Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-10-29
fwhar.on water Tracs Purchase

in regard to the Wharton Water Tract
to be voted upon on November I'd.
Interference to the bond issue for the
purchase of The Wharton Water Tract
to be voted upon on November I'd. it
appears that the matter is somewhat
misunderstood, and for that reason the
State Water Supply Commission would
ex plain in detail what the State would
pay If the referendum should pass at
the coming election.
The Wharton Water Tract will be a
revenue producer for the State In the
future. Such revenue will be derived
under existing laws from the consum-
ers of water supplied from this tract.
The State of New JeTsey is only loan
Ing its credit. Bonds eau be issued not
e exceeding 81, 900, 900.
The laws of 1910 so operate that what
ever money the State pays for this tract
will be returned when the construction
aud the sale of the water is consummat-
ed. The plan will operate the same as
In the case of the Wanaque Watershed
Development now in progress where
the municipalities are TO advance to the
State 5000, 900 per million gallons of
daily supply which goes to pay for the
plant. The same conditions will apply
when the municipalities contract for
the Wharton waters. These munich
palities will pay back to the State any
money advanced by the State and pay
off the bonded Indebtedness or any
other obligation that the State may
incur.
The New Jersey State Board of Con-
s~ervation and Development says, Ia its
report to Governor Fielder, that the
proposal to purchase the Wharton
Water Tract in South jersey with its
numerous attractive features appeals
strongly to members of the Board.n 1t
further says, 1.-THE Wharton Tract is
unique in that 1t is the largest tract of
land in a single ownership containing
a source of water supply. 1t now lies
within the power of the State to on
servean important source of water sup
ply. A prudent administration de-
mands that the possibilities, by the pur-
chase of the Wharton Tract, should re-
ceive the most careful scrutiny and
consideration, TO the end that the re-
sources of the State be preserved for its
future citizens, etc."
The president of the conservation
board, after all these convincing ad mis-
sions, takes up his previously declared
opposition to the purchase on grounds
which show that he is not familiar with
the extent, possibilities, value or history
of the negotiations for the Wharton
Water Tract.
The people of the State need have no
fear that II they authorized by their
votes the issue of 81, 900. 900 of bonds for
the purchase of the Wharton Water
Tract that the State will be obliged to
make the purchase at that price. The
State Water Supply Commission has
an option on This property since max
ing the ORIG NAL contract, which was
declared null and void by the Court of
Appeals, on the ground that the State
could not issue bonds in excess of $780,
900 without a vote of the people, which
decision was made on a question of la w
and not a question of policy or desira-
bility of the purchase. There has been
a disastrous forest fire on this tract that
has reduced the value to some extent
and 1t is not the intention of the State
Water Supply Commission to agree to
pay any sun until the amount of this
damage is determined.
The Commission has always under
stood that the approval of the Governor
Is necessary and, in any event, his aid
and cooperation will be asked, before
any contract is executed.
The Commission realizes that the
voters of the northern part of the State
have little idea of what the Wharton
Tract means, what 1t is intended for or
where it is located. Briefly, The Whar-
ton water tract comprises an area Of
about loo, 900 acres or 100 square miles
Of well-watered land situated in the
counties of Camden, Burlington and
Atlantic with scarcely any present it,
habitants to make contamination prob
able. It's water supply possibilities
have been estimated by the engineers
of the State Conservation Department
and also the State Water Supply Com
mission at from three hundred and fifty
to four hundred million gallons daily
and this supply is within reach of two
millions Of people and will be sufficient
to serve all of the municipalities from
Cape May TO Jersey City, il necessary.
The Commission has read the state
ment Issued by the President of the