The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-25
some QUEER BIDDING.
Street and Water Board
Considers Paving Pro-
posals.
T. TRoTTER, CONTRACTOR
Tho Election Experts Reappear-
ance Occasions Diverse Criti-
cism-Clubbing the Ring.
: TROTTER, CONTRACTOR

Proposals for paving certain portions of
such streets with syenite pavement, as the
Board of Street and Water Commission
ers shall from u3ie 10 time designate were
opened at the meeting of the board held
yesterday afternoon. There was a very
peculiar feature to this bidding aud some
of the proposals bore evidences of having
been put in for almost every other pur.
pose than hat of paving the streets.
Another peculiar feature of the proceed
ing was the appearance of MIR. Thomas
Trotter, saloon keeper and election exy
pert. as a contractor. When his name
was read as a bidder several of the large
lobby present smiled hilariously and
audibly expressed their wonderment rs
20 when Mr.. Trotter became a contractor
and when he learned the business.
One suggested that he ,nighI have re-
ceiSed some valuabl hints from ex-
sheriff Patterson of Monmouth, during
his recent short stay at NJ. Patterson's
establishment at Trenton, while another
empnatically declared that "Tom'' was
trying TO worry the poys into providing
a place for him at the puolic crib. though
just what that means perhaps the boys
can tell.
Another bid, which made the genuine
contractors open their eyes aud look at
each other, was that OF Mr.. George
Fettis. " hen this was made Mr.. FeLuis'
address was given at a certain number
in Warren street.
'Isu't that number a saloon?'' asked
Commissioners Dagan. The clerk ex-
pressed his belief that it was a thirst
cure.
"Weil, I don't know of any contractor
in that place." Mr.. Dugan continued,
land l don't know any contractor by that
name.n
H might have al Office in that build
ingr' saRely remarked Commissioner
Somers. and the bid went with the rest.
WHO Mr.. FETTIs Is.
Mr.. EettfS, it appears, is d ~draughts-
man in the office of Architect
Louis Giele. and the address which he
gave is said to be Tom Trotier's saloon,
or the saloon at Warren aud York streets
which he purchased q snort time before
his late retirement from public view.
Mr.. Fettis appears in the directory as a
member of the firm of Fettis & Trotrer.
architects, the other membe of the firm
being Thomas Troeter. Jr. Their place of
business is, according to the Directory,
No. l Montgomery street, and they both
live in the same house with Thomas
Trotter. However, Mr.. Fettis claimed TO
be a bona dde bidder and ready to do the
work. Eight bids IN ali were received
and three were thrown out as being in
formal after the board had gathered
around President Madden's desk aud
worked over them asthough they were d
Chinese puzzle. James Harrington was
found to be the lowest bidder. the con-
tract was awarded to him, aud Warren
street from Grand to Dudley streets and
Jersey avenue from Montgomery to
Grand streets were selected as the first to
be paved. These two streets were thus
designated because a large amount of
heavy trucking is done over them. and
their present condition is dangerous to
vehicles which are obliged to traverse
their hills aud valleys.
The Commissioners were in session
until after three o'clock, aud the mount
of work which they did in that time was
surprising, and the reading of the various
resolutions very trying OH Clerk Bouton's
vocal apparatus. A large number of
claims were passed together with the
july payrolls. The Board of Finance
was requested to appropriate $40, 600 for
the reconstruction of the Wayne street
sewer from Brunswick to Msrssles street.
MIR. Somers was duly shocked at the idea
that the reconstruction OF such a small
sec ton OF the sewer should require SO
large a sum, and had a bad attack of Il
want TO know" Chief Ru9gles attended
to him. and soon had him cut of danger.
The Chief said that the sewer was in a
very bad way, and owing to the nature
OF the fou ndatiou upon which iG rested
would require the amount named to get
~ lhLO Sudpe dkdlu. Luz ueCSS6uTJ StGpS
were taken to build a sewer in Summit
avenue. and to improve Orient avenue
and Woodward street.
AFTER No. 25's CONTRACTORS.
The CLERK was authorized TO coaimuni-
cate with the West Shore Railroad Off
GERS in regard to the concession by them
of the portion of their land required for
the opening of Thirteenth street. The
resolution appointing Patrick Walsh a
rammer or laborer as his services might
be required, was recinded aud Mr.. Walsh
was made a payer at the salary of $3.50
per diem. Frank w. Decker WAS ao-
pointed a general clerk in the Water De-
partment at a salary OF SIS per month.
The contractors who are build ag Pub
lie School No. 25 were shaken up. A
resolution was passed which, after set
ting forth that the lime for completing
the school had passed ON time ago,
called upon the contractors to employ
more men and ecu more material, SO
that the work could be completed rs rap
Idly as possible, or the Commissioners
would do SO at the contractors expense.
The New Jersey School aud Church Fur
n1ture Company were awarded a contract
to furnish 475 chairs at So. rs q piece for
The High School. The board publicly
expressed the opinion that that ompau
WAS the best able to furnish chairs to the
best interests of the city.
The Police Commissioners were re-
Quested TO confer power upon the Lamp
Inspector aud the board adjourned to
tomorrow morning.