The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-21
NEAREST TO HEAVEN.
The Freeho1derS Want the
Lunatic Asylum on Top
of Snake Hill.

in the certiorari proceedings brought by
the city against the Board Of Freeholders
in the matter of the purchase Of the Smith
and Thurber tracts at Snake Hill was
begun at three o'clock in Chancery
Chambers before Supreme Court Com
missioner Cassidy.
Warden Ry an of the Almshouse testi-
fed that both tracts in dispute were ad-
apted fo- county purposes, none other be-
ing as suitable.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Edwards, wit
ness said lunatic asylum could be built
on ground in front Of Almshouse, but he
didn't think it would be wise to put 1t
there.
Anthony Engelbrecht was called by
the plaintiff. aud being duty sworn. testi-
fed as follows:-He said he was a law
yer, and resided in Hobokeu. Was
familiar with the value Of land In North
Bergen township, having been clerk
there in 1873. 1880 and 1881, and for years
afterwards was engaged in selling land
\ in that place aud neighboring towns
| Was familiar with the physical char
acteristics of land in Secaucus, most of
which was farming land. and worth 81
200 per acre. Snake Hill was a quarter OF
mile from Secaucus. He had large
| tracts of land IN Secaucrs which he could
| buy for 1900 per acre. Witness said he
/ was familiar with Snake Hill property,
| and knew the Thurber aud Smith tracts.
Meadow land at Snake Hill, he thought,
was worth 500 to $500 per acre, while the
1 upland should be worth, at a fair valua-
\ tion. 81. 500 outside Of any extra valuation
by reason OF fquarry. He said there were
very few sales OF property in Secaucus
/ the past twelve years, and that the price
of land had remained about stationary.
Examined by Mr.. McGrath, witness
said that land was worth s., 800 an acre,
aud II it was leyeled OF would be worth
s, 900 per acre.
Witness further said that two tracts of
land in Secaucus could be procured at
81, 900 per acre, namely, the Van Dine
l farm, about quarter of "a mile from
| Secaucus, or the UnderhiIl farm, about a
mile and a quarter from Secaucus. and
| both OF whicn farms contained over twen-
/ tY-five acres. Witness said he did not
think that because Snake Hill had rail
way connections and a good water front
/ IL would be worth over 81, 500 per acre for
| factory purposes. He said he knew other
| property as good, and mentioned the
| Evans farm. There had been no great
rush of manufacturers 10 locate along the
| Hackensack. and further, he said he
| didn't think there were any eligible sites
along the river for factory purposes.
| Mr.. MeGrath asked the witness IL the
| land he had mentioned as being equal to
/
water supply. to which the witness an
/ swered il had no water supply, but it
| could be procured.
J Mr.. Edwards then called Surveyor Nc
| Cam TO prove what kind OF water sup
| ply Snake Hill had. The witness gracious
| ly told him that the Snake Hill supply
was procured in regular pipes from the
| jersey City supply, and had no water
peculiar to itself. The witness then told
Mr.. McGrath that he knew where the
pipes were laid, and that TO extend pipes
| of a similar nature mile up the Hacken-
/ sack River would cost not less than s. 900.
He further said there was no other water
supply.
Mr.. Edwards stated that he had sub
poenaed other witnesses, but that they had
not answered, but at the next hearing he
would certainly produces them.
MIR. McGrath objected and insisted upon
| Mr. Edwards closing his case, and If he
refused he wanted it SO entered on the
record He said enough time had been
| lost.
Mr.. Edwards in reply said that he had
subpenaed Mr.. Thomas Evans, Jr.. OF
| Orange, but that gentleman was in
Chicago. Others also he had subpenaed
and ne wanted to examine them
| Mr.. Mc6rath then asked Mr.. Edwards
| to 90 on with the examinst ton OF Mr. f.
Earle, who was present. He said for five
days he had brought mis- witnesses, ready
! TO proceed when it was his turn.
Mr.. Edwards said he had no objection
to his proceeding now. He said he would
not continue the examination of Earle
| till he read over the printed copies of his
| previous testimony. He then asked for
| an adjournment. To this Mr. McGrath
stoutly objected. He then began the de-
fence.
The first witness called was Henry A.
Gaede real estate lawyer, who said he
/ was familiar with real estate throughout
the county, and also the Snake Hill prop
erty. He said ne was at present engaged
10 examining the titles of the Smith aud
| Thurber tracts. He knew of the pro-
| visions made when Snake Hill was
bought by the Poorhouse Commissioners
relative to the subject Of egresS and
ingress to the Smith and Thurber tracts
OF land.
The above provisions were put in evil
dence.
Witness said that from the situation Of
the land and the use TO which it could be
put he would estimate the value of the
Smith and Thurber tracts at from s. 500
to 81. 600 per acre.
Examined by Mr.. Edwards, witness
said the Smith aud Thuroer tracts could
be used for quarry purposes, and II it
would be worth So, 500. With the rock
| taken of or without the rock, consider
ing the river facilities. he thought the
land would be worth about 81 30 TO 81. 500
per acre
The witness further testified to the
value of trap rocked property throughout
the county, saying that in some instances
il decreased the value, while in others iJ
increased IT,
Thomas II. MeCann, the Surveyor. was
then called Tor the defence, and examined
by Mr. McGrath. He said he was fami-
liar with the snake Hill property, aud
| had examined il few DAYS ago. He had
| been there before many time. he said.
Had surveyed the Smith and Ihurber
tracts and thought them adapted for
county purposes. The witness then gave
a detailed description of Snake Hill and
the various buildings thereon.
He said the meadow lands were not
adapted for hospitals, but the uplauds
were, for the reason that they could be
properly drained, and there was enough
land 10 afford the proper and necessary
grounds 10 the several buildiL rs. IL all
the property was owned by the county il
could be properly guarded As it was
now people ON the roads sometimes caused
trouble. be said that the slope in front
Of almshouse could not be properly
used for lunatic asylum, ss it would ba
exposed 10 lne northwest winds, but
higher up it would be protected
by the trees. Hesaid that of course there
was ground now owned bv the county
upon which building could be erected,
but not any place which would afford