The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-06-03

moved on the subject Of a night boat and
secured It. On Monday, June :, the ferry
boat Washington began. after the day
boats hauled of, to make half-nour trips
until one O'Clock in the night. This was
regarded as the removal Of another 0o-
struction to the growth OF the city.
Hitherto the only means of crossing the
river at night was 10 small boats. The
inhabitants were practically prisoners on
the limits of Powles Hook. This deferred
many people from making their residence
In Jersey City. The sense OF escape from
nightly imprisonment seized the people
They were iubilant. They celebrated the
event by the discharge OF cannon, with
fire works, bonfires. q band of music aud
n rood dinner, where the Associates were
toasted with full glasses. Real estate in-
creased in value, and more sales were
effected at good prices in three months
after the night boat on the ferry was as
sured than hid been in years before. The
necessities OF the place REQUIRED improve
ments. The people asked that YORK
street, west of Washington, be filled H. 70
dig out, fill INT regulate Essex, from
Hudson to the middle OF Green, aud
Green from Grand to Essex, aud Essex
west to Washington.
STILL MORE CHANGE.
Notwithstanding the boom, the ex-
perlence of THE Board of Selectmen and
Inhabitants of Jersey City" nnder this
charter was not a happy one They were
not successful in collecting the assess
ments for improvements to pay for the
same when due. And there were ex-
penses to be incurred for which assess
ments could not be made. As an illus
the Board felt that. for the safety
of property, a fire engine, hose. hooks and
ladders should be secured. To get the
needed money, the Board, on November 3,
1887, resolved to call a meeting OF the
inhabitants TO be held on the 10th, TO give
their consent to raise 9 2,5C0 TO purchase
the needed apparatus. The meeting was
held and the vote taken, but. alas for the
fire department, only thirteen OF the
citizens attended, twelve OF whom voted
against tine allowance OF the money asked
by the Board. The Board tided along
for some years on borrowed money. But
il was surrounded with difficulties.
This condition of things a a depress-
ing influence on the place. Very few
buildings were erected, and although
prices for lots were kept up, but few
were sold. So little demand was there
for them that on February /, 1887. 1t was
said that ALMOST fou--tifths of the lots
Mangin's map are lying in a state OF
nature, entitled to the name of a arren
sand hill"
On November %, 1896, the Board again
gave notice of application for amend
meuts to the charter. 10 this effort they
were wholly unsuccessful. A strong
opposition to the proposed change had de-
veloped, and a remonstrance against Its
adoption met with success.
Undiscouraged, the Board again rave a
notice on October 9th, 1887. On
the Sth of December following, ia their
official meeting they entered upon the
consideration of a new charter. On
January 3. 1888. they issued a call for a
meeting of citizens to be held on the 18th
to consider the new charter. On the 18th
the action of the citizens meeting APP
proved Of the proposed new charter.
CHAPTER LAST.
On February %, 1898. the Legislature
passed the Act to incorporate Jersey
BY this act the e~asterly bounds of
the city were extended to the middle of
the HUDSON River. TIT corporate name
was the Mayor and Common Council OF
Jersey City" and in that name became a
r municipality. Up TO this time
ship Of Bergen. BY this charter the
Mayor and Common Council were en-
with the usual powers, and espec-
tally ito raise by tax, from year to year,
such sum or sums of money as they may
deem exoedient," for the purposes therein
enumerated. IL was also provided that
the act should not go into effect until
three-ltths Of the electors assented there
To. The time oil the election for that pur-
pose was fixed for March 20. 1888.
The Board of Selectmen moved imme-
diately in the matter. On March 2. 1888,
they HResolved, That tine secretary give
one weeks previous notice of the election
to be held on the Goth inst. for the accept
ance or rejection OF the new act of incor-
poration by advertising the same in a
newspaper circulated in this city. and
placing written notices in five public
places, and also to notify the inspectors OF
the last election of their appointment by
the said act to be judges of the said cleo
ton on the 10Th inst. These inspectors
were William r, Taylor, Charles Gardner
and job Male.
The election was held at the time men
toned in the school house in Sussex
street. The polls were open from u m.
to 6 D.. M. One hundred and eighty-six
votes were cast, of which one hundred
and seventy-seven were in favor and niue
against the new charter. The last meeting
of the Board of Selectmeu was held on
April Z. 1888, and the first meeting Of the
Mayor and Common Council of Jersey
City, was held at Bucks Hotel April l6.
l have finished thestory OF the founding
of the city. It's history lies outside the
limits OF this paper.