The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-06-22
THE CITY INDICTED.
Action of the Grand Jury
on the Railroad Ave-
hue Nuisance.
MEASURES OF REFORM
Contractor COndon's Effort to Es-
cape the Greenville Station
House Contract.


Mayor Wanser was not in his usual
amiable mood this morning when he
reached his office in the City Hall. The
| Mayors mind was disturbed over the
now confirmed rumor that he and the Al
dermen had been indicted for maintain
| ing nuisance In Railroad avenue, be-
| tween Henderson and Warren streets.
| His Honor does net particularly fear
| mprisonment, but he dislikes the motor
iety obtained by becoming indicted. The
| Indictment is the outcome of the fight
| made by the Police Commissioners acting
as the Board of Health, a number OF
| citizens, owners of property in the vicin-
| ity and residents, to have the Railroad
avenue sewer repaired and an. epidemic
of contagious disease this summer pre-
vented.
AT the present Uime sewage water can
| not reach tidewater. In the event of
| heavy rains sewage water backs up into
| the Easements of houses within two blocks
| of the broken water The water, instead
Of flowing off, remains in the cellars of
the houses and becomes stagnant. Sew
eral recent deaths are directly attributa-
| Bile to the fact that the sewer does not
carry off the refuse matter from the
| crowded tenements OF that locality.
| The Street and Water Commissioners
| at recent meeting directed Chief En-
| gtnee. Ruggles to estimate the probable
cost of repairing the sewer. That official
| reported that tine cost would not exceed
Sl2 per foot. There are about 700 feet Of
| sewer to be built and this brings the cost
| to about So, 600.
/ STREET AND WATER BOARD.
| This morning the Street and Water
| Commissioners held an adjourned meet
| ing. Commissioner Cook was not pres
| enJ at all. and Mr.. Dugan made most
mysterious disappearance. Subsequently
| tina following resolution was adopted:
| Whereas The residents and property owners
| of Railroad avenue between Henderson and
| Warren streets. have repeatedly called the at
| tention of the Board to the condition OF the
| sewer in said avenue and requested that some
| action be taken whereby relief might be afford
Whereas While this Board has fully
recognized the justice Of the complaint
| and has always of itself been ready to
grant such relief as was within the power
| of the Board to grant, but precluded from
| making the necessary reconstruction by reason
of a lack Of a sufficient appropriation for that
Whereas While it is the belief of this Board
that the condition of said sewer is largely due to
the building of the elevated structure Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which COM
pany should in the opinion Of this Board return
said sewer to O proper cOndltlon, yet the nndlnR
of an indictment against the Mayor and Board
of Aldermen renders imperative such reconstruc-
tion and resolution therefore be it
| Resolved, That by and with the concurrence
of the Board of Finance this Board hereby de-
clare it's determination to make said improve
ment, and that said Board of Finance be re-
quested to make the necessary appropriation,
therefore to the extent indicated by report OF
Chief Engineer previously submitted TO this
Board in the matter, and further
+ Resolved, That the Corporation Counsel be re-
quested to examine into and report to this Board
as to the liability of the P R. R. Co. to the city
| in this matter.
CONFERENCE TOMORROW.
The Finance Commissioners have g.
conference tomorrow morning with the
Street and Water Commissioners, and it
is highly probable that the Railroad ave-
nue. sewer matter will be discussed at
| length and some provision made for its
immediate repair.
The contract for the improvement of
Ogden avenue from Congress street about
100 feet north. was awarded to Patrick
Ryan.
| SOME OF wANsER's WORK.
just before Adjournment was taken
Contractor p. j. Condor put in an ap.
pearance. President Madden and Com
| missoners Somers and Yoe sailed into
Condor without gloves. Some time ago
Condor was awarded the contract for tho
building of the Fifth precinct station
house. Condor has so far refused to pro-
ceed with the work and 1t is the intention
of tho Board to either compel him to do
the work at his contract price or hold his
bondsmen.
Don't you intend doing that work."
demanded President Madden of Condor.
mot if l can help myself" came the re-
ply. 81 don't intend doing the work and
losing $4,000; The city can affort it better
than can"
"You accepted that contract. didn't
your" asked Mr.. Somer5.
NO" was Condon's reply. put in
my bid at time when materials were
cheaper than they are now. / doubt il
Carpenter kiernau or Plumber Martin
will do the work at the prices named in
their bids now"
Condor endeavored to get out of the
job by every means possible. But the
Board does not propose to allow him to
put the city to the expense of readvertis-
Ing. The Board will hold him to bis
contract and will insist upon his begin
ming at once. The necessary contracts
have been properly drawn and are ready
for Condon's signature. The matter will
be definitely settled on Monday next. and
if Condor does not agree TO proceed with
the work at once, tho Board will hold his
bondsmen responsible for all losses sus-
tanned by his refusal to keep his contract.