-------
3,103,160
Engineering and contingencies 336,840
----------
3,440,000
Protection of Newark pipe line 20,000
----------
Total cost 3,460,000

The final recommendation of the committee involves the
consideration of two projects for flood storage, one on Great Piece
Meadow and the other above Mountain View on the Pompton. In making
such recommendations the committee is of the opinion that it must
take into account matters of engineering policy with regard to
future needs and contingencies, as well as the bare necessities of
the present.

If there were none other than the single problem of prevention the
committee would advise the construction of the reservoir on Great
Piece Meadow by reason of its smaller probable cost and its equal
efficiency. It is plain, however, that there are many important
features of public policy involved in the subject at hand.
Population in the valley of the Passaic is developing so rapidly
that in only a few years the present sources of water supply will
be inadequate. The whole subject of water supply for northern New
Jersey demands immediate consideration, and it would not be wise to
take up the matter of prevention of flood damage in the Passaic
without basing the value of every project upon its adaptability
for use in future water-supply needs.

By expending $2,600,000 a great reservoir could be constructed upon
Great Piece Meadow which could not be adapted for any purposes
except to regulate floods; it would stand in season and out of
season a huge feature of the valley and entirely useless and
inoperative save on the occasion of high water. However great might
be the needs of the inhabitants of the Passaic Valley for a
conserved water supply, the construction on the meadows,
representing an enormous expenditure, would furnish no solution of
the problem. It would admit of no enlargement for water-supply
storage and would be available for no purpose except flood
regulation.

When we