Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-10-08
TELL Of WATER
At HOPELAWN
Situation So Bad Residents
Give Up in Despair---Peti-
ti0nS Without Avail.

HGPELAWN, Oct. S.-The water
supply in this place is such that many
of the residences are forced to get
what water they use from their
neighbors. Some of the people had
wells dug. but the clay banks in this
section drained the water from these.
Others were lucky enough to strike
a sand spring on their property,
which is the source of supply to
those who have no means of getting
water
In the case of A. s. Swanick, who
resides on New Brunswick avenue, 1t
Is necessary for him and his family
to carry all the water they use from
nearby springs. He said when inter-
!, viewed by an EVENING NEWS re-
porter:
"I have been carrying water in
pals so long that it is a habit. We
have done everything we can for re-
lief, but no one seems to care IL we
ever get water. We have gotten up
so many petitions that the office in
Woodbridge must be full of scrap
paper. We are going to take steps
'neto find out why we cannot get water
at a reasonable rate"
The Michael Kockick family who
have been in this neighborhood for
the past twenty years, have been try
property, but without success. While
they would not make any statement
l to the reporter. he learned that on
several occasions the township COM
mitteemen told them to get a list of
signers so that some effort could be
made to help them get water. They
Acomplied with the instructions of the
township officials, but that is as far
Is it went.
sa T.. ~kIx T~.t1 a
z ourd many promises had been
fmade to put In the water, but all
that was done was that the people
we've told to get up another list of
signess. The majority of residents
there said that they wanted water
(, badly, but at the price it vas Of
fered TO them it was beyond their
fmcans.
Several of them said that at one
lime the committeeman told them
That they could get water from them
,iRt cost of $40 lot. In n short
ime it went up to $40 lot, and the
1, last time they were told that they
\ would have to pay about $40 a lot
40 get water mains laid through tie
t'ftreets.
1t was the opinion Of the people
hat they did not see why they had
% stand the entire cost of the water
ystem. and thought that it was up
10 the township to help them put
|n this water system. They said
Uhat they were paying taxes for i'm
Nprovements that will not do them
a 1ny good. and that as 1t was the
ki property will not improve till some
" Deans of water supply is furnished
.xchem.
III A 1t was further stated by those IN
that the Hopelawn Sec
fston was without fire protection.
1&ley said that all the fire compa-
= les in their section and woodbridge
Nvwnship could do no good II large
le was to start. All that could he
80 ed to fight flames would be chem
His, and that there is not hydrant
A Var enough 10 cover the whole Sec
1n The streets are in such con-
jon that in some places it is i'm
Sssible to get a fire company close
pugh to the scene of the fire.
a. = case was sighted when the Office
the McHose clay banks caught
fire. The Perth Amboy fire de-
rtment was called, but the hyd
Il was so far away and the streets
s9&s muddy that it was impossible for
iksy m to render any assistance. The
lding burned to the ground, while
n fire fighters played small streams
Mchemicals on the blaze. 1t was
lained that 1t would take so
fd ch hose to reach fire that not
q 6re than one stream could be used
ii any section of this place, and
I'd in most cases not enough hose
in I'D be gotten in the township to
o e,r most places. 1t was further
taj that If enough hose was avail
thDe,l the place would be burned
vi before aid could be summoned
crJe iOnly means of protection that
TIL v had at this time was a small
d mlical apparatus, which they said
2hldl not do any good In serious
was pointed out that this sec
IN of the township is well spread
a oyer the land. and that there
MANY people who are becoming
gusted with conditions. 1t is the
ling that water is the one thing
1t is holding this place from be-
ming more thickly populated. as
bpeVtY was worth nothing without
" wpter.
The<poirt that they seemed to
Ing Gut as being the most impor-
Mt was the cost of putting the
Hter system in. They all agreed
ht they were willing to pay fair
Ice to cover the expense of laying
mains, and that they had signed
to pay $40 a lot. They believed
at thisl was plenty to tax them for
tier, and that this amount would
<Nver the construction and installing
Z \iee. They argued that they had
en- informed that Perth Amboy
! & as willing to pay part of the con-
act price, that Woodbridge would
lyhnd some of the expense and the
II Hople the rest. They stated that
Continued on page 3D.
II