
mission. in their conference with the
governor, had laid before him the
entire proposition, Governor Wilson
declared It his belief that the deep
ening of the Delaware river channel,
with its improvement of the water
fronts At Trenton, Philadelphia,
Camden and other points on the
river; the construction of the Inland
Waterway from Bay Head to Cape
May and the deepening Of the inlet
at Atlantic City would all be fac
tors In the development of the
southerly half of the state. He
thought, therefore, that the acquire
ment OF the Wharton tract should
be carried out In order to conserve
the fresh water supply for the fu-
ture.
The governor having approved the
resolution for the purchase Of the
land, the bargain will be consum-
mated as soon as possible. AS re-
cited in the resolution, the land is
to be acquired for $1,000, 900, pay
ment to be made by the issue Of so
year bonds, bearing interest at 2 per
cent for the first and second years,
3 per cent for the third and fourth
years and 4 per cent for the succeed
ing years.
The land is located in Burlington,
Camden and Atlantic counties, and
was acquired by the late Joseph
Wharton, and at n time was Sc
riously considered as a water sup
ply for Philadelphia. The passage
of the Bachelor Anti Water diver
sion act prevented Philadelphia from
reaping any benefit from it. The
tract controls the entire rights to
the flow of the Basto, Mullica and
Atsion rivers at tide water at Bats
to, Atsion and Harrisville, making
this one Of the greatest practically
APORAAdLOu W&CCI 6AO06 C0oI Va th0
Mississippi river. The streams with
In the tract are capable OF a devel-
opment OF 40O,000,000 gallons of
water per day, or enough to supply
100000 people, and sufficient ad-
jacent property can be acquired at
low cost in addition to what nearby
property is already owned by the
state as forest preserves to furnish
an additional supply for 100000
people and provide all necessary res
ervoir sites.
Charles H. Folwell, Secretary of
the Commission, said today that ap-
praisals by experts on the land show
a value Of ~$37S.O0O for 46O acres Of
cranberry boys. $50 acres of clear
cranberry boys, $50 acres Of cedar
and 500 acres of farm land; and
placing a value Of IS per acre on the
balance Of 10S.690 acres. gives a to-
tai valuation Of $1,030.140, exclu-
sive of the water right. Mr.. Folwell
said that a present the net revenue
from the land is about $4,000 an
nuatly, and by proper development
1t can be made to pay more than the
2 per cent interest on the bonds,
with the prospect that the revenue
may be increased in future years.
Much Of the land will give the state
ideal ground as a game and fish pre-
serve.
The waters from this tract could
by state distribution be delivered
to the municipalities south of the
Raritan river at a low cost and with
the assurance of a larger and bet
ter supply than could be procured
elsewhere. The purchase of the land
is to be carried through provided
a clear and satisfactory title can be
furnished to the state. The Ques-
ton Of the title, and all the neces-
sary legal documents ri to be pass
ed upon by the Attorney General.