Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-05-08
Water Board Authorize Supt.
CroweII to Expsnd $500
Necessary for Work.
EATEN BY MEADOW ACID
Engineer Will Make Tests to
Determine If Underground
Pipes Cause Waste.

In an effort to miniumize the
waste of water the Board of Water
Commissioners last night deeid ed
upon plan to determine the amount
of water pumped into the city and
compare 1t with the actual consump-
tion in various localities. AS a pre-.
ventative against waste the commits.
sloners seem to favor a revision OF
rates, principally to lower the mini
mum meter charge. Surveyor S. j
Mason called their attention to the
fact at the meeting that the Older
twenty-four-inch main across the
south shore meadow was deteiorating
from the action of salt water, Just
as did the old siXteen-inch line. These
and several other subjects were dis
cussed at length and immediate ac.
tion was ordered to give relief.
City Surveyor Mason was instruc.
ted to investigate the best means OF
measuring the amount of water de-
livered In the city. determine the
amount pumped into various sections
and compare that with the actual
consumption. The commissioners
declared they were at a loss to know
how much water was being delivered
here daily, but they concluded 1t was
extraordinarily large. Surveyor Ma
son and superintendent Crowell sta
ted it was possible there were many
underground leaks which had not
been discovered because water did
not rise to the surface, but flowed In
to sewers or other underground
water courses.
Commissioner Sibley recommended
the purchase of a meter or other
measuring apparatuses than regular
water meters for making such determ
nations. He also spoke Of a plan
to gate off certain sections of the
city and feed them through metered
hydrant lines In order to make tests.
AS a means of preventing further
deterioration OF the older twenty
four-inch main, the water superin-
tendent was instructed to engage
men to uncover about 5000 feet of
the line extending across the south
shore meadows. The pipe IS support
ed by planks and cross pipes. Tren-
ches will be excaVated on both sides
of the line. 1t was estimated that
| the work would cost about $500.
! John Quinlin must finish a con-
tract he has to lay pipe for the water
department within thirty days from
date otherwise his bondsmen will he
called upon, according TO a motion
passed by the board. The clerk was
instructed To notify the contractor
that the work was long overdue and
must be completed within the next
thirty days. 1t should have been
done in fifty days, according to the
p1 al i'm.
ed than 100 days had already elap-
sed. They did not feel inclined to be
hard ON him, but unless he complied
with this order they would take ad-
vantage OF their prerogative and call
on his bondsmen.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad Com
pany, through it's superintendent, A.
Ross, OF Easton, Pa, asked the board
last night by what method 1t employ
ed to arrive at the charge for water
consumed by the company in March
OF this year. AS It's meter was out of
order, superintendent Croweil esti-
mated the charge by comparison with
the corresponding time of last year.
The charge levied was $500. The
complaining company figured the
charge on an average monthly basis
of the charges of last year., which
would make it $3.50 for March Mr..
Crowell said the company had been
given the benefit OF doubt and was
perhaps charged less than it should
have been and had not been charged
$50 for two and half days of water
service. He was Instructed to send
an answer to the railroad company.
w. D. Carlock and twelve others
had a petition before the board for
a water main In Raritan avenue,
northerly from Brace avenue a dis
tance of 500 feet. 1t was directed
over the usual course, being referred
to the committee on pipe.
City water mains alonG Central
railroad line would have to be de-
pressed about twenty-five feet or
supported on q trestle in event OF
elimination of grade crossings, as is
contemplated by the city, Surveyor
Mason claimed. He said the cnange
would in no way interfere with the
water system. Mayor Ferd Garre,-
a date for argument on the grade
crossing petition had been postponed
The real estate committee was
empowered 10 proceed WIN repairs 10
the roof of the boiler house OF the
water works at Runyon. President
Snedeker explained that the roof was
leaky.
Among the articles to be pur-
chased by the board in accordance
with acquisitions granted, are a new
typewriter for the water department
Office, two wheels for a spring wagon
and a rowboat.
Report of Superintendent Crowell
for April showed that thirty-nine
taps had been made and bills had
been rendered for s1t.982.42 during
the month. Several plumbing licen-
ses ware renewed.
President Snedeker and Commits
sioners Sibley and Runyon were pres
ent.