Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-03-24
SEEK MORE DATA
ON WATER SUPPLY
West Orange to Engage Engi'
neers Before Submitting Prop
osition to Property-owners.

Preparatory to asking the property
owners of West Orange to determine
by vote the source from which the
town water supply shall be OBJ
/ tanned, the West Orange Town Coun-
ell will secure data on every phase of
the situation. Either Engineer w. b.
} Fuller or Engineer G. G. Vermeule
will be employed to assist in secur-
ing the data. Estimates of the cost
of their services we're furnished the
council at special meeting last
night.
For several years the council
has sought Intellectually to determine
just what should be done to improve
the inadequate supply, but the off,
| cials now are resolved to bring mat
ters to quick conclusion.
The principal idea in employing an
engineer is to examine the PROPOSE
ton of the West Orange Water Com
pany,- from which concern the town
now receives its supply, and deter
mine the advisability of establishing
municipality owned plant. The Off
cials propose to ask Orange, South
Orange and the East Jersey Water
Company what sum they would ask
for furnishing the towns supply.
willing to Spend 100000.
The West Orange Water Company
Is willing to spend between $4,000 and
100000 in enlarging its system
throughout the town and furnishing a
supply that will meet all requirements
for years to come, provided the
municipality takes a ten-year con-
tract.
From Alexander Potter, who was
retained some time ago to get tests
from wells driven on the First Noun
tain, was received q letter which in
dicated that the engineer intends ask
ing the town for more money than the
officials expected he would ask.
1t was the belief of the officials that
Mr. Potter's work consisted only of
supervising these tests, but his letter
stated that he also studied the prop
osition of the town erecting its own
plant and that his bill will include
services for this task.
The officials expressed surprise at
the engineers letter, and Simeon Roll
linson, town attorney, stated he un-
derstood that Mr.. Potter was retained
only to make the tests and not to give
other data. The lawyer said he had
looked over the minutes of the coun-
Gil for the past few years and found
no contract had ever been entered into
with Mr.. Potter and that he was hired
by a resolution. Mr.. Robinson and
tie water committee were instructed
to consult with the engineer and seek
a satisfactory adjustment Of the
money end of the matter.
Engineers Fix Recompenss
To study the proposition Of the
West Orange Water Company and
collect data on the question of a
municipality owned plant Mr.. Fuller
asked $475.
Mr.. Vermeule asked $3.50 for the
same work. If the council desires 1t,
Mr. Vermeule will furnish data on the
installation of proper fire protection
facilities for $3.50 additional. The
water committee at the next meeting
of the council will make a recon-
mendation as to who should be
selected.
Councilman Michael Brady, chair
man of the water committee, stated
that Commissioner Harry D. Weth-
ling, of Orange, who has charge OF
the water system in that city, has
promised to offer West Orange a
proposition to give the town a supply
from the Orange reservoir.
That West Or9nge can now erect a
plant cheaper thaIt ever was con-
tended by Councilman Thomas Drum
mond.