Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-03-25
PAVE WAYFOR PARK At
WATER WORKS; ACTION
URGED BY ALDERMEN N
Board Of Water Commissioners
Passes Motion to Turn Over
Property in Smith Street to
Board Of Aldermen.

With unanimous consent, the
Board of Water Commissioners last
night cleared the way for the Board
of Aldermen to give to the city pub
lie park of fourteen acres. After
hearing q committee from the Board
of Aldermen a motion turning over
to that body all the property at
Eagleswood, known as the old water
works, to be used for any purposes
the aldermen might see fit, was
adopted. The commissioners ex-
pressed their APPROVAL of the propos-
ed plan to beautify the property, and
the conversion of 1t into garden of
recreation for the citizens of Perth
Amboy. They seemed to join in the
enthusiasm expressed by Alderman
John ]. Clark, chairman of the ju-
dietary committee, who declared at
the meeting: "Everbody In town now
seems to be talking parks"
Alderman Clark and Alderman
William G. Wilson, two of the mem
bers of the judiciary committee pre-
sented resolution from the Board OF
Aldermen requesting the water
board to turn over to the city
stretch of land on the old water
works site for the purpose of US
ing same for the erection and main
tenance of municipal lighting
plant or In such manner desired by
the city.
Clark Outlines Tract.
Mr.. Clark outlined the boundary
of the tract which was desired In the
resolution and said it was approxi-
mately 180x190 feet, including the
old engine house now on the proper
ty. City Engineer Mason stated that
the tract In question would be about
~-Ane-tenIhs OF all acre, ant that. the
whole water works property consist
ed of about fourteen acres.
President Snedeker, of the water
board, was surprised that such a
small portion of the property in ques-
ti0n was seemingly desired by the
aldermen, and asked Mr.. Clark If the
park proposition for the property had
been abandoned. mot In the least
answered the alderman, who then ex-
planned that from the resolution he
presented to the board it would seem
only tract sufficient for the erection
and maintenance of an electric light
ing plant was desired But he de-
clared the aldermen would like the
whole water works site turned over
to them, as he said it would make
breathing place for the public and
increase the value of property If the
aldermen carried out the proposed
plan Of converting 1t. or the larger
part not needed for a light plant, into
a public park.
Mr.. Snedeker asked the aldermen
II there would be any question about
reverting the property to the water
board If 1t were later found that the
water department needed same, and
the aldermen assured him that there
would be none. Mr.. Snedeker said
there had been a point raised about
the effect the turning of the property
over to the aldermen would have on
the security of water bonds. He said,
however, that he had learned that
the bonds security would be unaffeet-
ed as the water departments proper
ty was not security for the bonds,
but that all city property was secur-
ity for water bonds, as in the case OF
bonds issued directly by the Board Of
Aldermen.
All in Favor Of Plan.
All the commissioners present ex-
pressed themselves most favorably at
the plan to improve and beautify the
Eagleswood site, which now Is In an
unattractfve state. Take 1t and i'm
prove it," said Mr.. Snedeker; at will
be an advantage to the city Com
missioner c. c. Sibley thought the
city would do well to acquire twenty
five or so acres in the vicinity for
parks.
The proposed placing OF the mu-
nicipal lighting plant at Runyon
was discussed by the commissioners
and aldermen. Mr.. Clark said he
thought that too much current would
be lost along the eight miles or so
of transmission. Mr. Wilson said
that Mr.. Runyon, of the engineer
ing firm of Runyon and Carey, had |
estimated loss Of about ten per cent
in transmission from that distance. |
Grieve, however. |
declared 1t would be only about two |,
and one-half per cent. Commits /
sioner Timmins said that 1t might |
mean saving of coal in having the |
water works engines and the electric |
light plant both together at Runyon. |
1t was also pointed out that there |
is but an intervening stretch of 200 |
feet from the Eagleswood site to a !
spur of the Lehigh Valley, which |
would provide for securing coal |
eheaply. This strip of 200 feet is |
owned by the c. Pardee works, Mr.. |
Mason said.