The Penn's Grove record., 1915-08-20
MAY ACQUIRE RESERVATION.
State Board lnspects 100000 Acre
Tract Near Hammonton.

State Board lnspeets 100000 Acre
Tract Near Hammonton.
Whether the Wharton 100, 0O0-acre
tract northeast Of Hammonton will
become State property and, as a wa
ter reservation, its acquisition become
an important step toward the conser.
walton Of State resources, is a cues
ton brought into prominence by the
inspection of the property by the
State Board of Conservation and De
velopment.
The purchase OF the land by the
State will be n of the important
propositions submitted to the people
at the November election. 1t involves
a $1,0O0,000 bond issue, already au-
thorized by the Legislature, while its
development viii ultimately require
the expenditure of from S. 900, 900 to
$~1O,O00,000 more. Completed it will
be n Of the largest water reserva-
tons in America, capable of supply
ing 300, 600, 900 gallons of potable wa
ter a day, stored in reservoirs having
an altitude sufficiently high to insure
gravity distribution to any point in
South Jersey.
Those familiar with the situation
and indorsing the project admit that
in all probability it will be twenty
years before the demand for the i'm
mense quantity of water thus made
available will be felt and that during
this period the reservation would re-
main strictly a conservation activity,
so controlled as to net as nearly as
possible evenue sufficient to meet the
100000 a year interest accruing on
the bonds should the full amount au-
thorized be hoated.
While there was a free discussion
OF the various phases of the project
by members of the board following
the inspection, any attempt to antici-
pate it's final report would be mere
guess work. 1t probs bly, will be sew
eral weeks before the report is sub
mitted and made public.
The Wharton tract, one of the most
important divisions of the Atlantic
watershed in Jersey, lies partly in
Camden, Burlington and Atlantic
counties. Five natural reservoirs,
centrally located and capable of d.
rect connection, definitely determine
its hydraulic value in any system
contemplating an almost inexhausti-
Bile water supply available through
the southern central section of the
State between Atlantic City and Cam
den.
The water concentrating on the
tract is estimated to be fve-ninths
surface flow and four-ninth spring
water, derived from springs outside
the tract, but which naturally feed
the section and therefore, under the
laws protecting water rights for all
practical purposes. integral parts of
the tract.
Its other natural advantages which
could be depended upon to provide
revenue during the period of conser-
walton consist in several water pow
ers already developed and in use, its
cranberry bogs, with an annual yield
valued at $4,000; approximately U.s.
UUJ acres or agricultural land, at pres
ent und~eveloped, and a considerable
section fairly well timbered.
Unfortunately, the forest fires of
the last two years destroyed the tim
Der on some $4,000 acres. The timber
consists of pine. used chiefly for box
ing purposes, and red cedar, of which
there r several large stands. Num-
erous buildings. bridges, dams and
other improvements exist which
could be utilized both during the pc
Rod of development and in the final
completion of the work.
Although practically the entire vol
ume of water draining from the shed
passes through creeks and river trav-
ersing ground underlaid by deposits
of vegetables and forest matter and
through bogs once worked for their
iron deposit, its c~onveyances to the
reservoirs in a comparatively pure
state would be an easy matter. Ac-
corafng to statements made by mem
BERT of the board, following the in
spettion. this can be accomplished by
stripping the soil from the districts
converted into waterways and the
grtvelly sand subsoil exposed.
In addition it would be necessary
To exercise control over adjacent
lands to prevent pollution of the wa
ttr draining from them upon the
tract. This. it is said. can be accom-
plIFhed through the State Board of
Health, while supervision of the ac-
Invites on the tract proper would lie
with the Board of Conservation and
Da~elcrment