Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-12-11
NOT IN
PROPOSED SALE
OF EAST JERSEY
Water Supply Conference Told
City Will Stick to the
Wanaque Plan.
DENMAN AND SHERRERD
GIVE NEWARK ATTITUDE
Not interested in Proposition to
Take Over Little Falls
Filtration Plant.
DENMAN AND SHERRERD
GIVE NEWARK ATTITUDE

Newark will not be interested in
any way in the proposed purchase ,s
the holdings of the East Jersey
Water Company. This declaration
was made yesterday afternoon at the
conference of municipal representa-
tives from Paterson, Passaic and
Montclair held at the Whitehall Club
in New York The statement rela-
tive to Newarl's attitude was made
by Board of Works Commissioner
Arthur r. Denman and Chief En-
gineer Morris R.. sherrerd. The con
ference was held for the purpose of
discussing the proposed taking over
by the State of the East Jersey
Water Company which controls the
water supply for Paterson. Passaic
and other towns and has water rights
in the upper Passaic river.
The Newark angle to the East Jer-
sey situation was explained after the
conference heard report by George
L. Record, special counsel for the city
of Passaic. MIR. Record urged new
legislation at Trenton this winter. He
also gave the impression that New
arks financial assistance was being
contemplated, inasmuch as he sug-
gested that since Newark intended to
take water from the Wanaque they
might find 1t convenient to use the
pumping station and filtration plan.
at Little Falls. In this way Newark'a s
credit and financial standing would
stand back of the plan to take over
the purchase of the East Jersey and
4 hnanfraA n ~ r@fxr b. -
contract.
Commissioner Denmah was asked
to give an expression of opinion con-
corning Newark's attitude. He said:
There is no hostility between the
city of Newark and its neighbors, but
the purchase of the East Jersey plant
in nowise interests Newark 1t is the
intention of Newark to take water
directly from the Wanaque water
shed and not have 1t pass through
the East Jerseys plant at Little Falls
We are responsive to any invitation
to become acquainted with what you
are doing. A bill on, the lines as sug-
gested by Mr.. Record will no doubt
meet with Newark's interested sup-
port.
The Wanaque plan, as you know,
rs strongly favored by Newark. II
the other municipalities cannot see
their way clear to undertake to
finance the construction Newark win
do 1t. We must have the Wanaque, =
Engineer Sherrerd said Newark did
not intend to lend it's financial sup
port to any plan concerning the pur
chase of the East Jersey. He said he
believed the purchase of the East
Jersey essential to Paterson, Passaic
and Montclair.
Mr.. Record then said the proposed
bill, of which a summary has been
drafted, was elastic enough to permit
Newark to enter IL it SO desired, but
that such action was not obligatory.
MIR. Records bill win make 1t pos
sib1e for Paterson, Passaic and Mont
clair to proceed toward the purchase
of the East Jersey. Under it's terms
the cities may either place the matter
in the hands of the State Water Sup
ply Commission, appeal to the COVER
nor for the appointment of special
commission or a commission may be
created upon application to the Su-
preme Court.
IT was said there is serious question
as to whether bonds issued by muni-
cipalities under the State water sup
ply act would be valid in view of a
recent decision of the courts. The
proposed Record act would place in
the hands of the commission broad
powers to finance and operate the
East Jersey system. At present. 1T
was asserted, there is no method by
which the municipalities can take
over distributing systems.