The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-11-23
BERGEN IMPROVEMENTS
The Association Discusses
the Needs of the District.
Mr.. DEAR CONDEMNS THE JOURNAL. "
Its Editorial Utterances About the
West Side Sewer Did Not
Please Him.

Representative Bergenites to the num-
Der of half O hundred, and other Bergen
ties (not considered to be strictly repre-
sentative), in equal numbers, all compos-
ing the Bergen Improvement Association.
assembled last evening at Fairmount
Hall, on Bergen avenue, to discuss i'm
proyements needed to develop the Bergen
section Commissioner Van Keuren, ex-
Commissioner Carr, d. E. Cleary, j. NJ.
Jones, Livingston Clifford, Mr.. Dear,
Mr.. Tappan anG other prominent
Hill residents were present.
The usual preliminary business having
been attended to, reports from the various
committees were read.
Ex-Commissioner Carr, on behalf of the
Committee on Sidewalks, reported having
been particularly observant of the condi-
ton of the city sidewalks during the last
week or so, and that in every section i'm
provements thereof were greatly needed.
1t will cost no more, Mr.. Carr said, to
make these improvements now than it
will in year or more: probably less. In
fact Mr.. Carr believes that by doing the
work promptly a saving will be made.
value of property, and while the city Will
derive some little benefit from the inn
provements the property owners who
make them will be the winners in the
end. These are Mr.. Carr's sentiments.
He said that notices should be served on
the property owners to make these inn
provements, and that the Street and
Water Board has plenty of clerks in its
employ to do the work of serving notices.
MIR. VAN KEUREN's REPLY.
In answer to this, and in explanation OF
Mr.. Carr's indirect intimation of the
Street and Water Boards apathy in such
matters, Commissioner Van Keuren said
that the Street Commissioners had not
sufficient time to go around serving
notices; that one man was now engaged
in that work. and was doing very well
considering the territory he had to cover,
and that the Boards Clerks were situated
similarly to their chief in the matter of
time.
Mr.. Carr remarked that the clerks had
time to 90 to baseball matches and other
sporting events, and that they might be
induced to devote a few extra moments
to city work.
Mr.. Van Keuren replied that being
engaged for one class of work they might
object to indulging IN another, and tnat,
anyhow. little could be done in the mat
ter now owing to the lateness of the
season. Mr.. Carr followed this up with a
motion for the future consideration of
the subject to be continued with the
Street Commissioner and such other city
officials as may be able to facilitate this
work and to enquire why it has not been
done.
The sidewalk improvement subject was
then temporarily shelved.
The matter of the extension of Duncan
avenue was resurrected by Mr. Dear, and
he and Commissioner Van Keuren dis
cussed the question between them for the
benefit of all The Commissioner en-.
lightened Mr.. Dear as to the exact
present length of that thoroughfare. Mr..
Dear, who supposed that it extended as
far rs the river, was surprised to learn
that it went only to the race track. Mr..
Dear obtained his knowledge from a map
which showed Duncan avenue extending
through the salt meadows to the Hacken-
sack.
Livingston Clifford said in explanation
that the entire salt meadows were mapped
out into streets, but their existence was
only on paper These streets" will not
be dedicated to the city until houses
begin to rise on them.
WEST SIDE SEWER.
The question of the West Side Sewer
succeeded the meadow discussion. AS In
the previous qustion Mr.. Dear lead off,
with the assurance that the health, hap
piness and prosperity of the Bergen sec
ton depended on the construction of the
proposed sewer 1t could be run TO the
edge of the meadows, and then continued
by means of an open ditch to the Hacken-
sack River. Property owners along the
route of the convenience could be assessed
when their connections are made.
Mention was made of u remark made
in the Journal which reflected on some
gentlemen interested in improving the
Bergen section. Mr.. Dear replied to this
by jumping with both feet on the Jour
nal for.the course it took in that matter
IIao onjd or fuir fo oha
men, who, residing on one side of the
hill. went down into their pockets for the
improvement ON the other (simply be-
cause the city generally would be bene-
fitted), with trying to benefit themselves
at the city's cost. He said he didn't like
the tone of the article alluded to in the
Journal, and then looked at its editor
sitting beside him in a manner tina,
said:-"See the hole you've got me into.
Mr.. J. M. Jones said that the petitioners
for the sewer on the West Side are not
those residing there, but residents of the
other side.
Mr.. Clifford said that sewers were not
for a few, but for all, and then entered
into lengthy logical and sensibie dis
course on the subject. He said that the
section on the West Side is equal to i'm
provemehts, but that nothing can be done
with sewerage and that money expended
in such an improvement would be simply
q business investment.
Mr.. Clifford recommended the construc.
tion of the sewer, because the section i'm
proved would then be covered with build
ings, and THAT the city would be greatly
benefited.
After some little discussion the matter
was referred to the Sewer Committee.
FAvoRING THE 81" ROAD.
The "L'' road matter was advocated,
and at Mr.. Gifford's suggestion motion
was passed coDcurring in the approval OF
the Board of Trade on the IL" road mat
ter. 1t was then decided that the Rail
road Committee be present at the meet
ing of the Aldermen and advocate the
scheme. This resolution was then drawn
up and passed.
Resolved, That 1t is the sense of this meeting
that the sewers applied for in Duncan and Sip
avenues are necessity for the proper develop
ment OF property on the west side of the Hill
and we respectfully ask the honorable Board OF
Trade to concur in the action of the Street and
Water Commissioners.
The meeting then adjourned until De-
cember 6.
"ClNDERELLA."