New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-15
THE JERSEY BO ULEVARD.

THE JERSEY BOULEVARD
. Jog THAT WILL ADD SIX MILLIONS TO THE DEBT
OF JERSEY CITY AND BENEFIT spEcUIAToRs AT
TIE EXPENSE OF THE COUNTY.
For many years a number OF real estate
,peeuators have been trying to get the consent OF he
neope 70 build an expensive road from extremity OF
Hudson County N j. to the other distance OF sixteen
,,os and have secured the aid of a number of polti
Clans Some OF them speedily obtained large tracts OF
land ON the Nights, following the example OF the real
nc, 40 mon many of whom invested all the money they
had in land and even then only paid small percentage
ON their purchases They worked industrously to Sc
r the massage of law authorize the construction
Of road and about five years ago succeeded In having
> nil, passed by the Legislature giving them Commits
,on which was composed OF men in the Ring. These
Commissioners proceeded TO lay out an avenue
winch was to cost over $l2UoOoO, but the peo-
ME held meetings. protested against the project ana
hired counsel 10 contest the matter 30 vigorous was
the attack that during the following Winter 1t was put
70 vote in the county under the sanction OF the last
Democratic Legislature, and the result was victory
o. Tho neone In many polliDgplaces not single vote
~ cast for the Boulevard and less than ten per cent
NJ the entire vote in favor or IT, The people hopod
that they had heard the last OF the noble drlve put
in this they we're mistaken Many OF the spectators
were very much hampered by mortgages and many VINO
had been induced TO buy property on the proposed line
g., ;er NJ the rand advance Of prices promised them.
he,,me diseusted and put their property on the
,norbet N such an extent that last Spring one
agent In Bergen had over 400 houses for SAFE
and there many others Win equahy
finn lines and no buyers. This state OF things was
ruinous 10 specustors and house agents. They were
forced TO do something, and combination with the
dominant politicians was effected Every effort 10
manufacture public opinion put forth. Those who
were managing the affair held meeting In political
cnbhouse and invited number OF influential men TO
conference on the subject carefully drawn Dill
WAS read TO them, and they were duly i'm
messed with the fact that the trainers or the
act we're honest in their intentions, and meant
70 present bill to the Legislature with an eye to
the public good The bill sent to Trenton and the
neon,e knew nothing OF 1t until II had almost become
law When attention was attracted to It, 1t was found
that il had been altered to such an extent that the IN
uental citizens whose consent had been obtained 10 ltS
iptroduction could not recognize it. When the bill be-
came law, Marcus L. Beach, Orestes Cleveland, ana
James Gopsill were named as Commissioners. Two or
three highly respected citizens were also put on the
Commission but they formed a minority Of the mem
hera and one of them resigned. Among the hardest
workers for the Boulevard was VIM ii. Bumsfed, VINO
still hopes TO DC superintendent of this colossal job
The Commission organized early last Spring. Orestes
Cleveland was elected President and the Board pro-
ceeded at once to business Thew invited suggestions on
tho nropo.ed route and delayed announcing 1t until
had fine office fitted up and hired number OF high
salaried officials The counsel 10 inc Board was inc
champion of the former Boulevard Commission A
number of real estate spectators formed associa
ostehsibly devise means Tor
of Hudson County real estate, ana secured tns ST
before they developed their plan to aid the Boulevara
Commissioners In their undressing, anu ndatssa
their fundamentally the county was in th oa
with appeals TO support the Commission Iheh he PEG
trust the Commission At last map was naae SHOWING
the route that had been selected. Ihen the people
became enraged and Indignation meeuags were hn1u t
n was found that the first step the Comilis.
tSronsh their own land. seven Of the nine Gem
missoners subject 10 assessment tor oenents anu
the whose property was danagen shouu mo- Se
allowed to assess the amount OF their loss, ana SIT
are uncovered 10 do by the act The line selected was
ON the brow Of the hill where the improvements mace
stead of running in straight line, curved from SIDE 10
side in Eorder 20 reach the property bought ny TOM
| Commissioner BeacL's property, and involved the
destruction of the County Courthouse aud JAN whsn
Al right angles were the Commissioners tht
none OF their lots should escape The road was 10 Dc
OF trees aud the coat was variousy estimated AT from
! SlOOOO.0O0 TO Sl6,00OOOO. ,,--
were mpelled to make concessions. they decided 10
leave the Courthouse and IN 50 doing they passes ns
hotel eligible corner, whch cooled me aup vi
| tain contractors whom the Courthouse JOB was a
| pieasng feature OF the avenue. Among the al
tempts made to appease indignant people. the Com
missioners promised to leave the sewers out reduce
The width TO feet without shadetrees and macadan
re The road.bed 40 rs to Keep the cost below s6O
but even al these figures the people will have none OF IT,
They Know that the sohdaed debt OF the county
about 500 100000 property valuation OF less tha
100000 O and the proposition to Increase that amount
SIS 600 900 will make their iDsuterabe. When the
| boulevard Commissioners attempted TO sell s2,OOOO OF
their bonds New-York they were restrained Oy an III
junction granted the request OF the lawyers engaged
nv the people ana the right of the Commissioners 10
issue bonds in anticipation Of expenses will be tested
The repeal of the Boulevard act Will he Issue ~ tnt
| Fall campaign.