The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-24
MORE TRAP ROCK TALK.
Continued from Page One.

without fear of interfering with the
buildings.
DIR. George w. King, the medical super
intendent at Snake Hill for the past ten
years, was then sworn and examined by
Mr.. McGrath. The doctor said he had
charge of the lunatics. In the asylum
there were $50 insane and twenty-nine
employees; in other buildings about
seventy-hve, and over 100 OF the county
patients at Morris Plains. and the num-
Der was increasing rapidly. He said the
county had not room for all VINO applied
to be admitted. Many were at the County
Jail. A new asylum, to meet the present
needs, should be constructed. say to ac-
commodate 100. He said that in ten
years time accommodations for 1000 pa
tients woul be needed. He said that
the increase In the number Of insane was
greater than the ratio of increase in the
population. He said there was an inn
mediate need for the erection Of a lunatic
asylum and hospital. He said the luna
tic asylum should be located on the top
of the Hill, on the Smith and Thurber
property, aud should be built upon the
pavilion system, q number of two story
buildings. This would enable the differ
ent classes to be separated and they could
be treated with more beneficial result.
There should be lots of ground for the pa
tients 10 exercise. He said further that
lunatic ASYLUM should be away from
other buildings. particularly. from the hos
pital, and If properly built would take up
ten or fifteen acres. He said that many
of the insane could be engaged around
the grounds. He said without the Smith
and Thuroer tracts there was no ground
to admit OF the building of the asylum.
Witness said the a~lmshouse was over
crowded and some provisions should be
made to separate the children from the
adults. An hospital for the sick OF make
Hill was also necessary.
He said he thought 1t n good idea to
have all the county buildings in one
place, as they could be run more economi-
cally. Convict labor could be utilized.
He said that considerable trouble was
caused by persons going over the roadway
at Snake Hill to the Smith n Thurbcr
tracts. The rough element Of the city
co~ngregate there in the summer and
were drunk and disorderly.
Examined by Mr.. Edwards, witness
said tina County treated the roadway on
visited many lunatic asylums in neigh
boring cities. de did not think the asy-
lum would be exposed on top of the hill,
and he thought it would be unwise to buy
a burying ground at Secaucus.
Witness said that the County patients
at Morris Plains could be treated for $500
per week cheaper at Snake Hill than
there. He said hat about a quarter of an
acre would suffice for the hospital, and It
must be away from the lunati asylum.
1t was now ten minute to five, and Mr..
Edwards asked for an adjournment,
stating that he had to 60 to Trenton and
tomorrow had five cases to argue in the
Supreme Court.
Mr.. McGrath objected to an ADJOURN
ment'and said he would proceed with the
taking Of testimony.
Mr.. Ed wards objected to the further
taking of testimony.
Commissioner CIssedy overruled the
objection n Mr.. McGrath called
Michael Corcoran, a uuarryman. who
testified he worked at Snake Hill for six
or seven months and the stone there was
of the best quality.
August N. Bruggeman. the Director
at-Large of the Board of Chosen Free
holders, was next sworn and examined
by Mr.. McGrath. He testified to his
connection with the Board, and said that
in conjunction with Freeholders KIM
merly aud Pfngsten he negotiated for the
purchase of the Smith u Thurber
tracts. He related his dealings with the
parties, and the proposals made by them
n accepted by the Board. He said it,
was neceS iary TO take action on the lro-
posals as soon as received, as Tdurber
had stipulated a certain time, and fur
ing TO get the land for quarry
purposes, and these facts, coupled
with the necessity which existed for new
county buildings made the Board act in
the matter Immediately. He further
said that some fifteen years ago the
Smith andThurber tracts wtre condemned
for county purposes, bat were never pur-
chased. aud the committee found that If
they lac been paying seven per cent. on
that purchase money since that time they
would lave paid out more than was now
asked for the ground. The Director said
that twenty acres, In his opinion, was
necessary for the luuatic asylum. He
said he was,a real estate dealer and was
familiar with the value of land in North
Hudson. The Snake Hill property was
worth s., 1000 an acre. Similar ground in
Hoboken would cost $500, COZ, hat is
twenty acres. III West HoOoKen from
IS, 5000 TO $40, 900 per acre. He further said
thai in another part of the county, down
near Currie's wood, enough ground could
be bought for from $4,000 to $50 900.
County Superintendent John NJ. Gan
non was next called and in answer to in-
terrogatorles of Mr.. MeGrath said that
the Snake Hill trap rock was of good
quality and the demand for it was in
creasing. He recommended that the pest
house be built on what is known as Little
Snake Hill, a strip of upland in the
meadows east of Snake Fill. He said
land outside Snake Hill upon which to
erect a lunatic asylum such as the one
contemplated would cost over 100000.
The defendant here rested his case, and
an adjournment was taken Till ten O'Clock
today.