Daily globe., 1879-06-08
FIFTH WARD IMPROVEMENTS.

Another Conference OF properly owners
and the Board Of Public Works.
A meeting Of prominent property owners
in the Fifth ward was held in the Office of
tho board of public works yesterday morn
ing, for the purpose of exchanging views and
arriving at an understanding with regard to
the construction of new system Of sewer
age in the Fifth ward. The opposition to
the movement was represented by eight or
ten property owners, Gen. Becker and Aid.
Rhodes appearing in behalf of the interests
of the city. In order that the public M
appreciate the status of the affair, it may be
stated that the board was authorized to ad-
vertise for bids by formal order passed at
a previous meeting of the council, and that
final action in this connection would have
taken place at the regular meeting of the
board last Friday, had it not been that Gen.
Sibley and others requested stay of pro-
ceeding until the board had heard their side
of the question.
The discussion, yesterday, was preceded
by consideration of the followinggpetition,
which was read by Gen. Sibley:
To the Hon. Board of Public Works:
The undersigned citizens and tax payers
resident in the Fifth ward, respectfully repre-
sent, that the plan of sewerage presented by
the board, and adopted by the city council, is
in their judgment wise and we'll conceived,
except that portion of it which relates to those
streets north of Grove street, which they re-
spectfullY ask the board to eliminate from the
general plan for the following reasons, to-wit:
First, omparatively few individuals would re-
ceive any benefit from the sewerage of La
fayette avenue, and the streets north Of Grove,
and that measure has not been applied for at
all, 80 far as the undersigned are Informed.
Second, the assessment for the heavy and ex-
pensive work, would fall in great part, on
those who have already to bear the burden of
improving and widening Lafayette avenue, of
itself sufficiently oppressive in single year.
Third-There are but two private sewers dis
charging their contents into the brook, between
Grove street and Lafayette avenue, and as by
decree of the supreme court all the water con-
veyed heretofore by fume to mills below must
be restored to it's original channel thereby
very much enlarging its channel and force, it
cannot be urged that the public health can in
any source above Grove street.
For the above and other reasons which
might be advanced. the undersigned respect
fully and earnestly request your honorable
| body to SO modify the proposed plan of sewage
referred to as to terminate it at Grove street on
| the north, and to instruct the city engineer ac-
cordingly. Respectfully,
II. 81. Sibley, NJ Auerbach,
A. n. Wilder, J. L. Merriam,
w. r. Merriam, Elizabeth Borup
Theodore Borup, G. B. Newcomb,
w. D. Kirk, T. B. Campbell
P. n. Kelly, Horace Thompson.
Gen. Sibley remarked that while he was op
posed to any movement that might tend to
defeat the measure, he thought that the 10.
cality north of Grove street might be ex.
empted from the order authorizing the con-
struction of the sewer, until next year. Mr.
Horace Thompson expressed the opinion
that the persons residing in the locality in
dicated should be saved the expense attend.
ing the construction of the sewer this year
Mr.. G. D. Strong hoped that nothing would
occur to delay the construction of the pro
posed sewers. The best interests of the city
demanded that they should be constructed
and the speaker was in favor of immediat.
action. Mr.. William Lee was of the sam,
opinion. The private sewers in the Fiftl
ward were disgrace to the city, and if tn
proper authorities did not go on with tn,
work of building new sewers, the speake
would take the responsibility upon himself
Gen. Becker thought no objections shoult
be made to the scheme, while Aid. Rhodes
ikened it to the new market house, remark
ing that if the matter was referred back t,
the council, it would be defeated. A peti
tion was read from the property owners o
Westminster street, protesting against tn
proposed sewer on that thoroughfare
after which the citizens dispersed.