The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-29
DOES CONDON OWN THEM
The Board Of Public job
berry Juggling with the
Grove Street Contract.

The Grove street job is slowly working
out towards its disgraceful end. 1t has
long been understood tnat the Fraud
Mayors Board Of Public Jobbery-com
monty called the Street and Water
Board-have determined to award the fat
contract to Contractor P. j. Condor. 1t
is half afraid to do SO now, on account OF
the manner in which THE JERSEY CRY
NEWS has shown up the whole crooked
business. 1t is trying hard to steel itself
to the act, however. and it may yet sue
ceed
AS the public are aware the job was
killed in its original shape by the publi-
city given it; but then the Commission
ers, taking advantage of the kick Of GER
tain property owners who desired the
street improved beyond the Erie Rail
road crossing, threw out all the bids and
readvertised for bidders fos the
tract into two sections, viz: from
Grand street to Newark avenue, and
from Newark avenue to Seventeenth
street. There were five bidders on the
two sections, and each was required to
deposit a certified check for SOS. 600, as a
guarantee of good faith. Here was the
beginning of the crooked work. Several
who desired to bid were frozen out, be-
cause they could not afford to let so much
money lie in the hands of the City
Treasurer for such purpose.
Among the bidders last Monday were
p j. Condor, of course, Dorman g.
Curley. Feeny & Cavanagh and Thomas
Nolan.
Some OF these bidders only bid on one
section. Nolan, it is said, is one of these.
p. j. Condor bid upon both.
AT this mornings meeting of the Board
the certified checks which Dormau &
Curley and Feeny e. Cavanagh had de-
posted were ordered returned, as they
were high bidders. The Board has not
yet decided between Condor and Nolan,
as Condor is low on figures. and Nolan.
who bid only on one section, is low on
time. 1t is said a way is to be found to
give the contract to Condor.
VILE SCHOOL SITE.
The Board also decided to purchase the
Virginia avenue school site. 100 feet wide
and 1S7 feet in depth, from Cornelius
Christie Prior to this determination
Clerk Bouton read q communication
from the West Bergen Improvement
Association. signed by President r.
e. Jennings. and the Associations
School Site Committee, Messrs. F.. G.
Barnes, w. G. Adams, John E. Standish,
Thomas p Brennan, William j. Henry,
John Henniser. The Association remon-
strated against the selection of the Vir-
ginia avenue site, though it declared
itself willing to submit gracefully to the
opinion of the Board. The Association,
however, wanted to put the Board in
had not included the Virginia
ayenue site in the list sub
mitted, because the site had been
carefully examined and was found to be
lowland, covered with water in spring
and winter to depth of from six to
twelve inches. 1t is claimed that these
lots can be drained, yet the price paid is
same vicinity already improved
Joseph H. Cutley was awarded the con-
tract for building the new wings to No. 4
school, and the clerk was directed to adj
vertise for bidders for plumbing.
IMPROVED BONDS.
A communication was received from
the City Attorney informing the Board
that certain contractors had refused to
sign contract SO long as there was, a dis
pute as to whether AZ or per cent. inter-
est should be allowed on improved GER
titicates.
1t appears that the legal rate is six per
cent. But the Board of Finance arbi-
trarily fixed some time ago the rate at
four and one-half per cent, The Board
appealed to the Corporation Counsel for
an opinion, and that official held that the
Board OF Street and Water Commission
ers had the right to fix the amount of in
terest at six per cent. but for the sake of
harmony advised the Board to fix the
rate on all certificates hereafter at four
and one-half per cent, which by resolu-
tion was done.
The demand of the coal passers at Belle
vile for an increase of wages was re-
ferred to the Committee of the Whole.
They are at present receiving S1.65 per
day.