Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-02-19
AGAIN CONSIDER
CITY RESERVOIR
Mayor Dorsey Takes Up Situa-
tion at Two Meetings
OUTLINES PRESENT CONDITIONS
Speaks to Water Board, Who
Are in Accord With Plan
for Project

The matter of city water reser-
voir, to be constructed on the proper
ty now owned by the city for that
purpose on the western boundary,
was again brought before the public
last night when Mayor Frank Dorsey
addressed two meetings in order to
learn the consensus of opinion and
secure support to the movement.
AT the meeting of the merchants
and manufacturers held in the Elks
Club Mayor Dorsey outlined the
present condition of inadequate faeil-
tiles to supply the people of Perth
Amboy with water and told briefly
Of the proposed reservoir.
The mayor also appeared before
the Water Commissioners. who met
last night, and he found them to pc
unanimously in favor of the reservoir
and ready to advertise for bids if a
way of financing the proposition
would be advanced by the aldermen.
The mayor was informed that the
Water Board now had all of the
working plans and specifications on
hand and there was nothing else for
that body to do until the aldermen
acted favorably upon the question of
a new reservoir.
In speaking of the reservoir propo-
sition before the merchants and manu-
facturers last night Mayor Dorsey said
such an addition to the city's water
system would result in the people get
ting clean water, constant pressure
and would also be protected against
loss from big fire or draught. The
city at present the Mayor, said Is
being supplied with water through
three main-two large ones and
a small one-under the Raritan river
which come about eight miles from
Runyon and South river to this city.
He pointed out that If anything should
happen to the large mains the smaller
one would be insufficient. to supply the
demands of the city. 1t Is also alto
gether possible, he said, that all mains
should be put out of commission. AS
a result Perth Amboy would be with
out any water.
With q reservoir on this side of
the river sufficient water to insure
three or fourdays supply could
be stored there, the Mayor said, and
then If anything went wrong with the
mains under the river the city would
not be without water. With a reser-
voir from which q steady pressure
could be maintained dirty water would
be thing Of the past, Mayor Dorsey
said.
The building of the proposed forty
million gallon reservoir at once was
proposed by Mayor Dorsey who stated
that he would go before the Board
of Aldermen and put the matter UP
to them and ask for bond issue
which would cover the cost The
Chamber of Commerce was asked to
support this movement, as were all
organizations, industries and indil i'd
uals interested in protecting Perth
Amboy's water supply and giving bet
ter service. This support was pledged
to the Mayor.
The cost of the reservoir was esti-
mated at from 100000 to 5000, 900
In 1918. What the cost would be now
Is not known but the Mayor states
it would not impose "a burden upon
the residents here. The consumption
NOW, he pointed out. Is larger than If
the water which the consumers were
receiving was clear. At present, he
said, practically everyone is letting the
water run in order to allow 1t to clear
itself.
Maoyr Dorsey this morning receiv-
ed from Acting Clerk William r. Cor
nelson of Board of Water Commits
sioners, a communication which stat
ed that the members of the Board
are unanimously in favor of the reser-
voir proposition. A copy Of a resolu-
tion passed by the Water Board June
S. 1918, is included with the commun
ication to the mayor, which read as
follows:
Whereas, The construction of a
forty million gallon reservoir Is con-
sdered necessary and imperative fol-
the safe and continuous supply OF
water to the domestic and industria
consumers. many being engaged ii
production of munitions and mate
rials essential for purposes of war.
BE it resolved, That the Board Of
Aldermen. the financial board of thi:
city, be requested to consider the mat
ter of reservoir construction and the
financing of same"
This resolution was signed by al
Of the board members and approved
by Mayor John +. TenBroeck June 6
1918.
The aldermen then discussed the
matter of financing this project in
1918, and finally decided to have the
finance and water committee of the
board together with superintendent
Of the Water Department Samuel j
Mason. should meet with the Capital
Issues Committee to get federal per-
,, mission to expend the necessary
money on this construction work The
Capital Issues Committee would not
give the necessary permission for the
duration of the war declaring that II
was not essential at that time and
there the matter dropped, although
tne water BOafu Hdu III tle Hi'stii-
time, secured all of the working draw
ings and necessary plans for immedi-
ate work
Harry r. Wilson. then president OF
the Water Board, had pushed this
project at all times and he was rea' y
the one who started something def
mite in the way OF a reservoir in sug-
gesting that a competent engineer hf
secured to determine whether or no
the property owned by the city wa.
the right location and upon learning
this site was ideal, the expert was in
structed to prepare the plans for the
actual construction
Continued on page -
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