New Jersey Water News.

New Jersey Water News.

Residents of Merchantville and the local water company are at odds with each other, because the State board of health has reported unfavorably upon samples of the water sent for inspection. The council has requested that the contract between the borough and the water company be changed to read “pure and wholesome water,” in place of the original text which specified “artesian well water.” The mayor of the borough declares emphatically that no new contract will be signed until the condition improves. The old contract, calling for artesian well water is still in effect, and will so continue, pending an opinion from the borough solicitor. The local board of health will act in a manner consistent with the report of the State laboratory.— Harrison’s council has rescinded its recent action in extending for ten years the fifteen-year contract of the New Jersey Suburban Water company, as the result of a fight made by President John J. Daly, of the council. Mr. Daly, who refused to affix his signature to the resolution increasing the term of the contract, declared that the water company was obtaining an extension of its contract under false pretences. Daly began his argument for the rescinding resolution by declaring that the town is at present paying the “exorbitant price of $82.50 a gal. per I,000,000 gal. for its water, while there remains a standing bona-fide offer from Jersey City to supply the town at the rate of $60 for the same quantity.” The town is using at present 1,000,000 or more gal. of water every day, which meant the people were losing $22.50 a day. When the proposed terminal is in operation 4,000,000 gal. will be consumed every twenty-four hours—making the loss to the taxpayers $90 a day, which in a year would amount to $32,850. “The terminal station (he added) must have water. It is compelled to buy it from this town. Then why extend a contract with this water company at such an exorbitant price? New Jersey herself is about to go into the water business, and in ten years from now we may be able to buy water from the State for $10 a gal.” The healthier portion of the city sides with Mr. Daly; at the same time there is a talk of applying for a mandamus to compel him to sign the resolution.

Residents of Merchantville and the local water company are at odds with each other, because the State board of health has reported unfavorably upon samples of the water sent for inspection. The council has requested that the contract between the borough and the water company be changed to read “pure and wholesome water,” in place of the original text which specified “artesian well water.” The mayor of the borough declares emphatically that no new contract will be signed until the condition improves. The old contract, calling for artesian well water is still in effect, and will so continue, pending an opinion from the borough solicitor. The local board of health will act in a manner consistent with the report of the State laboratory.— Harrison’s council has rescinded its recent action in extending for ten years the fifteen-year contract of the New Jersey Suburban Water company, as the result of a fight made by President John J. Daly, of the council. Mr. Daly, who refused to affix his signature to the resolution increasing the term of the contract, declared that the water company was obtaining an extension of its contract under false pretences. Daly began his argument for the rescinding resolution by declaring that the town is at present paying the “exorbitant price of $82.50 a gal. per I,000,000 gal. for its water, while there remains a standing bona-fide offer from Jersey City to supply the town at the rate of $60 for the same quantity.” The town is using at present 1,000,000 or more gal. of water every day, which meant the people were losing $22.50 a day. When the proposed terminal is in operation 4,000,000 gal. will be consumed every twenty-four hours—making the loss to the taxpayers $90 a day, which in a year would amount to $32,850. “The terminal station (he added) must have water. It is compelled to buy it from this town. Then why extend a contract with this water company at such an exorbitant price? New Jersey herself is about to go into the water business, and in ten years from now we may be able to buy water from the State for $10 a gal.” The healthier portion of the city sides with Mr. Daly; at the same time there is a talk of applying for a mandamus to compel him to sign the resolution.