Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-12-31
BOARD HAS
LAND A-P[EATY
Deal Closed Yesterday Insures
Water Rights for City for
Many Years


Many Years
The Board of Water Commissioners
held its last meeting of the year 1918
last night and observed such by an
nouncing that It now controls all OF
the land needed for the future devel-
opfng OF the water system for the
next fifteen or twenty years. The
report of the real estate committee
THAT IL had succeeded in closing the
deal with the Algairs at South River
whereby the city now owns property
on both sides of the South river and
viii have an ample watershed to care
for the supplying of this city for
years to come was received with sat
isfaction by the board as this matter
has IONS been I'm the balance and 1t
looked for a time as though condem-
nation proceedings would be made
necessary. In addition to receiving
this highly acceptive report of the
real estate committee the board last
night also paid its sincere respects to
Charles ID. Snedeker. the retiring
member Of the board. last night being
his last meeting as a water ommis-
sioner.
The real estate committee. consist
ing OF Charles D.. Snedeker. Harry
Conard and Hugh Timmlns went to
South River yesterday afternoon In all
endeaNor to close the sale with Joseph
Algair. J-, and Mrs. Mary Algair. the
owners OF the strip OF land along the
South River. which the Water Com
missioners have long been trying to
purchase. Mr.. Snedeker outlined to
tho board brifiy the steps which the
real estate committee had taken in
trying to secure this land. He stated
that when the board first tried to buy
the property, which will be invaluable
2nnA - Ar.n md
would not consent to sell to the city Mt
any lower price. The board was then
~endeavoring to purchase eighteen
acres.
Upon the death of Joseph Algair.
Sr., further efforts were made to pur-
chase the property n these pro-
crossed until the city had the option
of buying the property at $500 an
acre. The Water Commissioners of
fered $500 an acrs for the property
and were refused.
The real estate committee of the
water board then conferred with the
aldermen as TO the ~advisability of Of
fering the Algairs more money for
the property, which will be invaluable
to the city In the developing of its
water supply sytem.. The water com
missioners learned the sentiment OF
the aldermen towards the matter and
decided TO offer $3.50 an acre for the
property.
More Land Thar Planned.
At the meeting of the property own
ers and the real estate committed yes
i terday the boundary line of the Land
which Is to be purchased was changed
so that 1t will include seven more
acres. giving the city more iand
along the South River than was orig
mally planned and in addition MAX
ing it impossible for persons to buy
lots which would come very near that
land owned by the city. As a result
of the change of boundary line more
wells can be SUM along the river and
the water will be protected better
than under the first arrangement.
with the seven additional acres the
property purchased from the Algairs
totals ISL acres. After the boundary
line had been changed and the matter
discussed the owners of the property
finally decided to sell to the city at
$3.50 an acre. This will mean a total
expenditure of $7,210.
On the other side of the South
River the Water Board now owns 1875
acres, this property being bought
from Howard Brown for $500 an acre.
Thus the Water Board now has the
property which IL has long coveted on
both sides of the river which Is to be
the watershed for the supplying OF
water to this city in the future.
Big Job Accomplished.
The general opinion of the commits
| sioners concerning the closing OF the
deal was that a big Job had been ac-
complished and hat the real estate
committee was to be congratulated up
on the success of their efforts. The
report OF the real estate committee
was received and a copy of the con-
] tract was ordered placed on the min
utes. The clerk was also Instructed
to notify the aldermen of h %transac-
ton SO that they might make the nee
essary arrangements for the financing
of the sale.
superintendent Samuel j. Mason
was authorized to have a partition
erected between h gas producer
house and the engine room at the
South River pumping station.
A petition was received from certain
employees of the King street shop ask
ing for an increase in salary. This was
referred to the nance committee to
investigate n report back to the
board.
A report was received from Superin-
tendent Mason that the 16-inch main
under the river had been tested and
found to be in good condition, no leak
age being discovered.
A petition with reference to a water
bill from the Israel Benevolent So
ciety was received and referred to the
superintendent to investigate.
Before ad~iourning President Charles
A. Landback expressed the regret of
the board at having Commissioners
Snedeker leave. Mr.. Snedeker had
been a member of the board for two
full terms. ten years and during eight
of these years had been president of
tina body. He Is the only maj who
has ever been selected by the city faith
ers to serve two successive terms. He
thanked the board for their coopera-
ton and complimented II upon the
harmony which had prevailed and the
work which had been accomplished,
especially in planning for the reservoir
and the watershed at South River.
All of the board members were
present