The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-05-10
JERSEY CITY TN 1854.
Interesting Bits Of Infor-
nation From an Old
Directory.
NOW WE'VE GROWN, TO BE SURE!
Prophecies About Passaic Water
The City Government as 1t
Used to Be.

Thirty-seven years is not very long
period OF time, but the changes that can
take place in it are many. This has per-
haps been demonstrated in the history Of
Jersey City more than any other city in
the State. In 1854 Jersey City contained
but 81 600 people. while today it has more
that 1855, 600, nearly seven times as many
1t was in the year OF 1854 that Passaic
water was introduced in the city and thas
work at the time was considered one OF
be greatest events in the city's history
Today efforts are being nude 10 do away
with this system of water supply for q
better and a larger one. Referring TO
the Introduction OF Passaic water a Jer-
sey City directory of 1854 says
After various primary movements, the
matter having been previously brought
before the State Legislature &C Trenton,
in act was passed by them In 1851 For
the appointment OF commissioners ~ re-
ton 10 supply ing Hoboken, Van Worst
and the city of jersey With pure ana
wholesome water.
The first Water Commissioners under
this act were Edwin A. Stevens, Edward
Coles, Dudley S. Gregory, Abranl Van
Boskirk aud John D. Ward Everyone
of our older citizens remembers these
prominent men very well. The commits
siuners secured the services of William
S. Whitweil, chief engineer Of one OF the
divisions OF the Boston Water Works.
Andrew Clark and John G. Bacoty pre-
pared the maps, and it was finally deter
mined TO bring che water from the. Fast
sale River at Belleviile,a distance ofeigh-
miles. The old directory SAYS OF tnis
after the water works were completed
s.The capacity is 100000 gallons in
twenty four hours, and even should the
number of Inhabitants increase to 2o0,-
900 we should have more water for each
individual than any other city IN the
Union"
WHAT THE CITY USED TO BE.
Farther on this valuable Old book
saws Before the consolidation with Y an
Worst. Jersey City consisted of pentn-
sula or neck of land jutting out into
the Hudson somewhat over a mile from
the foot Of Bergen Heights. This neck
OF lard was granted by letters patent
from Sir William Kieft. Director General
of the Dutch West India Company to
Abraham Isaacseu Plank, in the year
1888 Ii was then called. by the Dutch.
PauIus Hook. and in the language of the
natives Qroquois), Areseckhouck. On
the 18th MAY, 1868. this grant was con-
firMed to Abraham Isaacsen Plank by
letters patent from Governor Philip Car
teret aud his council OF the province OF
New Jersey.
al copy of the original patent IS now in
the hands Of the family OF the late Dud-
ley S. Gregory. The original grant, IN
the Dutch language, IS in the possession
OF the family of John Van Worst, de-
scendant Of the first PATRON.
Jersey CITY was incorporate in 1920.
and until 1898 was governed By board
OF i've Selectmen, who chose their own
officers There was no Mayor, and the
president Of the Selectmen was the chief
inanistrstfe The presidents who served
and their terms were:-joseph Lyon,
1885, 1881 and 1929; William Lyon, 1924;
Joseph Nissan, 1925; George Drummer,
1896 1891, 1928, 1929 and 1880; David @.
toluen, 1881 anu 1882; William Glaze, 1888;
John L. Ellis, 1884. Robert Gilchrist, 1885;
William Glaze, 1885 and 1881. The Charter
in this year was amended and since then
the city has had mayor. The first was
Dudley s. Gregory, who served IN 1888
and 1889; Peter McMastin, 1910: Dudley
s. Gregory, 1871; Monroe A. Alexander,
1912. Peter Bentley, 1913; Phiueas Q.
Drummer, 1874, 1915, 1916 and 1871; Henry
J. Taylor. 1S4S and 1919; Robert Gilchrist,
1850 and 1851; David . Manners. 1882,
1853 and 1854.
EARLY CITY FATHERS.
The Board OF Aldermen in 1854 was con-
stitated as follows:--
First Ward-James R. Thompson. George s.
Gardner. James s Davenport, one vacancy
cecU1A W cru--5onH ii. Lyon JtreMidu y.
Cleveland, Joseph G. Edge Justus Slater.
Third Wayd--Selaa Hill joan H. Low, William
White, Henry A. Greene.
Fourth Ward-R. K. R<ppsyea, Samuel r.
Tyrrefl, William K-eny. Gsorge Whitiock.
The Board met on the first and third
Tuesdays each month at the Lyceum
buildings. Grand street.
The city officers were:-Mayor, David
s Manners, City Clerk, George w. Cas-
sidy; President OF the Board of Alder
men .Tohn n T.von. CITY TrpaEurpr
Albert I. Smith; Comptroller, David
Smith: City Attorney, Richard d. Nc
C1eilaud: School Superintendent, Lewis
Colby, Street Commissioner, Robert e
Gilman; Recorder, George E Cutter
Collector of Taxes, Lorenzo Jaquins;
Collector of Arrears of Taxes, Earl b.
Sippell; Collector of Assessments, Jacob
Whitley; Chief Engineer of Fire Depart
ment, Samuel A. French: Assessors,
Isaac Van Saun, Ira Clark; City Marshal,
Nathaniel Ellis; City Surveyors. Robert
G. Bacot, Stephen Quafe, George II.
Bailey, William Wood; Weigher and
Measurer, Edgar Morris; Superintendent
of Ferries. Wharves and Piers Edgar
Morris; City Physician, First and Second
wards, William II. Durrie; City Physi-
clan, Third and Fourth wards. Joseph II.
Vondy.
The city had twenty four policemen at
This time under command OF Charles j.
Farley, captain, aud James B. Dunn,
assistant captain.
The Fire Department consisted of 400
officers aud men, five engines. four hose
carriages and Two hook aud ladder trucks
of which Samuel A French was chief
Twenty-seveu lawyers were all that
were needed i'll 1854 to defend the citizens
who engaged in legal squab6les and but
twenfy-one doctors administered physic