The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-06-27
THE NEW COUNTY ROAD.
The Court May Appoint an
Engineer in Two Weeks.
THE ROUTE PRESCRIBED.
The Present Status Of the Move
ment for the Construction Of
the Costly Drive.


boulevard will soon be commenced, and
If the proposed general plans are adopted
the county will have at least one good
road. For twenty-one years the county
has endeavored to obtain road that
would induce people of wealth to locate
here, and to retain those who succeed In
accommodating competency.
In 1858 the first act was passed by the
Legislature, granting the required per-
mission, and other acts have passed
every second year since then. All of
these have been upset by the courts for
technical reasons. The present act, that
of 1880, suggests general route. and ex-
ception was taken by some persons. 1t
was finally agreed that friendly suit by
writ of certiorari should be instituted
in the Supreme Court 1t was there ar
gued by Counsellor Thomas r. Noonan
for the dissatisfied ones, and by Counsel
lor McGrath for the Freeholders and the
county.
THE CHIEF ENGINEER.
The suit was really to obtain decision
as to the validity of the 81 ,OO0, coo of bonds
that will be issued. On June the SUI
preme Court decided that the bonds will
Freeholders to issue them is constitu-
tional. The act provides that the engineer
shall be the official who shall be response
BILE to the public, and the language of the
act is this
Section 1s-That Chief Engineer, who shall
have the supervision of the laying out of said
road in accordance with the provisions of this
act shall be appointed by the Judges Of the
Superior Court of Common Pleas or a majority of
In writing under the hand of said Judges to such
Board Of Freeholders.
The Judges of the Superior Court Of
Common Pleas are Judges Knapp, Lippin-
colt, Paxton and Hoffman, and one has
as much right to act as the other. When
they have selected an engineer that
official will nominate for their approval
all his assistants and help, and no one but
| the Court can remove them or the en-
gineer.
ONLY THE LOWEST BIDDERS.
The act specifically takes this power
from the Freeholders and further pro-
vides that the Freeholders shall not pay
any money to contractors and others, un-
| less the bill is approved by the Engineer,
except the Board by a two-thirds vote de-
cides to do so. The two-thirds vote, it is
| claimed, is sufficient safeguard against
extravaganza.
When saw Counsellor McGrath last
night and asked him when an en-
| gineer would be appointed he said he did
not know, but possibly within ten days or
| two weeks.
| .'That is matter entirely in the hands
| of the court said the counsellor. "a
| few days ago the Freeholders instructed
| the Committee on County Roads to lay
| the matter before the court. 1t was done,
| and is now being considered.
| There was no conference by the court
| and committee, and the latter made no
| suggestions, nor asked that any particu-
l 1o1 rri, ha az / WA N
! in this connection. that in building this
| road everything must be by contract,
| which will be awarded only to the lowest
| bidder, the law not giving the Freehold
/ ers discretionary power in the matter. Ii
| the lowest bid is rejected because the
| bidder is not a responsible one, the con-
| tract must be advertised again, so that
| only the lowest bidder may receive it"
| "How much is the county bonded for
| now to build the roads"
"Fifty thousand dollars The remainder
| of the 81 900, 600 allowed us will be drawn
| on from time to time as the money may
be needed"
ABOUT THE ROUTE.
'sWhat do you think the route will bef"
ssThat cannot say. The act provides
generally for 1t in this way
Commencing at a point at the northerly
boundary line of Hudson county at or near the
| point where such northerly boundary line is
| crossed by the Dallytown road; thence in a
general southerly direction through the following
| towns or townships: North Bergen, Gutenberg
and Union Town of Union, West Hoboken, to the
northerly boundary line Of Jersey City; thence
in q generally southerly direction through the
| Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Aldermanic districts OF
Jersey City to the northerly boundary line of the
City of Bayonne; thence in a general southeriy
direction through the Third Second and First
| wards of the City of Bayonne to point in the
| XIII Won Kull in the southerly boundary of the
county at or near the line of Avenue b In said
City Of Bayonne If extended.
"Well, that means that it must run on
the west side of the hill nearly all the dis
tance. doesn't it9n
az suppose it does" replied the coun-
sellor. II know that there is every prob
ability that Avenue B, of Bayonne, will
be used, and l expect, also, that Bergen
avenue will be taken by the engineer.
The act provides that when an old street
can be used it shall be taken for the bou-
levard. Yes, l think it is fair to say that
the greater portion of the road will not be
east of the Bergen line"
If this plan is recommended by the
Chief Engineer it will connect Curry's
Wood and the King estate and may be
the cause of finally accepting these
grounds for parks. The new road will be
macadamized and the drive from one OF
these estates to the other would be de-
lightful one.