The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-30
OWNERS NOT SATISFIED.
Want More For the City Hall Site
Than is offered.

The City Hall Commissioners aud Cor
poration Counsel William D. Edwards
were busy all this morning interviewing
separately the owners of the various
properties on the site recently selected
for the new City Hall The owners Of the
property were called in one at a time.
The opJect was TO agree. If possible, upon
a fair price to be paid each owner. and
secure all necessary information concern
cerning he titles.
The proceedings were not for pubiica-
ton and the owners themselves IN the
majority Of instances refused to say what
took place behind the closed doors, but
everyone button-holed intimated broadly
that they would not sell at the figures
named by the Commission. and 1t viii
not be matter Of great surprise II The
Commissioners are obliged TO resort TO
condemnation proceedings in acquiring
most of the properties. Corporation
Counsel Edwards, however, declared that
there will be but little trouble. The
Commissioners say they are Offering far
market prices, while the owners
naturally desirous OF getting all they
can for the land. They claim they should
be paid the very highest prices, because
they are forced to move out, willy-nilly.
WHAT OWNERS ASK.
G. II. Kllnr, who owns the three-Story
and basement brick building No. POI
Henderson street, wants 5000 for the
property Hugh Crawshaw. owner OF
no. 26lj<, and John Wellneld, owner of
No 260. occupied by similar buildings,
also demand as COO for their respective
properties. The Commissioners offered
Mr.. Klint and Mr. Crawshaw 5000 each.
but the offer was refused.
DR.. Leonard j. Gordon called to make
some suggestions concerning cheaper
site. covering the same area, bounded by
Grove Montgomery and Mercer streets.
,Rhe Doctor failed to see the Comulfs-
siouers and made his suggestions to
Mayor Cleveland. The Doctor had
figured out the respective values OF the
two sites, and according TO tne ngnres AT
which the proprfeties are assessed pro-
duced these fgures;-Ou the site st pres
ent agreed upon, 200x200 feet. s7;ss00Oi on
the Grove street site, S57, 800.
But It Is said the Commissioners have
decided not TO take all the lots az first
agreed upon, but 10 reduce the plot TO
2O0xl5O feet. Looping off the four lots
fne tigure according 10 the assessed valu-
alton is given at $36, 800, and the 200xl5O
feet Grove street site at S43. 200.
Dr. Gordon claims that the Henderson
street site is quicksand and marsh. while
the Grove street site is solid ground, and
the cost of piling is quite consideration.
OF course LHeSc BkuAtS dO nob ASFlCacA.
the actual values of the properties as
they are all assessed low. Henderson
street is but sixty feet wide and Grove
street eiphty-eignt feet wide.
A Relic of the War, Perhaps.
Special to the JERSEY City Eel7s
DEcKERToWN, July 80. 1S9L-Amzi
Ayers killed a copperhead snake in his
barn near here. yesterday. 1t was four
feet long. and was the first snake of the
kind seen in that vicinity for loag time,
though there are plenty of them in the
neiphboring mountains Mr. Ayers
found it under some hay on the barn
floor. and attacked it with pitchfork.
The snake showed fight, and not until the
nead had been crushed by repeated blows
aid the battle end. The iudentions au d
scratches of the reptiles teeth were
nIainly seen on the handle of the fork,
and the green exudations from its poison
ons fangs could be seen in patches,
sDreadipg and discoloring the fibre OF the
wood. IS said that snakes travel In
nairs. ana Mr.. Ayers is extremely eau
fious since he fought the pilot, and never
enters the barn without ose lnspec'
tion ri avery hiding place.