The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-16
CONDON'S MISTAKE
Ignored the Mayors sug-
gestion Relative to the
Wood1aWn Sewer.
WORK NOW INDEFINITELY POSTPONED
Result Will Be the Keeping Closed
of the WoodlawH School
Effect on Health.

The Woodlawn sewer construction is again
Contractor Patrick Condor to perform his
promise to carry the sewer under the Morris
Canal, within ten days. This in itself is
serious matter, but there is matter of
greater Importance hinging on the rapid
construction of the Stegman avenue sewer,
and that is the completion of the WoodIawn
Public School When Contractor Condon's
men reached the Morris Canal he requested
that the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Company, the lessees of the Canal,
should shut off the water, in or
der that the excavation under the
bed of the canal to lay the great metal pipes
could be made. Mayor Wanser commune
Gated with the railroad company asking
their assistance and that corporation, in re-
plying, told the Mayor that they would
close the canal for ten days commencing
the last day in March, and furnish aid
to Mr.. Condor in every way. The company,
in addition, promised the advice and help
of their engineers.
The Mayor then suggested to Contractor
Condor that it would be better to allow the
Lehigh Valley Company do the work, and he
Mr.. Condor, could make an agreement with
the company. In such an event any re-
sponsibility arising out of delay would be
CONDON WOULDN'T DOIT
But Mr.. Condor would not listen to this.
He said that he could easily .nish tuTnelling
under the canal within ten days, and he pre-
ferred that his men should do the work
rather than the companys.
Mr.. Condor wrote to the Mayor, promising
specifically to finish the work within the
time
The Lehigh Valley Company shut off the
water, and Condons men began their work,
But by the time half the distance under
the Canal was penetrated, the ten days had
expired, and the railroad company let in the
water, and the work of Condon's employees
was stopped. 1t cannot be resumed until the
fall, when the water in the Canal is run out.
THE EFFECT OF THIS.
The effect of this viii, it is believed, Serf-
ously delay the opening of the new Wood
lawn school, for that buildings sewers would
empty into the main sewer running along
the canal and so on to the waters OF
New York Bay. The school building will
be complete and it is expected ready for
occupancy in two or three months, and
hence arose the fears that it could not pos
sibly be opened until the sewer is finished,
which will certainly not be for seven or
eight months to come.
CONDoN TO BLAME.
Corporation Attorney Spencer rWeart
said today in relation to the matter that
he does not believe the school can be af-
fected by the delay. Its sewers can empty
into the canal but permission must be granted
by the Lehigh Valley people. Whether
or not they will is new question. Should
they decline to allow the request then the
school cannot be ready until the sewer is
finished "
AS to Contractor Condor, Mr.. Weart said
that the responsibility of the delay lies at
his door, He was asked specifically if he
could finish within ten days, and confidently
replied that he could.
DANGER TO HEALTH.
Should the Lehigh Valley Railroad Conn
pany accord permission to the contractor OF
the Woodlawn School to sewer
into the Canal, a grave ques-
ton will arise as to the danger
to public health if sewage matter is allowed
to flow into tho canal. Since that water
way traverses the most thickly populated
part of the city, the presence of
deadly sewage in the hot summer time would
indeed be source of danger and fit sub
ject for enquiry of the local Board of Health.
At present it looks as if the Woodlawn
people viii neither enjoy the benefits of
Public School or main sewer until the
year Closes