The Jersey City news., 1891-09-21
PASTOR And MAYOR.
Mr.. Scudder Pays His Com
pliments TO Mr..
Cleveland.
A PERTINENT SUGGESTION
If the Freedom of the City Was Not
Given to the Rumsellers, Rapid
Transit Might be Given
to the City.

Before delivering his regular Sunday
evening sermon last night, Rev. John L..
Scudder had few words to say about
Municipal improvements Especially
Rapid Transit" ''The delay of rapid
transit in this city, he said was aggravat-
ing and mysterious. and he warned the
obstructionists that there was trouble
ahead unless they complied with the
popular demand.
Discussing general improvements, he
said
'"The broad. comprehensive Christianity
takes an interest in anything and every
thing that contributes coward the well
being of humanity. Its eye is as keen to
perceive municipal improvements as
its tongue is ready to expose
and denounce political corruption.
Those of us who have returned
from our vacations notice with pleasure
that Jersey City has made visible
advancement in several directions during
our absence. Many new buildings have
been erected or are approaching compile
tion which are an honor to our city and
of which we have occasion to be proud.
Jersey City has the largest train shed in
the world and double decked ferry boats
connected Herewith, which are palatial
in their appointments and 9 deltght to
every passenger. The style of buildings
which our weather. class of citizens are
erecting or have recently erected on
Washington street and on Montgomery
street is giving our downtown district
truly metropolitan appearance, and prov
ing in most substantial manner their
faith in the prosperous future of jersey
City. We look again with salts
faction upon the elevated track
of the Pennsylvania Railroad. No
more street crossing at grade, with
their perils to human life and
loss of time to hurrying public. We
full operation of our free public library,
with Its convenient branches in various
parts of the city, and thank those public
spirited citizens who have taken so much
interest in this very popular improve
ment. In spite of ballot-box suffers and
other rogues who infest our city and
make us trouble, as a municipality we
are slowly but surely forging ahead.
When we get pure water and rapid tran
sit-too long deferred but inevitable inn
provements-Jersey City will be far pre-
ferable as place of residence TO the up
per wards of New York city.
PASsAIC AND CROTON.
1--WE shall have better water to drink
(for Croton water is far from perfect),
and men tranSacting business in New
York will reach their destinations quick
er Let our city officials give us these
two improvements. and | prophecy that
real estate values, especially on the Hill,
will suddenly appreciate, and an in
coming population will make the tax
payer and the local tradesman happy.
CONCERNING the water supply little more
needs to be said What we want now is
action. The way before us is very plain.
The only available sources OF pure and
ton alxr a 10 q
sheds of either the Rockaway or Ranapo
Rivers. These are owned or controlled
bv rival companies, who are bidding
against one another and are anxious to
supply this city with desirable water
BY reason Of this competition we can get
our water at a fair price. The city need
not fear to make contract with a private
corporation, provided the instrument is
carefully drawn and the city reserves for
itself the privilege of ultimate purchase.
think myself the city should own its
own water works. 1t this cannot be
done at once, 1t can be progressively ac-
complished. Hitherto our officials were
afraid to take definite action, as there
was such an outcry on the part of a few
against giving the contract to private
corporation. That difficulty is now re-
moved. The whole city is crying
for clean water, and will visit with polit-
ical annihilation anyone who dares to op-
that our Board of Trade would approve
would be satisfactory to the masses, and
we shall expect this body, that has the
commercial interests of the city at heart,
to take the initiative in this important
reform.
RAPID TRANSIT.
NIn regard to rapid transit we note with
pleasure the elevated road upon the Hill
and congratulate those who live along its
pathway upon the prospective, but speedy,
realization of their hopes. But how about
those who live in the vicinity of Mont
gomery street? Alas, for the present their
desire to travel OH electric cars is vain in
deed They have had taste of rapid
transit, but the City Government refuses
to give them any more than this This is
intensely aggravatiug and mysterious
and will make trouble for our officials
ular demand. This mode of travel
has been proved to be safe,
swift and satisfactory. The people want
it and will have it. Hence the advice of
Il humble parson to the powers that be,
is to grant the company having this im-
provement in charge the privilege of
running their electric cars. not only to
Varick street. as heretofore. but to the
ferry. In this active era the people can
not look upon electric motors imprisoned
in u car shed without indignation. We
advise the Mayor of this city to open the
door and set the prisoners tree. Ii. as he
says, he did not present the Liquor
Dealers Association with the freedom of
the city, we are rejoiced to know it, but
we suggest that there would
be nothing inappropriate In pre-
senting the freedom of the
city to these electric motors. Why
this liberty has not already been granted,
is an enigma which leave TO the press
Tor solution. Consciously or uncon-
sciously our officials who have control of
this matter, are posing before a long suf-
ferin0 public as the enemies of progress,
as placing distractions in the way of a
much needed Improvement The only way
to set themselves right with the people is
TO give this city. and at once, this modern
system Of rapid transit"
Not ON Exhibition.
Special TO the Jersey City Netos.