Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-06-25
AGREEMENT
WITH RAILROAD
South River Council to Lay
Pipes Under Tracks.
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

ing the manner in which they want
the borough to do the work. At a
meeting of the council last night an
agreement between the borough and
the railroad was executed by the
mayor and clerk with the consent of
the council. The specifications drawn
up by the railroad engineer specify
that all pipes laid under the tracks
must be at least five feet below the
roadbed and only twelve feet lengths
of cast iron pipe shall be used both
for water and sewer. 1t was also
agreed that the borough shall pay
the entire cost of supporting the
tracks while the roadbed is under
mined. No trains are to be delayed
and the tracks are to be kept clear
at all times.
This permit from the railroad will
allow the sewer contractors to lay
the main trunk sewer which runs
parallel with the river and is the
only part of the sewer line that has
not been completed.
The attention of the council was
called to the outlet near Klauser's
Hotel of a natural stream of water
which flows across the east side of
~ bOlOuSh d u OtdtCu
behind the cemetery. The council
was informed hal the outlet was in
adequate to carry off the surplus
water during a storm and as a re-
suit all the wells and cellars along
Ferry, Washington and Water streets
were filled with water, causing dur
ing each storm at least $500 worth
of damage to properties along these
streets.
1t was brought out In the discus
sion that the natural outlet was sutti-
GENTLY large to carry off all surplus
water, but it had been filled in by
the Yates brothers when they con-
structed a dock along the river, near
the outlet, for brick boats. The
Board of Freeholders, through their
secretary, Asher Bissett, notified the
council of their willingness to build
a large culyert under Ferry street to
carry off the storm water if the coun-
ell would enlarge the outlet.
The matter will be looked after
by the council and it will be a happy
day for residents along this stream
to know that water no longer will
destroy their properties.
Ex-Policeman Johnson was pres
ent at the meeting and filed a bill
with the clerk for IS, the amount
due him for services rendered and
which amount had been deducted
from his months salary and paid to
a substitute officer who took John
sons place for two days while he
was off duty. Officer Johnson eX-
planned to the council how he had
engaged a substitute and that he
had paid him 81, which was the
amount agreed upon when the sub
stitute was engaged. Mr.. Johnson
went on to tell how he had paid the
extra officers and at the anne time
the council had paid him and had
taken IS from his (JohnsOn) salary
without asking what amount had
been agreed upon. The matter was
referred to the police committee for
settlement.
When the drains were laid at the
well field the water supply to the
properties below the poWerhouse was
cut off 50 that their wells ran dry.
To offset this the council and advis-
DRY committee wanted property own
ers who had lost their supply of
water to. use borough water for
domestic use and for their cattle free
of cost. Councilman Whiteman said
hat no agreement had ever been
drawn up regarding this privilege
and unless some restriction was put
upon the free use of water the Dor
ough would eventually suffer for it,
especially if many houses were erect
ed below the well field, and said
Councilman Whiteman, there is no
guarantee there will not be a row of
houses put there within a few years.
Mayor Mark advised that a definite
agreement be drawn up that will
satisfy the property owners and also
protect the borough's interest.
A bill for extra work done by
Simpson and Corbin IN the collect
ing drains was held up by Engineer
Young, who refused to o. X. several
items which the contractors had
charged the borough for.
A debate regarding a contract that
had been awarded to E. L. Mathis
for laying a sewer pipe under the
railroad was carried on by Melee and
Bruno, who claim a right to the
contract since it was included In the
original work on which they bid. By
some misinterpretation Of the specf-
ficat1ons and by reason of conditions
which the railroad would not accept
a new set of plans and specifications
had to be drawn up and new bids on
this particular work were solicited.
AS e. L. Mathis was $500 under the
bid submitted by Melee and Bruno,
council awarded him the contract.
A communication from Lippet and
Wood, standpipe contractors, was
read in which they advised the
Gil to eliminate a gate valve at the
standpipe. The contractors claim
the valve to be useless and If 1t is
eliminated they will allow the
Gil $3.50.
A communication from the Board
of Public Works was read before the
council asking for $1,000 OF account
of budget for use in the transaction
of their work as public officials. The
board also advised that $4,000 be
placed In the budget for the mainte-
nance of~the municipal plants for the
coming year.
On motion council ordered a note
discounted at the South River bank
for $1,000 for the use of the Board
of Public Works. Another. note
amounting to $1,000 was ordered re-
newed in anticipation of back taxes.
Any anaIr or HAPPENING, or cir.
eumstance, which Is too small to
make a Want AID. worth while as an
adjusting force IL too smal- to
WOrr- about.