The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-10-30
IN REGARD TO THE
WHARTON TRACT.
State Water Supply Commission Is
sues Statement and Recommends
Support of the Proposition.

sion in regard to the Wharton Tract
to be voted on November End:
In reference to the bond issue for
the purchase of the Wharton Water
Tract to be voted upon on November
End, it appears that the matter is
somewhat misunderstood, and for that
reason the State Water Supply Com
mission would explain in detail what
the State would pay if the referen-
dunn should pass at the coming cleo
ton.
The Wharton Water Tract will be a
revenue producer for the State in the
future. Such revenue will be derived
under existing laws from the consul
mers of water supplied from this
tract. The State of New Jersey is
only loaning it's credit. Bonds can be
issued not exceeding $1,000, 100000.
The laws of 1910 so operate that
whatever money the State pays for
this tract will be returned when the
construction and the sale of water is
consummated. The plan will operate
the same as in the case of the Wa
naque Watershed Development now in
progress where the municipalities are
to advance to the State 5000, 900 per
million gallons of daily supply which
goes to pay for the plant. The
same conditions will apply when
the municipalities contract for the
Wharton waters. These municipali-
ties will pay back to the State any
money advanced by the State and pay
off the bonded Indebtedness or any
other obligation that the State may
incur.
The New Jersey State Board of
Conservation and Development says,
the proposal to purchase the Wharton
Water Tract in South Jersey with
its numerous attractive features ap-
Deals strongly to members of the
Board" 1t further says, "The Whar-
ton Tract is unique in that it is the
largest tract of land in a single own
ership containing a source of water
supply. 1t now lies within the power
of the State to conserve an important
source of water supply. A prudent
administration demands that the pos
sibilities, by the purchase of the
Wharton Tract, should receive the
most careful scrutiny and considera-
ton, to the end that the resources of
the State be preserved for its future
citizens, ETC."
The President of the Conservation
Board, after all these convincing adj
missions, takes up his previously de-
clared opposition to the purchase on
grounds which show that he is not
familiar with the extent, possibilities,
value or history of the negotiations
for the Wharton Water Tract.
The people of the State need have
no fear that if they authorize bv their
votes the issue of 81, 100000 of bonds
for the purchase of the Wharton Wa
ter Tract that the State will be oblig-
ed to make the purchase at that price.
The State Water Supply Commission
has an option on this property since
making the original contract, which
was declared null and void by the
Court of Appeals, on the ground that
the State could not issue bonds in ex-
cess of 500, 900 without a vote of the
people, which decision was made on a
question of law and not a question of
policy or desirability of the purchase.
There has been a disastrous forest
fire on this tract that has reduced the
value to some extent and it is not the
intention of the State Water Supply
Commission to agree to pay any sum
until the amount of this damage is
determined.
The Commission has always under
stood that the approval of the Cover
nor is necessary and, in any event, his
aid and cooperation will be asked,
before any contract is executed.
The Commission realizes that the
voters of the northern part of the
State have little idea of what the
Wharton Tract means, what j. is in
tended for or where it is located.
Briefly, the Wharton Water Tract
comprises an area of about 100000
acres or 100 square miles of well wa
tered land situated in the counties OF
Camden, Burlington and Atlantic,
with scarcely any present inhabitants
to make contamination probable. Its
water supply possibilities have been
estimated by the engineers of the
State Conservation Department and
also the State Water Supply Commits
sion at from three hundred and fifty
to four hundred million gallons daily
and this supply is within reach of two
millions of people and will be sufficient
to serve all of the municipalities from
Cape May to Jersey City, if necessary.
The Commission has read the state
ment issued by the President of the
State Department of Conservation and
Development to the effect that the
tract is not now needed, because the
cities likely to be benefited by its pur-
chase are amply provided for in the
matter of water for some years to
come. But how about the future when
the problem of a water supply will
become a most perpleXing one, as the
population grows and industries eX-
pand? The cities are growing and
they will need more water than they
are now getting and the Commission
knows of many instances where the
problem of increased supply is already
receiving serious consideration from
the municipal authorities. In fact,
many municipalities of North Jersey
realized long ago the pressing need of
increased water supply, and r now
about entering into contracts with the
State Wafer Snnnlu Commission for