Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-05-21

board, who, as can be seen by report
in the press of his utterances in OBJ
| jecting to the East River Water
Company's plant, stated that this
mixed Passaic River and spring
water was not the pure water that
the city of Newark wants or needs.
1T is necessary to remind his
honor, the Mayor, that a similar sit
uation arose some years ago, and the
shortage of water necessitated the
use of Passaic River water being
pumped into our mains, with the re-
suit and consequence of a typhoid
fever epidemic, in which many lives
were lost.
II, therefore, am constrained to
say, that having been elected by the
people, to safeguard their interests,
will not permit the responsibility
of any water famine or any of its
consequences to rest upon my shoul-
ders, but admonish every commits
sioner of his sworn duty, to protect
and safeguard the city's welfare,
particularly the citizens health, and
the continuance of industrial activ
ity, at any cost and Notwithstanding
any legal bubbles or law interpreta-
tions.
81 shall vote to override the veto,
and caution every commissioner to do
likewise.
II also request that this statement
be spread upon the minutes of this
meeting"
No Fear of Water Famine.
The possibility of a water famine
was scoffed at by Commissioner
Gillen. Newark, in a case of emer-
gency, he said, could secure FROM
it's own reserve reservoirs an addi-
tional 20,000,000 gallons of water per
day
This water famine isn't as dam
gerous as can be pictured" said Mr.
Gillen. "In an emergency we could
use some water from the Passaic for
commercial purposes and that would
ward off any danger.
"If we can develop Wawayanda
without interference from the prop
erty owners along the outlet, who
most certainly have a prior claim
then we can't develop the Wanaaue
shed. But the purchase of the Wa
wayanda tract is nothing more than
buying a lawsuit
"There is one thing in connection
with the lake proposition" Mr.. Gill
len continued, that the engineering
department knew but failed to COM
municate to the board.
Gillen-Sherrerd Tilt.
~ am told that for several months
in the year the lake dries up and
there is practically no water at all
in it,
Chief Engineer Morris r. Sherrerd
nterjected a denial that he had
knowledge If any such condition ex-
listed.
"Well, ] know persons in your de-
partment knew it, II you didn't" said
Mr.. Gillen. 81 want the board to
know it will cost at least 81 900, 900 to
buy and develop Wawayanda,' he
said.
Offers OF Land.
Three parcels Of land in the water
shed section were offered for sale to
the board yesterday. One was made
by Scott German. representing Gar
ret j. Brown, who owns 162 acres of
land in Stockholm, adjacent to prop
erty owned by Newark. Mr.. German
said the price was $4,000. Another
offer was made by John Connor. rep
resenting the New Jersey Hardwood
Company which firm owns 1877 acres
in the Timberbrook section of Rock
away township and about 14O acres
along the Greenwood Lake road. He
asked $40 per acre. Robert w. Ca
hill offered to sell the board 61b acres
adjacent to the Grimshaw property
along the Greenwood Lake road in
West Milford township for S4. 900,
All three pieces of property were
placed on the inspection list
With the watershed veto the board
received from the Mayor a veto on a
100000 watershed extension bond
issue on the grounds that this issue
would not be necessary without the
purchase of Lake Wawayanda. Ac-
ton on this veto was likewise post
poned for one week.
Hearing Here Next Tuesday,
Before the Wawayanda scheme was
broached, it was the desire of the
board to purchase. if possible. the
Wanaque site. The scheme was
fairly under way when the Waway-
anda scheme was sprung and for a
time it appeared that the Wanaoue
plan had been forgotten
Since adverse executive action has
been taken on the Wawayanda
scheme the members OF the board
and others interested in enlarging
Newark's water supply are looking
with renewed interest to the
hearing of the State Water Sup
ply Commission, which will be held
in the City Hall next Tuesday. The
purpose of the hearing is to hear
Newark's side in the application for
the Wanaque shed.
1t is likely that the representatives
of municipalities in Essex, Hudson
and Passaic counties, who are also
interested in the Wanaque develop
ment, will attend the hearing.