The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-24
VOCAL PYROTECHNICS.
Used For Effect On the
Members of the Street
and Water Board.
THIRTEENTH STREET IMPROVEMENT,
The Promoters Indignant But
Acknowledge an Error in
Their Petition.

There was an unusal display " voca
pyrotechnics at the meeting of the Board
OF Street and Water Commissioners this
afternoon. The board was in caucus
from ten until two o'clock over the
awarding of paving contracts. When
the members went up stairs they were
confronted by large delegation of
citizens from the district north of the
Erie tracks. They were accompanied By
that pugnacious attorney, Mr.. William
II. Speer the younger. Mr.. Casey I'M
mediatelv began to berate the board for
its tardy action in the matter OF the
opening of Fifteenth street from Division
grade changed. Mr.. Edwards told him
that the whole trouble was due to the
fact that their petion was wrong.
Mr.. Casey was inclined to dispute this
fact, but gave up the effort Finally he
said, with some warmth. that he was
through with the whole matter. where
upon Mr.. Edwards shook hands with
him and said, Good by, Mr.. Casey; we
will try and get along without you"
The board was then called to order
and the Thirteenth street citizens were
afforded an opportunity to be heard.
Then began the fireworks. Young Mr..
Speer advanced to the footlights or rather
the ratings, and launched forth. He
sent up a few rockets of indignation
and several pinwheels Of sarcasm aud
then brought out his first set piece,
which was, in substance, that a petition
was presented to the board long ago for
the extension of Tbirteenth street.
Long ago did say, yea, over a year
ago."
Wasn't your petition informal and IL
legal?" asked Mr.. Edwards.
II think not" said young Mr.. Speer.
"A mere legal difference" remarked
Mr.. Dugan, and Mr.. Speer went on.
After telling what had been done he
was forced to acknowledge that the first
petition was wrong.
Well. II the first was wrong, the second
petition which had been put in was all
right, and it was time something was
done. Although the signatures of the
necessary one-third of the proEerty own
ers had been secured to the petition,
Mr.. Speer continued. the petitioners had
been compelled to obtain more sigma
lures. He had secured an agreement
from the officers Of the Junction Railroad
to give the city the portion of this land
necessary for the Street, If the city would
agree not to assess the company.
MIR. Edwards interrupted the young
pyrotechuist to ask if the city could
make such an agreement. Mr.. Speer
thought 1t could. At least. it had been
done in this very city hundred times,
and he wanted TO know why 1t could not
be done 101 times.
After Mr.. Speer had sent off his second
set piece, which was all about the Island,
Thirteenth street was and how people
living there could not get from there to
the Hill without going TO Jersey City or
Hoboken. Mr.. Uugan asked him IL he did
not know that his first petition was
wrong In that it asked for TWO improve
ments. Mr.. Speer maintained that it did
no such thing, but Mr.. Casey cut his pro
testaLions short by saying that Mr.. Ed
wards was right.
Finally young Mr.. Speer was persuaded
to put away his fireworks and Mr..
Edwards promised to have legally
drawn petition ready next Monday This
satisfied Mr.. Casey aud the other uotown
residents and they withdrew taking the
young lawyer with them.
The Board then settled down to busi-
ness. Several petitions for Improvement
were received and referred to the proper
committees as were also several COM
munications were received from other
boards.