Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-05-25
So City Counsel Frazer Says,
if a State Supply
Were Had.
COMMISSION OUTLINES
PLAN FOR SETTLEMENT
Suggests That municipalities
Interested Make New Con-
tracts for This Supply.

mission to control and develop the
Wanaque watersheds, in order to
procure an adequate water supply
for this city, providing the State
Water Commission would devise
some means for its development,
which will insure an adequate sup
ply of water to all the municipalities
affected. wa the announcement made
this afternoon by City Counsel
Spalding Frazer.
Mr.. Frazer made this statement
following a long hearing before the
State Water Commission and after
representatives from Paterson, Pas
sale, Montclair Totowa and else
where along the watershed had
voiced disapproval of giving Newark
entire control of the watershed and
the power of distributing the water
as it sees fit. The city counsel said
that, Notwithstanding the apparent
belief OF some present to the con
trary, that Newark did not desire to
maintain @ dog in the manger"
policy
City Engineer Morris r. Sherrard
was one of those who spoke on be-
half of Newark's interests. He also
sounded an alarm by saying that
Newark's needs would be greater
than her power to supply water in
side of three years unless something
was done. He said he feared n water
famine At | o'clock the members of
the State Water Commission retired
for a brief executive session, in order
TO determine what they should do in
reference to Newark's application for
permission to develop the Wanaque
water sheds alone The general
opinion among those present at the
meeting in advance OF the commits
sion's decision was that n plan will
he developed for the relief of the
water situation and the assuring to
all of the cities and towns affected
of an adequate supply of watec.
Plan of Settlement.
When the commissioners returned
from their conference the chairman
announced that, If the various NUM-
cipalities interested in the Wanaque
project, would enter into contract for
specified amounts of water before
Tuly |, the commissioner would
supervise a plan for improving the
Wanaque water shed and distribut-
ing the supply Whatever action is
taken the commission will make its
reply to the Newark application be-
fore the time limit of ninety days
expires on July 27.
municipalities entering into con-
tracts for a water supply, under the
proposed plan, would be required to
pay into a general fund the sum of
s200,OO for each 100000 gallons con-
sumed daily by them. Any further
consumption would have to be paid
for on the same basis. A sinking
hn tnA
bearing interest at five per cent. per
ahnum would be issued.
Paterson, Passaic and Montclair
would be Obliged to arrange for the
repipng of their streets before en-
tering the plan and City Counsel
Mercy. of Paterson, suggested the
need of further conferences. 1t was
then decided that the next confer
ence with the State Water Commits
sion should be held in the City Hall
at Jersey City on Wednesday morn
ing, June 2, at 10 o'clock.
The commissioners concluded their
deliberations at 1880 o'clock and re-
turned with its report 1t was in
substance as fololws:
Commissions Statement.
"The commission will if prior to the
expiration fixed by law for acting on
this application, July 27, enough con-
tfacts are made for a supply of water
from the Wanaque shed of a suffi-
cient amount, being the minimum,
refuse the application of Newark and
begin at once the development of the
Wanaque on a State project, subject
to tn approval of the governor,
which the law requires.
"If we cannot secure such contracts
we must then take up the application
and decide it on it's merits. There is
no question that the State develop
ment would be the better.
I'VE announced this policy in 1909
of the commission with holding its
approval of grants to any city, but
that it should be developed by the
State. But such policy cannot be
continued indefinitely.
I'VE have the laws, chapter 394, OF
1915, to enable us to develop the
Wanaque. We cannot purchase the
East Jersey Water Company nnder
the present laws unless they reduce
the price by eliminating the going
value and the water right value, and
we have notified the company to that
effect and placed a limit on their
time for an answer, so that the prof.
ect would not be indefinitely delayed
and the time limit has expired with
out our receiving an answer from the
water company"
the Board of Street and Water Com-
missioners by President Patrick X
Ryan and Albert II. Bierteumpfel,
chairman of the water committee OF
the BOARD, and Arthur r. Denman.
City Counsel Spaiding Frazer and
City Engineer Morris r. Sherrerd.
George Sanzenbacher, engineer of
the water department, and Herman
Risentreder. principal assistant in
the water department, were also
present.
Paterson was represented by
Mayor Robert H. Fordyce, Samuel
b. Farnum and Clifford J.. Newman,
of the Finance Commission of Pat
erson: J. Traphagan Doremus,
Thomas A. Nilsson, James Bassile
and General B. S. Muzzy, members
of the Board of Works of the Silk
CITY. and City Counsel Edward f..
Mercy. Former Judge William /.
Lewis represented the Lehigh Val
ley Railroad Company.
Object to sherrerd.
Mr.. Guerin opened the meeting at
ten minutes of II o'clock by the
reading of the application of the city
of Newark to secure an additional
vater supply from the Wanaque
Valley. City Counsel Edward F..
tcontinued on Page 8. Column 81