The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-11-15


Rome, she who hid been so lately and
for SO long the proud mistress of the
world. IL is not necessary to multiply
1 instances of this kind Contrasts are
always striking. but seldom instructive.
Mr.. Maine says, in his s.Ancient Law, y
| that society i'll ancient times was not
| what it Is assumed to be at Dresent-a
collection of individuals-it was an ag-
| gregation of families. In other words,
| the unit of an ancient society was the
! family. OF modern society, the indlvld-
ual But the science of sociology Is too
abstruse for present discussion and might
only confuse where it is Intended TO
make plain. The curious reader is re-
ferred to Comte and Spencer, who are the
apostles of this occult science.
WHAT Is THE MATTER WITH JERSEY CITY?
Cities maintain a number of insritu-
tious to protect life and property and to
maintain law and order The frequency
of destructive fires calls for the forina-
ton of I fire departments. A police force
is organized to protect life and property:
A system of sewerage is necessary to the
public health. There must also be gas
works TO illuminate the streets: q board
of health to enforce sanitary laws: water
works to supply writer for all private and
public purposes In ali these essentials
Jersey City is far from being backward.
Her police force hAS earned national
reputation, and ranks with the police de-
partment OF New York city. Her firemen
are gallant and devoted. Her laws are
ABLY administered. The public schools
are the pride aud boast OF the cofnmuu-
ity- The city is not lacking in charitable
institutions, both public aud private.
There are churches, hospitals aud col
leges in fair number. The city is order
ly and law-aDiding. Officials of every
grade are trustworthy ands high-minded.
Crime is not ramDsnt. The inhabitants
are industrious, sober and thrifty. The
family circle is pure and wholesome
Churches are well-attended and the Sab
bath is kept holy The men are mostly
engaged at mercantile or mechanical pur-
suits. The women are deyoted daughters
and honest wives. The girls are pretty,
dress tastefully and are fairly educated.
The children are healthy and happy.
There is little real want. and none at all
among the industrious and deserving.
There are good places of amusement. in.
Guiding two theatres Yet when their
souls yearn for this kind of diversion
the people usually go to New York city in
search of The genuine article.
A man is in danger of writing himself
down superficial observer or cynical
critic who magnifies the shortcomings OF
his neighbors We all know what llor-
rible example Rudyard Kipling made of
himself In his asiniue structures on Chi
,cago. But even with these cautiolary
signals in view caunot help drawing at
tentiou to one or two other striking
peculiarities that have been forced on
my notice.
In the first place, let me ask, what has
become of the nomenclature OF the
streets? Here we find city whose
streets are without names and whose
houses are without numbers, in great
part. Nobody seems TO know or care
about the name of the street around the
corner. A striking example of this kind
came under my observation last Thurs
day. Two ladies enquired of a citizen
their way to a certain street. He shook
his head and said he didn't know A block
further on two men accosted me
and asked TO be directed to Barrow street.
1t was my turn TO plead ignorance, and
directed them to letter carrier for the
desired information. The letter carrier
didn't know either. Their next inquiry
WAS made of conductor wearing the
uniform of the Central Railroad. He
paused, placed his hand TO his brow and
hnaIly pointed the way up Newark ave-
nue..
The absence of these names of streets
on the corners of houses or
lamps makes it very difficult for a
stranger to become familiar with the
city.
/ asked the question OF Chief Murphy.
He did not answer me fiippantly that
Jersey City is all right" but. after brief
~ rejecting. he said
"Well, the causes OF Jersey City's back
ward condition are numerous aud COM
pick. Perhaps 1t would not be polite for
me to name them all. !" This remark
seemed to cause the Chief to reflect some
more. He had evidently put on his think
ing cap.s His remarks may be summar-
lied as follows:-
l. Lack Of rapid trsnsit.
2. Loss of the river front.
g. Politics
4. Corporations.
5. New York.
6. Heavy taxes.
RAPID TRANSIT FACILITIES.
While admitting (wno could deny it?)
that Je sey City has failed TO keep up
with the procession. Chief Murphy saw a
silver lining to the lowering clouds He
thought the city was passing through
transitionary stage.
Mr. Winfield pooh poohed the idea of
rapid transit having aught to do with the
question of the city's backward growth
He thought there was no crying necessity
for reform lu this direction The sub
ject of rapid transit. Chief Murphy con-
tended was one of very great import
ance, and when certain improvements
which are now in course OF operation.
shall be completed Jersey City win have
no cause to complain of lack OF rapid
transit facilities. His arguments prove
That he has given thought TO tho subject.
He said. in substance. that most of the
residents on7the Heights did business in
New York These people belong TO the
iaboring or mechanical classes When
they come prospecting for homes and
take horse car at the ferry. by the time
they reach the Heights, where they in
tend to locate, they fiud the journey con-
sumes so much time that they get dis
neartened- For about year an initatory
step has been taken in the direction of
rapid transit. in running electric cars by
the trolley system. frora Bergen avenue
to the Heights, down MONTGOMERY street
to Varick, where they stop and detach
the motor, attach horses and take the
passengers thence to the ferry The cars
would make the continuous trip If the
Mayor had not srenuously objected on the
ground that 1t would be dangerous to
life and limb. The result Of the Mayors
interference was to compel the
company to abandon what little progress
they had made, to the serious incon-
venieuce of the travelling public.
The writer feels called upap to interrupt
Chief MurT.sA's narrative to say that this
official squeAmishness IS not based on
common sense, good Judgment or ex-
perience. Look at Chicago, with her
cable cars; at st. Paul and Minneapolis
with their trolly system; not TO mention
other shining examples of the success of
surface rapid transit in crowded cities
In another year the Third avenue cable
cars wilt be running in New York and
thE rlrosupcE scar-a M aua IL. tho Ianut