The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-04-03

year, something over Sl00, 900. Surely this
result is ample justification for the fight
made last winter for separate Sinking
Fund Commission.
The new Board of Finance has also
done its duty we'll. When again the
Office of Mayor came to me in 1886, after
an interval of twenty years, the city was
found to be weighed down with an enor-
nous floating debt, the ascertained
amount being 81 ,026, 900, while the unas-
ceruained or unaudited amount was
something startling. The whole amount
has been all paid Off SO that the only
floating debt now existing is S556.D00, bor-
rowed in anticipation of the collection of
taxes of 1888, and this will take care of
itself. The city has never before occu-
pied SO strong a financial position as it
does today. One of the holders of bonds
due April / wrote to know at what rate
of interest it was proposed to refund
them. The City Treasurer replied that
the city was not refunding, it was abso-
lutely paying off the debt A large part
of the bonds paid bore seven per cent in
terest. In consequence of this condition
of things the bonds of the city have
largely appreciated in market value.
Real estate is in demand, new buildings
are going up everywhere in great num-
bers, business is prosperous, factories are
active and the whole city is filled with
industrial enterprise.
The taxes of 1889 have been paid in
more promptly than was ever known be-
fore, and, for the first time in TWENTY-FIVE
years, nothing has been borrowed in an
ticipation of current taxes. On the con-
trary, there is now cash in the treasury
from these collections amounting to
$4S4, 900.
The city is making the best fight it can
for the property granted by the State in
the South Cove. 1t is very valuable, and
we shall use the entire police department
49, .,~r1.@ Il, o<kx -,
from railroad or any other encroachment.
The title TO the property will be settled by
the Supreme Court in the ejectment suit
brought by the city and now pending.
The tax valuations of last year were
unsatisfactory. The tax levy is required
by law to be made in July, and the new
commissioners had but few weeks in
which to fix the valuations. In their
great haste many errors crept into their
work. They are now at work upon the
future valuations and have publicly in
yited all property owners to confer with
them, in order that errors may be correct
ed and a valuation made that shall be fair
and equitable and entirely satisfactory to
all parties, and believe this result will
be reached
There has been an entire revolution in
the Department of Street Repairs during
the past year. The north point section of
the city had not been repaired in many
y
every block was repaired, aud many
streets were entirely repaved. Montgom-
cry street, from Hudson to Warren, was
entirely relaid, and Newark avenue to
Grove street. From Grove street west,
Newark avenue was paved with cobble,
and this has been replaced with first-class
Belgian blocks. Bergen square, Month
cello avenue, part of Grand street, Essex
street and other streets we have paved
with Belgian; and Montgomery street,
from Jersey avenue to Colgate, repaved
with granite in the most substantial man
ner. Jersey avenue, from Newark ave-
nue. west, was relaid, and Washing
ton and other streets down town.
Many streets in the Fourth district
and much work in the Sixth district was
done in repairing. Sewer manholes were
brought to grade, receiving basins built
and vast amount of new bridge-stone
crosswalks and relaying the old was
done all over the city. About two hum
dred men were employed on the work,
and fer----sll sll----tlais----t,he t,heHs----was -aet
dollar raised by tax, it was
all done under a provision put in
the new City Charter by me, which re-
quires one-half of the money received for
licenses to be set aside for this purpose,
which amounted to something over $780,
900 last year. During the coming season
other streets will be put in order, so that
in short time all paved streets will be
IOuOu III gOOu OfQCT anu D6COUl6 dU 6t-
traction instead of reproach to the city.
By an act of the Legislature just passed,
a part of this fund can now be applied to
the repair and reconstruction of sewers.
The proper Board is maturing plan
for keeping the streets absolutely clean.
1t is one of the problems to be solved and
they are determined to accomplish 1t, and
the work will be commenced as soon as
the weather becomes settled. The present
contract expired April l. and it will not
be renewed, nor will another be signed
unless the terms are widely different
The water service has been well done,
with great reduction in the number of
persons employed. As examples, there
were employed in March, 1886, toward
the end of Mayor Collins term, twelve
men "blowing off hydrants," now there
are none. 1t is done without cost by the
Fire Department.. Then there were nine
ty,five men repairing hydrants," .re-
pipes''; now there are but twenty, and
The work is better done. Then there
were one hundred and fifty-seyen men
sIaying pipes": now there are but sixty,
ana more actual work is being done.
Similar examples are at high service and
at Bellevilie.
The 9 is less crime in Jer ey City than
in auy city Of It's populate Il in the coun-
trS, and it is believed TO be the only city
OF which it can be truly said that there Is
Los single gambling place open within
its limits.
1t is the most economically governed
city in the United States, in proportion to
population ard needs. OF the tax levy
last year, S779, SO was paid out for interest
on the city debt, and 1920, 307 to the county,
leaving for all other purposes and for all
OF the departments only 1854, 900 for the
year.
There seems to be a fair prospect of
ballot reform, and with that we shall be
able to prevent absolutely any repetition
of the disgraceful occurrences of last
November Upon the purity and honesty
of elections must forever rest the safety
and perpetuity of representative govern
ment. Fraud in balloting is crime and
demand that such criminals shall be
promptly arrested and severely pun
ished.
In accepting the nomination for a sixth
term as Mayor it is with a heart full of
gratitude to the generous people Of this
city for their oft expressed confidence
and liberal support, and If again elected
will do whatever / may, with the lin
tied means at command, in promoting
the prosperity Of the city and for the
benefit of the whole people, who have
showered upon me more honors than
can ever hope to deserve.
Very respectfully.
ORESTES CLEVELAND.
nEM0nP AT0 W0pKTNH