The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-04-12
THE RECORD.
Facts on Which the Jersey
City Democracy Bases
It's Claim IL
lar Support.
nEDT YxTfnEn nrrrr,
DEBT WIPED OUT.
How the Taxpayers Burdens
Have Been Lightened in
The Last Two Years.
NOTABLE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT.
New Schools and Police Sta
tions-The Railway Cor
porations Brought
to Time.

At mournful gatherin G of a handful
OF Republicans who came together in
Bergen Hall last Wednesday night In a
vain attempt to give Alec Dusenbury a
reputation. Alderman and AssembIyman
Simeon H. Smith produced mass OF fig
ures which he claimed showed that the
city had run behind s3.00o,00O during the,
past five years. Perhaps Mr.. Smiths fig
uras may haze proved all he claimed, for
no one knows where they ca me from; but
the figures in Comptroller Hough's office
do not show any such state of affairs.
On the contrary, they demonstrate the
fact beyond all doubt that the financial
condition of the city is far better than it
has been In several years.
In no instance does that fact stand out
more prominently than it does in the
manner in which the present Board Of
Finance has cut down the expenses of the
CITY by paving off and refunding the city
debt Since January /, 1889, the present
city government has paid off g, 533, 093. 25
of the city's debt, and the Sinking Fund
Commissioners have made preparations
to pay off 100000 more which falls due
on May !. In addition to this excellent
showing, the city has just succeeded in
refunding $2,055,0Oo OF the bal
ance at reduced rate OF
interest. The 81, 5Ss O9s Is which has been
wiped out entirely bore interest at the
rate Of Z per cent per annum, which
amounted to s177. So each year.
Of the amount refunded s250,0o0 of
water bonds paid per cent, while t he
new bonds viii pay per cent, thus saw
ing the city s., 800 annually. OF the same
bonds refunded 1886. 900 paid per cent,
and on this lot the city will save each
year through the Boards refunding
scheme So. TO- There was also refunded
81, 769, COO OF per cent. bonds, which saves
the city in interest annually $35. $50, max
ing total of s72, 600. In addition to this
on ST, making gain to the city of 81, 43S.
The entire amount which has been saved
TO the city each year by these transac-
tions is s251, 354. or over a quarter Of a
million of dollars.
PAYING FOR A DEAD HORSE.
It must be borne in mind that much OF
the expenses of the city government is
caused by the immense amount of inter
est which has to be paid on the large
debt which was heaped upon the city by
the Republican regime in the
seventies. In all the refunding
schemes of the present government, pro-
vision is made for the payment OF
bonds by the creation of sinking funds.
Had the Republicans ursued this safe
and conservative course, as the Demo-
Gratis are now doing, the amount Of money
which the city would have to raise by
taxation would be greatly reduced. The
Sinking Fund Commissioners. as a dis
tinct body from the Board which has
charge of the disbursing Of the finances
OF the city, is a most excellent institution
and one Of incalculable benefit to the citi-
zens. 1t did not existin this community
until the present municipal government
came into power.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
Not only has Jersey City improved
financially during the past year. but It
has also advanced by rapid strides in
many directions which lead toward great
ness and prosperity The streets have
been vastly improved, and IN many IN
stances have been constructed anew
Hudson street from Morris to Montgom-
cry street was taken up and relaid, and
the same was done with Newark avenue
to Jersey avenue. From Jersey avenue
to the foot OF the HillNewark avenue mas
been torn up and the pavement relaid
with new blocks.
For many years Bergen Square and
some OF the streets in the neighbornood
had been in deplorable condition. me
old Nicholson blocks, with which the Re
publicans paved them in the Gays Wnen
they robbed the city, have rottea away.
Ruts and mud holes had formed Id THESE
thoroughfares SO that they were almost
impossible for carriages and wagons.
One Of the first things the present. nunic-
ipal government did was to take up tnese
wooden blocks and repaye Bergen
Square with Belgian blocks. Monticello
avenue was another thoroughfare wnicn
Republican greed he'd rendered almost
useless to the city. IN fact, the only por-
ton of the avenue which was absolutely
safe for the passage of vehicle was lnat
between the horse car tracks, WHO nsene
street railway company kept IN rep .saI.
This thoroughfare was repayed Win bei-
gian blocks from Fairmount avenue 70
Jewett avenue.
Grand street from Woodward to Bruns-
wick street was also repaved with Belgian
blocks and Essex street from Warren 70
Van Worst street had It's old fashioned
cohble stones replaced by Belgian docks
Everyone Ia the city knows the excei-
lent condition in which the authorlties
are putting Grove street from Grand
street to the Hoboken line, replacing the
old fashioned cobble stones with granite
blocks OF the best quality and most I'M
proved design. IL is not so long ago
either since Montgomery street was paved
with granite blocks and made one Of the
best thorougbfares in the State.
PAvEMKNTs pISlNTERRED.
Tie section OF the city bounded by the
Pennsylvania Railrnad on the SCUM.
henderson street on the west. First street
q <he north and The Hudson River on