The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-08-23
Property Owners North of
the Erie Tracks Want
Their Section De-
yeloped.
rHORouGHFARE TO THE HILL.
Meeting of the New Street Improve.
ment AssocIation-Public
officials Will Help.


organized Citizens Street Improvement
Association, composed of property own
ers north OF the Erie Railroad tracks, was
held last night in st. Lucy's Hall. The
meeting was an unparalleled success
first because of the large attendance,
second, because of the presence OF gen
tlemen who have built up homes in that
locality, and third, because of the prom.
ises made by influential officials who will
extend their aid to further the plans of
the organization.
Mr.. Patrick Connolly, the prime mover
Of the organization, was in high feather
when he discovered that every seat in the
hall was occupied. It was source of
great satisfaction to him to note the
presence of President John f. Madden,
of the Board of Street and Water Com
missioners, Commissioner Cook, DR.. B.
A. Watson, Daniel E. Cleary, the Rev.
Father G. Z. Gillsn, Tax Commissioner
John D. German, Michael B. Holmes,
Chief Engineer Ruggles and Messrs. Nc
Auliffe, Casey and Murray occupying
seats on the platform. For an nour
prior to the meeting. Mr.. Michael
O'Reilly and Mr.. D. +. Murphy, Secre-
'dly, Wero Kept uusS euFolllng In6
names of property owners who desired to
become actively identified with the Or
ganization.
Tne object of the organization is to
have one or more of the streets north of
the Erie Railroad opened up to the Hill,
so that that portion of the city will enjoy
direct communication with the Heights.
THE PROCEEDINGS
1t was half past eight o'clock last night
when Chairman Connolly raped for
order IL opening the meeting he said =
"As chairman Of the Citizens Street I'M
provement Association. 1 have been
authorized to extend it's thanks to those
present for taking an interest in this
great struggle for improvement and a
proper recognition of our needs. We all
know that it is to onr interest to have
some of these streets extended to the Hill
We have been slow In asking, and as re-
suit our interests have been neglected.
not only by the city, but principally by
ourselves. 1t is not an engineering i'm
possibility to open mp these streets.
The cost Is not to be compared
are all Interested here. We must work
industriously, and if Legislature ais is
essential, we must secure it, 1 have
talked with our present assemblymau
Mr.. Carroll, and he has said to me that if
by any chance he is nominated and elect
ed he will only to gladly father bill to
aid us in carrying out this project. We
coming less valuable day by day. We
must wipe out these swamps and have
houses and business places erected upon
them. Open up our streets and we have
accomplished something that will benefit
the entire city. Without discussing this
most important subject further, I will
introduce Mr.. Daniel Cleary"
A BUSINESS VIEW OF IT.
Mr.. Cleary was unDrepared but said
81 am interested in this part of the city.
We want improvement in this vicinity.
In my business it is very apparent that
we need relief in being able to reach the
Hill from here direct At the present
time my trucks are driven to the Hill by
the way of Seventh street or else by the
way of Hoboken. This causes loss of
time ana time is money. Th' IS an era Of
progression, and we must not fall behind.
1t will be necessary for US to spend money,
but we must. one and all, bear one thing
in mind and that is that the outlay will be
a trif1e in comparison to the benefits to be
derived"
DIR. wATsoN's IDEAS.
DR.. Watson was next called upon. He
said:-"While / have no direct interest
right here l have an interest in the city at
large, and it apparent to me what great
work will have been accomplished when
these streets are opened up to the HILL
This part OF the city has improved Won
derfully since / came here in 1865, but not
as much as it should. We do not want
people to reach their homes here in boats
This is not Venice. We want terra
firma where sWamps now mar the beauty
and healthfulness OF your surroundings
Strangers are not apt to be fivorably i'm
pressed with our city il they see these
unsightly swamps and disease breeding
hogs. Montgomery street is an illustra-
tion of what would occur If you
That street once surrounded by
swamps is being rapidly built up. 1t is
hardly fair to think that people here have
to leave our own municipality to reach
another part of the city. Open up the
street that costs the least money, but at
the same time affords the greatest advan-
tages. / would suggest now that you
have an active organization formed. that
a committee be appointed to accompany
the Chief Engineer. who is at present on
tour of investigation, and find what
can be accomplished"
The Rev. Father G. r. Gillen, pastor of
St. Lucy's Church, said that although he
was not a property owner within the
boundary proposed to be benefited by the
opening of the street to the hill, he was
Interested and approved OF the plan be-
cause of the great benefits The people and
city would derive from such an improve.
ment. 1--WE want the meadows filed up
so that our section of the city will have
the prominent place it deserves" said he
I'VE must have 1t improved and then will
follow the building up of this section aud
that is what is most desired"
Chairman Connolly at this juncture
informed the assemblage that Father
Gillen had given the use of the hall free.
A hearty vote Of thanks was extended.
CITY OFFICIALS INTERESTED.
Mr.. John McAuliffe suggested that a
profile of the streets u 1t could be opened
to the Hill be made, and added that any
thing could be accomplished if the prop
erty owners go down in their pockets and
spend little money to gain their point
Street and Water Commissioner Cook
at this time arose and announced that if
the Association desired profile of the
streets Chief Engineer RuRgles would
prepare the same without any cost. The
amount saved by this is mere than 5000
Ruggles and Cook.
Mr.. Michael G. Holmes made an ad-
dress and intimated that the property
owners north OF the track had been
negligent. "It's an old saying" said he
''that God helps those that help them
selves. lam afraid you have not been
helping yourselves. The city officials are
your servants and see now that they
are willing TO help you. Do not let Il
matter of this kind drop, Work together
and can see in the future.in your neigh
borhood fine buildings instead of
swamps
President Madden stated that person
ally he was in favor of the improvement