The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-11-19
LETTER FROM NEWARK.

ANhWAhhJ ~ ~ LNONs II, lodU.
Mr.. EDrroR:-Should a stranger take
stroll through the streets OF this city and
the outskirts, and the many new build
Jugs that are in process of erection, and
the laying out of new streets, he would
naturally ponder in his mind what is 1t
that causes all this enterprise and the ex-
penditure of vast sums of wealth on hand
some residences and costly new churches.
He would naturally conclude that the peo-
pie are suddenly getting rich by some I'M
known process. But to look at the many
manufacturing establishments and the new
ones being erected, he would soon dis
cover the secret of where the wealth
came from.
The reports from the Building lnspec-
tors office show that over 1000 permits
for buildings of various kinds have been
issued thus far for the year, and reports
are that the building interests are still in
healthy state. Just before election,
things took drop but as soon as the great
political event was over, the office began
to get lively again, and now building per-
mits are being asked for 10 considerable
numbers.
Newark is largely interested in the man
ufacturing of leather of almost all con-
ceivable kinds and shapes. Recently one
of the factories completed the tanning and
finishing Of an elephants hide that was
killed little over year ago in Philadel-
phia for staying its keeper. The hide
weighed over 800 pounds and was II
inches thick. This was slit in ten differ
ent thicknesses. TIE leather when finish
ed is the most delicate and rich of any
produced. Tiffany & Co., of New York,
were the owners, they having purchased
the hide in its raw state for $500. 1t will
be manufactured into fine purses, satches,
&C., for their jewelry establishment.
Newark has well regulated fire depart
ment in all particulars, but they still use
their old watch tower. 1t is large iron
structure with watch house on the sum-
NIT. II also has an immense fire bell
The tower is attached to all the engine
houses by alarm wires. Every fire In the
city is signaled to the tower, taps are
given on the bell, and citizens know by
their number in what part Of the city the
fire is. The hours of IL, noon, and 0
O'Clock in the evening, are tapped, and
also on large fire bell in East Newark
the hour of in the evening is sounded,
as warning to all ye good folks, who
may be out, to retire to their homes. 1t
is an ancient custom, but the people here
appreciate its use, and 1t would not be a
bad idea for every town that has an alarm
bell to adopt the custom. In East New
ark the City Council appropriates an
amount to pay for this purpose.
In nearly every large manufacturing es-
tablishment here, they have target or
ganization and have an excursion or a
trip out once year. Usually great pre-
parations are made for the event, band
is engaged, and it seems necessary that
they shall be reviewed by the mayor-es-
pecially the present one, Mayor Joseph
Haynes-and it seems also necessary that
he shall accompany them on their picnic.
He obliges them all by accepting the invi-
tation and for so doing he has received an
addition to his honor, and is called by
many "hs Honor, Picnic Joe." But he
can stand it his salary amounts to IS, 900
per year.
The yearly taxes OF Newark amount to
quite respectable sum. The total amount
for 1890 receivedth far is 81, 628, 489. 40.