The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-08-28
IMPROVING THE City.
What Has Been Done on the
Streets Under the New
Charter.
MR.. TUMULTY DOESN'T KNOW
But at the Street and Water Board
Some Interesting Information Is
Cleaned.

There has been considerable activity
since the new charter came into operation
in the city in the matter Of street improve
ments. The information heretofore
given to the public as to what has been
done or is being done has been of SO in
definite a character as to be unsatisfac-
tory; and for the benefit OF THE JERSEY
CITY NEWS readers / sought more spe-
cific information.
/ found that the improvements that
have been made and are being made are
going on under two auspices. Street
Superintendent Tumulty is empowered to
learn from inspections of the streets when
repairs or repaivng is needed, and to send
men to make them. Where long
stretches of paving are to be done-as on
Green street and Communipaw avenue,
for instance-contracts are awarded,
after advertisement, and the work is done
under the supervision OF selected con-
tractors.
MR. TUMULTY CAN'T TELL.
When / visited the Board of Works
office / discovered that bookkeeping at
the Office is not what expected to find it.
was unable to find out how much money
for repairs on the streets remained at the
disposal of the Board, or what streets had
been repaired. The books did not show
it, and no one but that genial old Chris
tian school teacher Frank Woodcock, ap-
peared to have an idea. Before seeing
him met the Street Superintendent.
"Mr Tumulty,'I asked, 81 would like
to know what repairs have been made on
the streets since the new charter went
into effect?"
work faithfully, and that is enough for
me-"
"well, whom can 1 see that does
knowsn
II don't know"
Does not some one keep record of
some sort of the work, that the employees
do on the streets?"
81 don't know of any,"
"Well, Commissioner do you mean to
say that there is no record of the work
done by the city in repairing and repaving
streets?n
Eyes, that is what l mean, and if you
want that information go to the foremen.
think that it is very impertinent for you
to ask such question, and | want you to
understand that have no time to furnish
news to the papers,"
'The tax payers ought to know" /
interpolated.
"Weil, they can't get it from me. The
work done is no ones business but mine
and the Commissioners, and if you can
get the information from them go and do
it, for won't talk about it.
l left Street Superintendent Tumulty,
and did as he directed. sought Commits
sioner Van Kenren. who said
'Why, don't you go to the Street Super
aOnly a few minutes ago left him, and
he said he did not know the repairs and
cost"
"It is his duty to know It"
I said he told me that it was impertinent
to ask such question, and the reply of
the Commissioner VAST don't know
where the impertinence is. Perhaps you
had better see Commissioner Dugan."
could not find him, but did see Chief
Ruggles, and asked him for the informa
ton. His answer WAS
"Go 70 Phil Tumulty."
The Chief added that the labor done by
davis work does not come under his super
vision, and that all he has to do with
it is to certify that the reports made by
foremen are correct as presented to him.
He added that if Tumulty did not know
what work was done no one else would,
for it was his duty to.
MR. WOODCoCK KNOWS SOMETHING.
Clerk Bouton informed me that mat
ters Of this nature did not come before
him. but Frank Woodcock said that he
did know something about it. | felt
happy then, and expected to get some in
formation and this is what he told me-
The total expended under Mr.. Tumulty's
supervision up to date is $6,071.5l, but at
fhe first of the month not less than $4,000
will be required. This money is only for
repairs done by days work. There has
heen but one contract awarded by the
New Commissioners and that is for re-
pairing Monticello avenue, from Belmont
TO Fairmount avenue. This work will cost
S6,1737O, but at least a third of the
amount will come directly from the prop
erty owners by assessment
LEGACIES FROM THE OLD BOARD.
When the new Board came into power
the members found on their hands the
following legacies in the shape of un-
finished contracts, which Mr.. Woodcock
saws the Board must pay:-On Eighth
street between Monmouth and Grove,
cost S2315; Baldwin avenue from Newark
avenue to High street, cost $10,016.50;
Beacon avenue from Oakland avenue to
Palesade avenue. cost ~, so; Summit
avenue from South street to Paterson
avenue, cost $22,669; Griffith street from
Central avenue to Milton avenue, cost
1855 40.
phe new contracts that have been ad-
yertised for, but not awarded, are:--
The repaying of Cooper place, the cost
of which is not known.
The repairs to Terrace avenue, from
Revere avenue to Lincoln street; cost,
So, ,670.25
Halliday street, from Communipaw ave-
nue. to johnson avenue; cost, IS, 1884.
MONTICELLO avenue, from f3eln1OnU ave-
nue. to Fairmount avenue; S6, 1870.
SOME WORK By THE DAY.
The work that has been done by days
work is on these StreetS:-
Henderson street, from Newark avenue
to Hoboken line.
Montgomery street. from Exchange
place to Henderson street.
Warren street, from Essex street to
Newark avenue.
Washington street, from the railroad to
First street.
Steuben street, from Warren street to
Green street.
Grand street, from Hudson street to
Grove street.
Hoboken avenue, from Palisade avenue
to Summit avenue.
Summit avenue, south of the cut to its
end and many little patches on Academy
street and Bergen avenue,
MR.. WOODCOCK PUTS A QUESTION.
Mr.. Woodcock could not tell me how
much it cost to repair each of these
streets, and when / asked him why, he
looked at me in melancholy manner,
and forcibly enquired IF | were a -
fool"
| told him to dismiss any such thoughts
from his mind. He said:-"These men
work by day and the foreman is the man
we look to for the time. When Mr.. Tum-
ulty finds a place that he thinks should
be repaired he directs some of the fore
men TO do it and at the end of the month
the foremen certify that so many days