The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-11-18

local questions.
Reports Of social Or other events intended for
publication in The JERSEY Cry NEWS should
be sent promptly to the editor. The lapse OF
several days between the occurrence OF an
event and the sending in of a report makes it
impossible to print it. News matter of all kinds
intended Tor the SUNDAY EDITION should,
when possible, be 10 the hands or 'ne editor
not later than Friday at noon.
The Car Company and the Public
The most interesting topic, from a
practical point of view, now before
the Jersey City public is the transit
question as represented by the fenc-
ing match between the Jersey City
and Bergen Railway, and the Street
and Water Board. Pure water is a
a ''chesnut;" clean streets are shelved
for six months in pursuance of imme-
mortal custom. But the transit
question is looming up into greater
Importance as the freezing experience
of the wintry horse car grows nearer
and nearer.
Putting aside altogether, the ques-
ton of rapid transit, it is pretty GER
tain the city needs more ample mean
of conveyance than it enjoys at pres
emit. If the Street and Water Board
are acting in perfect good faith in
urging this need, they are doing their
duty, and a good public SER
vice. 1t is, unhappily, their
own fault, and nobody's fault but
their own, if their motives are re-
garded with suspicion and their line
of action is ridiculed or condemned by
the public. They are themselves to
blame if they are accused of spite and
obstruction. for their course in rela-
ton to the electric traction scheme
gives color and more than color for
suspicion and distrust.
The position of the car company
seems to be fair. Mr.. Thurston says
I'VE are doing all we can with our
present facilities. If we are to put on
more cars we must have extended
means Of moving them. If we are
allowed to put up and operate one
electric line that will give US the,ex-
tension we want, for we will turn over
the horses now used on it to the other
lines, pending the completion of
arrangements to run them by cleo
tricity also. Thus we a put ON
more cars on all the lines"
But" he says, "if you will not let
us have electric traction, we must
either keep on according to the pres
ent scale, or we must make a per-
manent investment Of money on
horse power which will postpone in
definitely any better means of trac-
ton. For the question is not one of
buying more horses, which we could
sell again at any time when We had
nc more use for them. The question
is of stabling. We can buy no
more horses until we build new
stables. If, however, we spend our
money on stables, we will not be in a
hurry to spend still more ON electric
plant or anything else"
Now, this seems to us very fair talk.
There would be no excuse for stingi-
ness on the part OF the Jersey City
and Bergen Company. 1t earns big
profits and pays big dividends. 1t
can well afford t o give a first class
service. If it showed any reluctance
to do SO, We should be ready to
condemn it. But it seems in
clined to do right. Mr.. Thurston
seems to realize that it is good bust
ness policy to give good service. He
stands ready to put on all the cars the
people want, as Don as he can deter
mine whether they are to be horse
cars or electric cars. 1t remains for
the public and the Street and Water
Board to determine whether they
will compel him to remain behind
the age for five years more, or will
permit him to take a step in advance.
Before leaving the subject we would
suggest one thing which Mr.. Thurs
ton can do for the public comfort at
very small expense. He can see that
the cars are properly heated. Last
night was a good night to begin, yet
no beginning was made even in the
cars provided with stoves. Last year
the cars were certainly very badly
heated. The lighting of fires seemed
to be a matter of caprice, and many a
freezing day and night it was wholly
neglected. We hope there will be no
cause for complaint on this score this
year.
NEWARK proposes to make its boot
blacks take out a license and quit
swearing. 1t won't be any fun to be
a boorblack in Newark after that is
done. But perhaps u compromise
may be devised. The boys may be
"