Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-12-16
NANAQUE ISSUE
PUT UP TO NEW
FINANCE BOARD
Aldernanjc Committee Turns
Down Resolution Favoring
Water Contract.
s7ERRERD TELLS NEED
OF NEW NEWARK SUPPLY
District Commission Idea Op-
posed Because Other Com
nounities Might Dominate,

-a
munities Might Dominate,
Because the legal status of the
State Water Supply Commission is
not entirely satisfactory. the finance
committee of the Common Council
last night turned down the passage Of
resolution authorizing contract
binding the city to pay $2.o0O.0OO as
part of the cost of the development of
the Wanaque watershed. Former City
Counsel James r. Nugent. who at
tended the meeting, told Alderman
Charles W. Littlefeld and Alderman
2, Garfield Clifford. Republican mem
sers Of the committee. that in his
opinion the city should not risk such
large expenditure of money
IN explaining his opinion to the two
Republican members who voted for
the resolution. Mr.. Nugent confiden-
TALLY told them that he was opposed
TO the plan in view Of the uncertainty
Of the continuance of the State Water
Supply Commission.
Chief Engineer Morris r. Sherrerd
told the committee that the State
Water Supply Commission assumed
the position that IL Paterson, Passaic
and Montclair did not go into the
present scheme and sign the contract,
Newark would be given the exclusive
right to develop the Wanaque He
said that II Newark took the favorable
attitude. namely. that Of authorizing
the execution of the contract and to
provide a bond issue of 50, 100000, he
felt that the State Water Supply
Commission would feel that Newark
was acting in good faith.
Phillips Did Not vote.
Alderman Mark F. Philips, chair
man Of the committee, said he did not
desire to vote on the question at this
time. since he was desirous of giving
the question more study. When the
vote was taken the motion to adopt
The resolution committing Newark to
the Wanaqus was lost by vote OF
8 to =.
ANiEk Eli 1ntfr EtcfreEdac 81 1B+nefi
the Board Of Works had approved
the contract, but that 1t was neces-
safy 70 have a concurrent resolution
passed by the Common Council. He
said II IS proposed to make use OF the
Midvale river and create a large
storage reservoir in the Wanaqne
valley which would be capable of
sielding fifty million gallons Newark
could in time call upon this source
to supply y, 100000 gallons per day.
which would take care of Newaris's
water supply for the next forty years.
The chief engineer said that within
four years the present supply OF water
will have become inadequate and
that the Waiiaque is the best avail
able site for an additional supply.
He said 1t will take at least four
years to- complete the development If
work is started at once. The 81, ,000.-
900 which Newark was to advance is
une-third of the cost of the project,
the remaining money to be paid by
the three other cities interested.
He said that movement was now
IN foot to secure legislation which
would create q district commission
: TO. succeed the State Water Supply
Commission.
Mr. Sherrerd ventured the opinion
hat such a commission would be
dominated by representatives OF other
communities.
He believed Newark's interests
would be best conserved under the
present system, He added.
THE State Water Supply Eommis-
sion Is trying to keep faith with all
the municipalities who are interested.
but IL. the other cities don't keep
faith and sign the contract which
has been submitted to them Newark
which is trying TO keep faith, should
be- and no doubt viii be. given the
right to Independently develop the
Wanaque project without further
delay.''
he explained that the resolution
which he asked the committee to
pass simply authorized the proper
city officials to execute q contract
With the state Water Supply Com.
mission. in the event that other mu-
inequalities passed similar resoiu-
ton. Mr.. Sherrerd said that the cost
would not go in the tax levy, but
that the interest and sinking fund
provision would be met by the water
department.
Alderman John #. Fitzsinmons was
of the >opinion that it would be ufl-
wise to act upon the resolution, in
view Of the fact that a new council
win come into Office January l. AL
derrnan Michael Pagan took the same
position, so that Aldermen Littlefield
and; Clifford, the two Republican
members. were the only ones who
voted for the Wanaque.
The question which former City
Counsel Nugent informally discussed
with the two Republican aldermen
may interfere with Newark's doing
any further business with the state
Water Supply Commission. 1t is pos
sible that a district commission such
as is contemplated would be satisfac-
tory to Newark II the desired result
could be obtained
However. the 1916 council will have
The decision of this important ques-
ton, which, In the mind OF Chief En-
gineef Sherrerd, is paramount TO the
best interests of the city.