The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-06-03
COUNTY ROAD PROGRESS
Mr.. Harrison Thinks the
Freeho1ders May Soon
Call For Bids.
FIGHTING M'D0N0UGH'S CLAIMS.
A Strong Movement to Curtail EX-
penses-Snake Hill I'M
provements.
FIGHTING M'DONOUGH'S CLAIMS.

The most interesting feature of last
nights m Getting of the Board Of Free
FOLDERS was the transaction of business
referring to the County Road. This was
begun by the reading of letter from
Chief Engineer Edlow w. Harrison. as
follows:-
The process of acquiring lands for right Of
way for the new public road has now made such
progress that, in my opinion, you will be able to
receive bids for and let the contract for the
bridges required on the road in very few
weeks. 1t is important that there should be no
unnecessary delay in the prosecution of the
work and l request that l be authorized to enl-
ploy a draughtsnan skilled in iron bridge con-
struction for period not exceeding thirty days
at a compensation not to exceed S5 per day.
Ereeholder Neonan moved that the nec-
essary permission be granted. and it was
so ordered
Freeholder Nelson then asked if the
Clerk had made any efforts to secure a
committee of bank officers to look into
the County Road work, and Clerk Boyd
replied that he had communicated with
them and received four replies. and had
laid them before the proper committee.
GOING FOR M'DONoUGH.
There was long wrangle over claim
of Thomas McDonough for indexing
Freeholder Ellis moved that the claim be
laid out. Freeholder Pingsten said that
as it had been sworn to and signed by
Register Fielder. he could not under
stand why the veracity of these two
gentlement should be questioned. 1t was
an insult to them and Pfngsuen fnti-
mated that there was some Interior
motive. If McDonough was not entitled
to his money he should be dismissed.
Freeholder Ellis said he merely wanted
the claim laid to one side and then to let
it come up on its merits:
Freeholder Coyle said there was some
thing strange about the whole transac-
ton. When it came up before the Finance
Committee he thought it had been acted
upon by the Sub Committee.
Freeholder Nelson said he did not be-
lieve MoDonough did anything besides
stand around the Court House all day.
"McDonough certainly is not performing
any work." said he, "as j have seen him
walking around the streets when he ought
to put in seven or eight hours each day."
Freebooter German, as Chairman of
the Finance Committee, said it was only
proper that the claims should have passed
through the hands of the Committee on
Court House and Jail. Still Mr.. German
claimed that if the Board did not require
McDonough's services it ought to take
some definite action. The claim was laid
over for investigation by special COM
mittee of three.
NO SUPERFULOUS employees.
Freeholders Kimmerly, Noonan and
Henuessey, representing the special COM
mittee appointed to investigate and re-
port as TO whether acy help could be dis
pensed with at Snake Hill, reported that
they had visited the Warden of each in
stitution and consulted with the County
superintendent and arrived at the con-
cluslon that no help could be dispensed
with.
Freebooter Nelson asked how many
engineers were employed at Snake Hill.
Mr.. Kimmerly said he thought about six.
Freeholder Nelson said there were no
more persons confined at Snake Hill now
than at any other time yet since he had
been a member of the Board Several
engineers had been appointed. Mr.. Nell
son had no doubt but what the commit
tee had an arduous task, and friendly
feeling WAS brought to bear on them.
LAS a member of that special commit
tee," said Freeholder Noonan. Il will
state that / was not actuated by any
friendly feeling" Mr.. Noonan then gave
detailed account of the duties of the
engineers. which made them necessity.
Freeholder Nelson remembered that he
bad offered q resolution at previous
meeting to dispense with the services of
Norman l.. Rowe ms assistant counsel.
He wanted to know how far the investiga-
tion had proceeded, and he moved that
his original motion prevail.
Freeholder Ellis moved as an amend
ment that the matter further lay over,
and the counsel to the Board report ut its
next meeting as to what work Mr.. Rowe
had performed for the county ia the last
thirty days.
Freehelder Nelson said he had no par
ticular objection to the amendment, but
the Board had to call a halt There was
an absolute necessity for curtailing ex-
penses Lawyers were being paid thou
sands of dollars and there seemed to be a
lack of decisian on the part of the Board
SO know when to cut off. ~
Referring to lawyers fees Mr.. Ellis
said:-"These monies have to be ex-
pended because of the tremendous con-
demuation of fourteen miles of land
This is big job and no one dare question
the righteousness of the bills for the work
performed" IA
MISCELLANEOUS.
On resolution. the Committee on Court
House and Jail were authorized to adver-
tise for bids for the erection of q stone
wall on the Pavonia avenue side of the
Court House.
A resolution was offered authorizing the
Committee on Penitentiary to receive
proposals ter new steam drill, 500 feet
of steam pipes and ana 100 teet of steam
hose and to secure the services of an ex-
pert for period of two weeks, the whole
not TO exceed $500. Freeholder Ellis said
this had been contemplated for some time
Ereeholder Noonan offered resolution,
which was adopted. asking the Northern
Railroad of New Jersey to raise it's tracks
at the Paterson plank road crossing in
order that the roadway might be fixed
Freeholdsr German offered resolution,
which was adopted, directing the counsel
of the Board to take legal steps to compel
the town of Gutenberg to pay its county
tax arrears.
Freeholder Hennessey offered resolu-
ton, which was adopted. making THE
JERSEY CITY NEWS the official organ cf
the Board.
The Board adjourned TO meet next
evening at 1880 O'Clock.
CONDEMNATION WORK.