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It may not be generally known, but it ia a fact, nevertheless, that former plans for a water supply for Jersey City contemplated the construction of three reservoirs in Morris county, two of the proposed sites being in Rockaway township, and the third in Jefferson township. Of the two reservoirs in Rockaway township, one was to have been on lands owned by the Stickle brothers and the other at Beach Glen. Tbe location for the proposed reservoir in Jefferson township was at Lower Berkshire Valley. Years ago parties in interest took options amounting in the aggregate to nearly $100,000 on lands needed for these reservoirs. What is of importance to Jersoy City is the fact that under these former plans all danger of pollution by the drainage from Boonton, Rockaway and Dover would have been eliminated, the first named place being miles below the proposed reservoirs, while the water of the Rockaway river, polluted by the drainage of Rockaway and Dover, would not have been impounded in the reservoirs in Rockaway township, and the Berkshire Valley reservoir would have taken the water from the Rockaway water shed above Dover, extending into Sussex county, and from the Miunesink water ehed, The building of tko reservoirs in Rockaway township would have necessitated the rebuilding of the Hibernia Minerailroad, from Rockaway to Hibernia, and tho construction of two wagon roads, one on each side of the valley, all of which would have had to bo done by the water company at an expense of not far from $50,000. It is quite safe to state that but for tho acquirement by the Flyun syndicate of tho Alma House property, that syndicate would have had to spend in Morris county upwards of 1500,000 more than will be spent under present conditions. The ownership of tho Alma House projcrty gave to Morris county the key to the situa-ation. By tho sale of that property Morris County stands to lose a clear half million dollars, which would otherwise have been paid to Morris County people. And Jersey City is even a greater sufferer, For while to the people of Morris county the sale of the Alms House property for reservoir purposes mean3 a prospective loss of upwards of $500,000, uud to Boonton and Dover the expenditure of not much under $100,000 for sewerage systems, to Jersey City the matter resolves itself into a question of the public health. Instead of getting tho waters of Bplit Rock Fond, Green Pond and of the Rockaway and Minneaink water sheds, above Dover, the Flynn syndicate will impound at Boonton the water of the Rockaway River, contaminated by the surface drainage, at least, of three growing towns, and blended with tho water of the Morris canal, which crosses the Rockaway river at Dover, and overflows into it on every level between Dover and Boonton.
Newspaper Details
Dover Iron Era
Dover, New Jersey, US
Fri, Jan 20, 1899
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Sam M.
USA 21 Mar 2025
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