The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-01
THE JERSEY CITY FRAUDS.
Another stupendous Job Comes to Light-A Por-
ton Of Montgomery Street Sunk in the
swamp-HaK Million Of tho Public
Money Thrown Away-who viii
Be Held Liable What
Mr.. StaA.up Says.

Tho HERALD OF the 18th OF September lass
blew the first blast that awoke the people Of Jersey
City from their lethargy while the city was being
plundered by combination now known throughout
the entire country the "Bumsted Ring" The FIRST
chapter Of the Jersey City frauds was published on
that day, and chapter after chapter followed, till
the people became alarmed, and they appealed to
the Legislature for redress. The Legislature
was deaf to the cry Of relief. and Obeyed
faithfully the behests OF the "ring" by
declining to interfere with their schemes
of plumber. Yet the story of Jersey Cty'S
wrongs was continued In the HERALD till q de-
liverer-the faithful Judiciary-came to the rescue
The memorable charge of Judge Bedle, the finding
OF the unparalleled number Of 148 indictments
against city officials by the most honest Grand
Jury ever empaneed in Hudson county, the trial,
conviction and sentence Of the Police Commission
ers and the incarceration of Bumsted himself In
the State Prison, are facts not only fresh in the
public mind but likely to be remembered for many
years. And yet the investigation into the munich
pal frauds is simply suspended, not by any means
exhausted, pending tho trial OF the indictments
now in the District Attorneys ONCE. .
The fate of Bumsted struck terror into the hearts
OF the city officials, and they now moving very
cautiously In all their transactions. The high
handed proceeding of opening or improving streets
property owners and which the Head Centre
designated one of the pecuarittes OF the charter,
OF determination against the small holders are in
dulged IN No more houses are to be pulled down
3sy Iese heads 10 self sy The man wh
three years ago boosted that he would
drive out every nSd 4 he
man should receive seat in any OF tho commits
sons, was overtaken by speedy retribution,
to the tens, nay hundreds OF Industrious poor pco
pie who are today homeless chiefly through his
very Important chapter Of the municipal
frauds-the Montgomery street jobs here given
for the first time The people Of Jersey % YIN
sSs clty tie round sum q ssSe ana
their amazement when they learn that after this
vast expenditure there is no street there to day.
quainted with tho manner in which things are
sometimes done in Jersey 1t reads like huge joke.
But in this age Of wonders people are becoming at
se0o, 900 JOB, q pile Of masonry thrown up in
places Of twenty-five feet, disappeared in the
night like one OF the enchanted cities Of old, about
aS ss # G ne
massive walls. which had been braced by iron rods
sank into the mud, and a pile OF yellow earth now
marks where Montgomery street, the 100000
job, once stood. The walls were constructed with
cement to the width of from ten to fourteen feet
at the bottom and from six to eight feet at the top
The space between the walls forming the street was
filed In with earth, and the whole mass rested on
an expansive fooring Of piles and planking, ex
tending the entire length Of the new thorough
fare. Mr.. O'Beirne, civil engineer, who furnished
much valuable information to the Grand jury made
an examination of the pile of rubbish, and has
prepared lengthy report in reference to 1t. He
showed that the cumbrous structure could not re-
main long its position and he accordingly warned
several city officials when the work was COM
menced against having the work carried out ac-
cording to the plan then adopted.
The following items, copied from the records OF
the Board OF Public Works In regard to this job,
will prove Instructive