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

| AT the ent OF the Runlc war Tie uUol-
ton of Rome had Increased to such an
immoderate extent rs TO threaten the re-
duction of the whole world to submls-
sion. But the next century witnessed
the degradation aud downfall OF ancient
Rome, she who had been so lately ana
for so long the proud mistress of the
world. 1t is not necessary to multiply
instances of this kind. Contrasts are
always striking. but seldom instructive
Mir. Maine says, in his 'Ancient Law, ="
that society in 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 a modern society, the indiVld-
ual. But the science of sociology is too
abstruse for present discussion and might
only confuse where it is Intended TO
make plain. The curiou reader is re-
ferred to Comte and Spencer, who are the
apostles of this occult science.
VIA IS HI MATTER WITH JERSEY cITy'
Cities maintain a number of insUitu-
lions to protect life and property and TO
maintain law and order. The frequency
OF destructive fires calls for the Iorina-
tion of a fire department.. A police force
is organized to protect life and property;
Il system of sewerage is necessary to The
public health. There must also be gas
works to illuminate the streets: Il board
of health to enforce sanitary laws; water
works to suppl wnter for all private ana
public purposes In ali these essentials
Jersey City is far from being backward.
Her police force has earned a 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 and boast Of the commun-
ity. The city is not lacking in charitable
institutions, both public and private.
There are churches, hospitals and col
leges in fair number. The city is order
ly aud law-aoiding. Officials of every
grade are trustworthy and high-minded.
Crime is not rampant The Inhabitants
are industrious, sober and thrifty. The
family circle is pure and wholesome.
Churches are well-attended Ii The Sab
bath is kept holy. The men are mostly
engaged at mercantile or mechanical pur-
| suits. The women are devoted daughters
aud honest wives. The girls are pretty,
dress tastefully and are fairly educated.
The children are healthy and happy.
There is little real want, u none at all
among the industrious n deserving.
There are good places of amusement. in
GLIDING two theatres. Yet when their
souls yearu 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 a superficial observer or cynical
critic who magnifies the shortcomings OF
| his n~eighbors. We all know what a hor-
rible example Rudyard Kipling made of
| himself in his asinine structures on Chi
cago. But even with these cautionary
| signals in view I cannot help drawing at
tention to II or W 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
ctreatc2 Hpra we find n citV whOsa
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 a letter carrier for the
didn't know either. Their next inquiry
was made OF a conductor wearing the
uniform of the Central Railroad. He
paused, placed his hand to his brow and
finally pointed the way up Newark ave-
nue..
on the corners of houses or
lamps makes it very difficult for q
stranger to become familiar with the
city.
"Wnat is the matter with Jersey City?'
l asked the question of Chief Murphy.
He did not answer me f%ipDanuly that
Jersey City is all right" but. after brief
ly rejecting. he said:-
"Well, the causes of Jersey City's back
ward condition are numerous and com-
pick. Perhaps it won 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. His remarks may be
lied as follows:-
/. Lack of rapid transit.
2. Loss of the river ront.
3. Politics.
4. Corporations.
5. New York.
&. Heavy taxes.
RAPID TRANSIT FACILITIES.
While admitting (who 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 q
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 q reform In 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 will have
no cause to complain of lack of rapid
transit facilities. His arguments prove
that he has given thought to the subject.
He said. in substance, that most of the
residents on the Heights did business In
New York. These people belong TO the
laboring or mechanical classes. When
they come prospecting for homes and
take a horse car at the ferry. by the time
| they reach the Heights, where they in
tend to locate, they find the journey con-
sumes so much time that they get dis
neartened. For about q year an ~initatory
step has been taken in the direction of
the trolley system. from Bergen avenue
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 it would be dangerous to
life and limb. The result of the Mayors
interference e was to compel the
company to abandon what little progress
they had made, to the serious incon-
venience of the travelling public.
The writer feels called upoD to interrupt
Chief MurI.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,