The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-29
Commissioner Dugan moved:
That The Board do now adjcu IN for the
official year Of 1929. Carried.
GEO. 4. BoUToN,
Clerk.

That The Board do now adjcu I'm for the
GEO. 4. BoUroN,
Clerk.
Organization meeting of the Board OF
Street and Water Commissioners held on
Thursday, April 81. 1898, at IL O'Clock
noon.
Pursuant to an act eptitled, A Act
concerning cities OF the first class In this
State constituting municipal Boards or
Street and Water Commissioners therein.
and defining the powers and Duties OF
such municipal Boards and relating 70
the municipal affairs and departments OF
management Of such Boards, and Drovid.
ing for the mRintainance OF the same"
being Chapter 1874 of the laws of 1891, APP
proved bMarch %, 1891. Commissioners
Somers, DuRan, Madden, Voc and Cook,
met at the Office Of the Board, corner OF
Mercer street and Jersey avenue. on
Thursday, April 81, 1898, at IL o'clock M.
for the purpose of organization.
The meeting was called to order by the
Clerk, who announced that the first bust.
ness in order was the election o. q tenn.
porary Chairman, whereupon Commits
sioner Cook was nominated and unani-
monsly chosen to act in that capacity.
Commissioner Cook, on assuming the
chair, declared the election of a President
for the ensuing year to be in order.
SOLuIulsStOuGE DuSdu uOuiiuaCcu OOH"
missioner Madden, and there being no
other nomination, the roll was called
with the following result:
For Commissioner Madden-Com mis-.
sioners Somers. Dugan. Cook and Yoe.
Excused from voting-Commissioner
Madden.
The President was escorted to the Chair
and addressed the Board as follows:
GENTLEMEN,-The renewed expression
OF your confidence. In again selecting me
as your President, is something that
deeply appreciate. !! a merely say.
mise to do my best during the coming
year. The peculiar position held by your
Board, will attract TO us the closest
scrutiny, and It will be only by the exer-
else of rigid economy and care that we
will be able to make a record satisfactory
to the taxpayers and ourselves. In short,
Gentlemen, we must strive now, more
than ever before to conduct the affairs OF
our Board upon business principles. It's
our duty to hunt out aud stop all petty
leaks: to prevent any and all unnecessary
drains upon the cIty's treasury. we must
endeavor to cut our garment according TO
the cloth on hand, regardless OF VINO Is
hurt thereby. II we put into practice a
rigid determination to live within our
means, the outcome will be satisfactory
to all concerned. It is with such view
that / accept the honor Of your choice,
and will look to every fellow Commits
sioner to help in the task.
We begin the new year under peculiar
circumstances as / have stated. The apt
propriations for all purposes outside Of
the Water Department have been pared
down to the lowest possible notch and
willing or unwilling we had to calculate
accordingly. But notwithstanding this
we have been able to make decided
progress In various directions, A new
police station house is now huildipg on
4 tho oornnp nf O0n0n onfYS Knfnp ivan rAU
for the use of the Fifth precinct. We
also expect to erect a new Public School
in Greenv1lle and nay possibly replace
one or more of the older school houses
with modern structures. Extensive
repairs have also been made TO all the
schools and provisions will probably be
made to put the Fire Departments build
ings in good shape.
The streets of the city have not received
all the attention we desired to give them,
although several of the main thorough
fares have been repaired. There is a
Board, however, to do considerable work
in this direction. New York City has
found asphalt pavements desirable iu-
vestments, and Jersey City will probably
take similar steps in the march of pro-
| gress. The thinking taxpayers will ap-
prove any efforts we may make toward
good and modern driveways. Anyone
who questions the pr~acticability of as
phalt on streets devoted TO large traffic.
has only to cross the river and inspect
Eighth avenue as an example.
We have been able to secure the per-
manent Improvement OF many streets
during the year, among them were por-
tions of Ogden, Gerimania, Hoboken and
Sherman and Erie and Halliday
streets. The opening OF Baldwin avenue
from Academy TO Church street and of
Pavonia venue from Garrison to West
I Cs1@ 4-- ~,xn Nh
Baldwin avenue Improvement will add
over $4,000 to the city's valuation from
new houses to be built by one gentleman
Senator McPherson) alone. The ag.ta-
tation favoring the opening of Seven
teenth street will eventually succeed aud
| no one need be surprised il Eighth street
and Pavonia avenue are also opened from
lower Jersey City to the Heights. Both
of these improvements should be made.
The question of sewers has been well con-
sidered and improvements OF this nature
have been effected under the supervision
of this Board in Charles street, Ocean,
Summit, Pavonia. Magnolia and Baldwin
avenues, while the initial steps have been
taken for extensive main sewers in
G~reenville and on the westerly slope of
the Heights. An independent joint COM
mission is pushing q big sewer between
Jersey City and West Hoboken. while
another outside body is to rebuild the
Ravine road sewer.
Another problem that conf ronts us is
that of street lighting. We have not had
money enough for this purpose. but re-
| cent laws practically place this matter in
our hands exclusively. We can safely
! predict that the streets will be better
lighted in The future than ever before.
Our city parks have received all the at
tention consistent with the money on
hand. We should have more funds for
these breathing spots.
IL would take more time than is now
available to express even a portion of the
arguments advanceable in favor of rapid
transit. Your President believes that he
voices the sentiment of all in stating that
| Jersey City's best interests demand as
many travelling facilities as can be OBJ
tanned. AT the same time we should
draw the line somewhere in the granting
of valuable franchises gratuitously,
Neither can too much be said in favor
of the ABOLITION of grade crossings Of
| steam railroads. The Erie Railway syss
tenn is now under consideration, and if
there IS any possibility of securing the
| desired end, the Erie tracks should be
elevated. Engineering difficulties will
obstruct the work, but the problem is
capable of solution. Elevate che tracks
by all means and stop the constant inter-
ruption of traffic and the too frequent
| slaughter or manning of our people.
The water question is still before Us.
A year ago, your President. under simi.
-