Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-07-08
NEWARK PLAN FOR
WANAQUE WATER
SUPPLY REFUSED
State Commissioners. Tell Gov.
Fielder They Will Decide in
Other Towns Favor.
THEY MUST PURCHASE
EAST JERSEY PROPERTIES
Surprised at |. V. r. RS Claim
and Calls 1t Bluff to Force
Canal Sale.
From a Stan Correspondent.


TRENTON. July s.-Newark's plan
to develop the Wanaque watershed
Tor source of water supply will be
turned down. This was learned this
afternoon from Governor Fielder,
after he had a conference with the
State Water Supply Commission.
The governor declared that the
commissioners are strongly of the
opinion that Newark's application to
dnVelor the Wanaque for the use OF
It's residents should be refused. Tie
commission will now proceed upon its
own initiative for all the municipali-
ties interested, to acquire the
Wanaque as a source OF water supply.
In formal recommendation to the
governor. ii will take this course.
This means that Newark is still at A
| loss for a supply that will be abso-
lutely necessary in a few years, at
the present rate of increase in the
amount of water being consumed In
New jerseys metropolis.
The ninety-day limit within which
the State Water Supply Commission
must act Newark's application will
expire on July 81. Governor Fielder
said the commission would notify
Newark of its decision before that
date.
Water at Cost Prices In Time.
They seem to have very feasible
/ plan of supplying water the gov
ernir said, referring to the Wanaque,
and can enter into contracts with
the municipalities interested and re-
quire the cities to put up their pro-
portionate share of the cost. No
bonds will be necessary or any legis-
lative appropriations of any conse-
quence. After the commission is
ready to sell water, a sinking fund
can be established and later the
money advanced by the cities will be
returned to them. After a time,
reduction in rates can be secured ard
water supplied at cost price, instead
of paying a profit to private water
companies
Must Acquire East Jersey Properties.
The governor thinks it may be
necessary to acquire some of the
properties of the New Jersey Water
Company. Some of the municipalities
have consented to acquire not only
the East Jersey plants and pumping
stations, but also the source of
supply $1,000.
! The governor said there is some
question whether or not the pumping
stations and pipes could be con-
demned without taking the source of
supply,
The engineer of the State Water
Supply Commission, the governor de-
clared, figures that ample supply can
be obtained from the Wanaque for all
the municipalities that desire to enter
into the scheme of development.
Engineers of the federal govern
ment have been assured. he added,
that the deepening of the channel of
the Passaic river between Paterson
will not lessen the flow of the river.
The old Harbor Commission and the
State Water Supply Commission have
conferred on this matter and informed
the federal authorities that by
damming the water the flow of the
river will not be decreased, but that
in the dry season the flow actually
will be increased by 25. 900 gallons
per day.
The governor expressed surprise at
the claim of the Lehigh Valley Rail-
road company that it has some rights
in the Wanaque. He thought it was
a bluff on the part of the railroad to
get the Morris canal abandonment
proposition before the Legislature in
more favorable light.
That the Newark proposition with
regard to the Wanaque watershed
would be rejected by the State COM
mission was forecested in the Eve
ming Star a week ago, when the
commission met in this city. City
Counsel Spaulding Frazer declared
some time ago, when the movement
was started for the development of
the watershed under State control,
that Newark would not act in the
dog in the manger," and would be
willing to withdraw its application
and join with various other munich
palities for a State supply. This
sentiment has been repeated at other
hearings on the matter before the
State commission Besides Newark,
the unicipalities who are favorable
to the Wanaque development under
State control are Patterson, Jersey
City. Passaic, Harrison. Montclair