The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-17
SCHINZEL'S OBJECTION.
He Thinks the Price Asked
for the Thurman and
Smith Tracts to High.

The examination In the matter Of the
certiorari proceedings Of the Mayor, AL
dermen and Commonalty OF Jersey City
vs. the Board Of Chosen Freeholders of
Hudson county, was continued yesterday
afternoon in the law library before su-
preme Court Commissioner Cassidy.
Senator Edwards appeared for the city
and ex-Judge McGrath and Gilbert Col
Inns for the Freeholders.
Ex-Director George f. Schinzel of the
Board of Freeholders, upon whose aff-
davit the application for the writ Of GER
tiofari is bas.d, was sworn As a witness.
Examined by Senator Edwards, be said
he was n citizen, residing in HoDoken,
where he owned property and paid taxes.
He was acquainted with the county prop
erty at snake Hill. having been a free.
holder from 1882 to 1857, and also chair
man Of the committee on County lnstitu-
tions for year and a half. Knew the
property pretty well. and also the Thur
Der and Smith tracts. The character Of
the land was wild and rocky. When he
was a freenolder DR.. William NJ Jiles
offered the Thurber tract to him for
sale on behalf of Mr.. Thurber for S22 900.
The witness said he laughed at Jiles, be-
cause he thought the price extravagant
Jiles talked OF the matter frequently to
him and asked him to bring the matter
before the Board He talked it over with
the Finance Committee, but they said they
didn't want TO buy, as the price was too
high. Jfles then reduced the price to
$4,000. but it was still considered too
high.
As to the Smith property, witness said
he thought, but was not positive, IL had
been offered TO him once by Abel L
Smith. Jr., who asked $1,000. Witness
said he told Smith he would not buy it.
Does the county require lands at Snake
Hill whereon to erect lunatic asylum,
almshouse, workhouse or any other kind
Of public buildings" Intercepted Sena-
tor Edwards.
"No, they have got all they want"
answered Mr.. Schinzel, and continuing,
he said:-"The county has plenty Of very
good land, which can be used for quarry
ing, and suitable buildings could be
erected If the land was levelled off. The
present quarries would last from thirty
to fifty years IL worked as they now are.n
In reference 10 the price the 1hurber and
Smith tracts we're worth he said 1t would
depend on the buyer. To some more,
TO others less. He said be thought SIS 900
a good price for the Thurber property by
the county. Generally speaking he
thought 1t was worth $500 per acre.
At this point ex-Mayo- Gilbert Collins
cross-examined the witness. He said he
was in favor Of buying the property when
he was Freehoider and now II it could
be got at q fair price. The idea of pur-
chasing 1t when he was Freebooter was
TO close up the public road, which was
frequepted by vagabonds and lazy men,
Had forgotten whether he spoke TO GER
tain individuals about buying the prop
erty, but was always in tavor of buying
it, his only objections being TO the high
price asked. He said he was of the opin-
lon that the city did need new lunatic
asylum, and needed II I'VE years ago. and
also needs other property; the pavilions
should be improved by addition of new
buildings, and the pesthouse should also
be renovated. The property has valua-
BILE water front, and if land could be pro-
cured at q reasonable price il could be
worked to advantage by the prisoners.
John Grimes, warden of the Peniten-
tiary. was next sworn, and examined by
Mr.. McGrath. He said he was warden for
eight years in the employ of the Free
holders, and had charge of tine prisoners
who Quarried rock at the quarries be-
longing 10 the county. He knew the situ-
alton Of the county buildings, which are
as follows, namely, Almshouse, two
paviions, steam laundry, lunatic asylum,
smallpox hospital, peniuentiary, store
house and barns, all Of which, with the
exception of the three last mentioned
buildings, were situate in the upland. He
said lunatic asylum could be erected on
the upland ground now owned by the
county, but there would be no room for
grounds, for lunatics required much area
in that sense. With regard to its erection
on the side of the hill and below, witness
said it could not be done with proper
drainage. He said further, the lunatic
asylum should be at least 1000 yards
away from any other building, and this
could not be done with the present prop
erty, unless it was built in the swamp,
which was not proper place.
He said the Thurber and Smith prop
erty was used as a public thoroughrare.
Picnic parties went there, and consider
able annoyance was caused by people
using the roads. If the Thurber people
were to quarry their property, the county
would have to stop its quarrving He said
in conclusion that when the State Lunatic
Asylum was talked Of. the property on
top of the hill was suggested as the most
available. This, he contended, should
not be used for the erection Of the County
Lunatic Asylum upon.
The meeting was adjourned till tomor
row afternoon az two O'clock.