The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-27

purchase. 1t does seem strange to me how
any three gentlemen could make such n
report ms the one presented to the Board
of Freeholders at its late meeting, recon-
meDding the purchase of these tracts for
the purpose of the ~almshouse, jail. work
house. lunatic asylum n such other
buildings as the county may require,
that they never can be used for any Of
these purposes. Why did they not saw in
the words of the act of 1874 or Of 1887,
that they recommended their purchase to
furnish use for the prison and pauper
labor of the county. That wOuld not do.
as it is a well known fact, and was SO
stated by Freebooter TierneY hat il IL
were wanted for the purpose of
procuring stone there is now enough
In the property OF the county to
supply the demand for one hundred
years. 1t is proper tina l should also say
that he stated hat If the lands were
wanted for the purpose Of erecting a
lunatic asylum the county had land
enough without IL TO erect five or six
asylums upon. This being so the argu-
ment that if this purchase be not made
the Board would have to go outside of the
County Farm to purchase land for the
lunatic asylum they contemplate to
build, and it would cost about $4,000,
will not hold good.
"Why this haste, Mr.. President, in ac-
curing those lands? Would it not be bet
ter in the interest or the county that the
Board of F~reeholders had made applica-
ton to Judge Knapp to appoint three
Commissioners TO condemn those lands
under the act of 1874 or of that of 1857, as
they might. and should have done. as the
act of 1881 does not repeal the act of 1912
But no: shey avail themselves of the
powers conferred by the second section of
the act of 1881, which gives them the
power to make a contract If they so de-
sired, and they so desired. Under the
first section they could condemn the land
by applying to a Supreme Court Judge
for the appointment of three Commis-
sioners for that purpose.
II do not object, Mr.. President, nor do
/ believe any member of this Board would
object to the county authorities acquiring
anything that may be necessary Tor the
interests Of the county, but l do object.
indeed, to Jersey City being saddled with
about So, 800 as its portion OF the pur-
chase of this barren tract. taking tie
valuation Of the county at S122. 000.000 and
the valuation of this city at sTo,OO0.000.
That would be about the amount Jersey
City would have to pay. The balance of
the county, on a valuation OF &6,0O0,UOJ,
would pay about $50, sou, and again. tor
what? For nothing under heaven but to
furnish employment for the prison aud
pauper labor in crushing stone.
"Mr, President. l have been credi bly,
informed that the tract of Fl. X. Thurbe-,
for which now $4,000 is about to be pa d.
could nave been purchased by the county
about five years ago for about S24.O0. |
do claim. Mr.. President, that it IS the
duty of this Board particularly to see that
no unnecessary burdens are place upon
the taxpaYers of this city.
THE Board of F~reeholders of this
county seem to be travelling rather fast
with their appropriation for the year Of
1890 ard 1881 of S675,00. with an exrendi~
ture Of 81. 600, 900 for the county road, ST.
100, coo for county parks. with l per cent.
annually IN the tax levy for the same and
one mill on every dollar OF the county
ratables, no matter how the valuation Of
the county may increase; with sl50,0O0 for
a lulatic asylum and Sl0o, GOO for the pur-
chase of this rock. With additional legis-
lations promised for further increasing
the cost of some Of those schemes the tax
payers of this county in the near future
will begin to open their eyes to find that
they have been sleeping for a long time.
With large tracts OF A k out of the
tax levy in Bayonne, the smith tract, the
Harrison estate and Kings woods. with
our city in such a condition that 1t Is I'M
able TO appropriate a dollar, | may say,
for the purchase of books for the children
in our public schools, for the cleaning of
our streets and ewers. with fire engine
houses and police station houses in a
dilspidated condition, with a City Hall
that is a disgrace TO our city. how long,
Mr.. President, can Jersey City stand it:
l would, Mr.. President. strongly recon-
mend 70 this Board that IL shall instruct
the Corporation Attorney and Counsel 10
prevent. if possible. By every method
known 70 the law, the CONJUNCTION of this
contract and the issuing of bonds hy the
county OF Hudson for the purchase OF
tht Sc lands, and falling IN this. that they
shall have the purchase made by con-
dt mnation, for if the Park Commission
ers can purchase lands in a building sec
ton of the county a. S3.OOJ per acre, then
certainly So. 900 on this principle would
still be an exorbitant price for the twenty
six acres at Snake HILL"
The report was received and ordered
spread IN full on the minutes.
Mr.. Kenny then offered the following
resolution:-
Resolved, That the Corporation Council
legal proceedings Immediately before His
Honor Judge Knapp, by manGanius or
otherwise, against The Boar1 of Chosen
Freeholders of the County of Hudson, TO
snow cause why the purchase Of that part
of Snake Hill not now owned by the
County should not be set aside as exorbi-
taat. and falling IN this that il the lands
are really necessary for county purposes
that they be had only by condemnation.
The ayes aud nays having been called
the resolution was adopted by the follow
ing vote
Ayes President Edelstein. Messrs.
Allen, Kenny and Peterson.
Absent-Mr. Hitler.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
BY Mr.. Allen
Resolved. That a warrant be orde red
drawn on the City Treasurer in favor of
George Williamson for S26 IA for taxes of
1890. paid by him in error on ten shares
of the stock of the First National Bank
of Jersey CITY. said taxes having been
previously paid by said bank
BY Mr.. Allens-
Resolved, Tint a warrant be ordered
drawn on the City Treasurer in favor of
ID. w. Lawrence, Attorney Tor Albert
Berthe, for sl4.Si 10 return amount OF
duplicate payment Of taxes as follows