The New York herald., 1872-10-18
JERSEY CITY STREET IMPROVEMENTS
Turnpikes and Plank Roads
Abolished.
Five Great Thoroughfares Through the City.
The Mountain Road-A Turnpike with
Bloody Hlstory-Street Contractors
Outwitted-A New and Improved
System Of Competition.

Progress in Jersey City has been myth, because
in the matter of public highways the city has been
almost on q level with Weehawkcn or any OF the
other poor townships of Hudson county. The only
thorOughfares leading from the city what are
designated "plank roadsn-an institution handed
down from the days of our great-grandiathers.
The existence Of turnpikes within the limits Of a
community numbering 125,Oo0 inhabitants and
Boosting OF q high order OF civilization is a
reprOach that cannot be excused. At the
latest session OF the Legislature movement
in the right direction was made by the passage OF
bill authorizing the Boards of Chosen Free
holders of Essex and Hudson counties to purchase
the turnpike bridge over the Hackensack leading
to Newark and throw 1t open to the public for all
time. The Boards carried ont the provisions Of
that bill A different movement Is now In active
progress, which will SO completely 0utflank the in
hertOrs OF the venerable turnpike institution that
they will live to see the grass grow at the gates.
The construction Of the SIX great highways lead
ing through Jersey City to the suburbs Will consti-
tute the greatest public Improvement Of the past
quarter OF q century. These are Montgomery
street, running from the Hudson to the Hacken-
sack River; Grand street, which leads to the main
road to Newark; Newark avenue, the great central
artery of the city, extending its entire
length; the Mountain road, which forms an
the northwestern section OF the city: and
Bergen Rsrsan the e
street Improvement Is being pushed forward SO
rapidly that in spite Of the repeated andslides and
.disappearances," it will be completed by next
Spring. Grand street Is no longer disgrace to the
city. The pavement in the lower section or the
city Will be aa Within & lew Nv weeks Tne tnp NeWas
month, ana 1T will then be second to no thorough
fare III the county. The Bergen Point road is no
longer mudhoe at the southern limit OF the city,
and although the work Is not completed, the high-
way has become fashionable driving ground.
The Mountain road Is not only a desirable, but u
wonderful Improvement. To open communication
with the hill 1t was necessary to excavate rock to
considerable depth erect retaining wall on the
edge OF prccipice from twenty to fifty feet high,
and to secure an easy grade the road winds in
zig-zag form. The cost OF this Improvement, ac.
Unforeseen diiicnlties attending the execn:
on Of the NV w9rs fully seo @ na w
comparison with the erection or the Hundred
Steps," a most expensive stairway which was
erected few years ago at this place at a cost oil
S21 900, fact almost incredible when one considers
the cost OF the materials in the stairway The eX-
cessve fatigue which follows an ascent, even In
cool weather, will necessitate an abandonment Ol
this route when the mountain road is completed.
Mr. Clark member of the Board OF Public Works,
states that this will be the most credtable job per-
formed by any OF the contractors OF the city for
long time.
minus Of the last OF the turnpikes which has some
bloody associations connected with II. Fifteen
years ago a party OF men employed In R0mmclt "
Leicht's brewery undertook to burn down the
shany at the toll gate as the toll collector gathered
in large revenue on brewery wagons alone. A
night was appointed and the men came pre-
pared to burn 1t down. but before they reached the
place driver Oh brewery wagon drove up
his team and swept the structure aside. Mr..
Leicht, however, reconstructed the shanty next
morning, and in the meantime endeav0red to effect
q compromise with the turnpike company. All
overtures were spurned. The men came along q
week afterwards and burned 1t to the ground The
toll collector secured mis- gun and taking aim at n
man who was an innocent spectator on the
heights, but whom ne supposed to be one OF the
incendiaries, shot MIN In the leg The man re-
covered and no legal proceedings were instituted
The turnpike, which is the direct highway to Pater
son, is the property OF the Hoboken Land and I'M
provement Company. The next step to reduce the
company to the condition OF Othello will be the
Improvement OF Ogden road, forming a connection
with the mountain and turnpike roads,
The latest great public Improvement in the city
is the extension Of Washington street to the Cen
erected over the Morris Canal Creek.
bridge is to'be erected also In the extension OF
Walnut street. The bids for this work were
opened at the meeting Of the Board Of Works last
Tuesday, and there was found not a little
joker but large one among those bids.
The lowest estimate Of any OF the well
known city contractors was 100000, but one
man came forward with bidb OF $4,000, a sum not
sufficient to erect the buttresses, and yet, by some
sort OF legerdeman, the man is to make money on
It, protest was lodged against an award to this
nection with this improved and patented system Of
bidding. The Board of Public Works will, no doubt,
act cautiously, as they always do when the Grand
Jury Is In session.