The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-06
PARK SITE POINTS
President Thurston Gives
the Freeholders Detailed
Information.
AND STILL NO BONDS.
Pfngsten and Bruggemann stand in
the Nay-To Investigate
the Figures.


When Freebooter German last night as
the meeting OF the Board Of FreeaoIdsrs
asked that the matter OF issuing the bonds
for the Parks be taken from the table
and that the bonds be issued, Director
Brugzemann and Freeholder Panzstsn
looked sad Mr.. Pnnzsfeu for sons
reason has not been induced to look with
favor on the proposed fresh air spots in
tended to benefit the sick women and
young children who cannot afford the
expense Of a trip to Niagara like the Free
holder. He moved to lay the motlou on
the table. Freebooter German persisted
and the matter came up for discussion.
Freeholder Pnngsten remembered ths
protest be had made at the last meeting
and renewed it, and denounced the idea
OF giving poor people and sick babies a
place 20 obtain fresh arr a. the expense OF
the county. The director Inter agreed
with Mr. Pfngsten in a Dam9n-Pysais
sort OF manner In the expressions rha
came from him.
Mr. THURsToS's LErTEs.
Clerk Boyd announced that ne had
communication on the subjecs to read, aud
he read the following
JERSEY CRY. Feb. %, 1891.
Mr.. Joha Boyd. Clerk Of Bndrd Of Chosen
FreeholderS Hudson County:
Dear Sir:-Your favor of 10th inst. was
duly received with copy Of resolution
adopted by the Board OF Chosen Free
holders of Hudson County at their meet
ing held Thursday, February 10. 1891,
which reads as follows
Resolved. That the Park Commission
ers be requested TO communicates 70 this
Board the several sites and prices to be
paid Tor the proposed parks in order thas
all information on the subject be had be-
fore the awards Of the bids for bonds ara
made"
In reply TO this resolution beg to state
that the sites selected to date are as fol-
lows
King estate property now designated
"Highwood Park containing about Il
acres. The Commissioners have entered
Into contract with the owners, Messrs.
Bonn, Walker and Schultz, to purchase
this properly for s1o5 600.
1855. was S1500O0 The Comm issioners
considered this price too high, and after
fruitless negotiation to obtain a lower lg-
ure the secretary was instructed on No
vember l6, 1Ss9. TO notify the owners that
their offer was rejected and the counsel ef
the Park Board was instructed to insti-
tute proceedings for the condemnation Of
the property. On June q, 1890, Messrs-
Bonn, Walker aud Schultz appeared be-
fore the Board and were granted hear
ing They named Sl65, 600 IS the lowest
price they would take for the property. -
the interest and taxes since July, 1sSS.
was more than $4,000. Mr.. Bonn
stated that his original offer 90 sell
this tract OF land 70 the Commissioners
had been Withdrawn and that he and his
associates were now willing TO sell theIr
lands to the county for sl65.o0o. ss that
was the amount or money they could get
for their lands from private parties who 2
desired to purchase their lands and erect
buildings thereon TO be used for amuse-
Dent purposes similar TO the exhibitions
given At Erastina, Staten Island. Thai
they had definite offers in wiring from
Aessrs. kiralh and Others TO lease their
lands for SIC, 600 year with al option Of
purchase tor s165, 900 cash Oh the first day
of July, 1880; $4,000 on July J. 1891;
S165, 900 July l. 1892; and thar unless the
Board would close with them at once
their lands would be sold or leased as
above stated. !"
Mr.. Schultz Of Hoboken stated that he
had purchased an interest," In the lands
offered recently at the rate OF S150.000 for
the whole tract; that he was anxious as
an investment TO have the Board reject
their offer as he desired to accept tue ofer
Of Messrs. Kirala aad others. Mr.. Schultz
stated further that he was willing 20
make an affidavit at any time 20 the effect
that he had paid for his interest IN the
land offered at the rate OF SIS, 900 for the
whole tract.
Mr.. Walker said that he was anxious TO
close with Messrs. kiralh as there was
more money in that transaction than in
selling TO the county. He claimed that IL
the laads owned by them were SOLD In
city lots they could realizs more than
S165. 600 on the investment.
Therenpon our counsel advised us that
We could not reasonably expect a com
mission appointed to condemn the land
10 award less tnan the amount they could
show had been offered for it By private
parties, and as In the oplnioa of the Com
missioners this site was the best that
could be obtained for the northern part
Of the county and city OF HOboken on ae-
count of its natural beauty and adapt
ability for park purposes, and in order to
save the taxpayers the unnecessary ex-
pense of condemnation proceedings which
would probably result. according to the
advice of our counsel, in a victory for rhs
owners Of the land, as they would obtain
at least the amount OF their offer, TO wit.
Sl65, 600 as the result OF such proceedings,
the Park &c Smissloners by unanimous
vote made CO ltract TO take the property
at that figure. and they took formal pos
session on July Is, 1890, and said park
has since that time been open to and used
by the public.
The second site selected and contracted
for is the Harrison estate property north
Of Newark avenue and east Of Palisads
avenue, containing about 81 acres. fof
the sum OF S120000 On December II,
1876. the Board Of Chosen Freenolders or
Hudson County contracted TO purchass
about six acres out OF this plot, agreeing
TO pay S225, 720 for the same.
The third plot selected is designat ed rs
the Carteret PARK, situate west OF Bergen
avenue and south Of Grant avenue
Options have been obtained for about one
hundred and twenty acres az an averags
price of about two thousand dollars per
acre.
The fourth plot selected is known As
Bayside Park. in the City OF Bayonne,
along the shore of Newark Bay. Options
have been obtained for about one
hundred acres, averaging about TWO
Thousand dollars per acre some OF these
options will soon expire.
Yours very respectfully.
c. B. TBURsTON,
President Park Commissioners OF Hud-
son County
Mr. Pnngsten asked that this report
be laid over 10 enable COMMITTEES
TO inquire into its truth He said tnaf tae
peoDle in the Fourth distrtet do not want
parks. and IN their behalf he protested
against the Board acting in the matter
last night. de said he did not knoU
whetner the sum OF money meatioae1
were correct. and he wosld ike a cozn-
mittee to examine the communication o.