The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-06-08
JOB FOR SMITH.
Freeholders Appoint Him to
Succeed County Superin-
tendent Cannon.

IHe Dem0craGlc majority OIL UHe DOdru u
Freeholders ran a good race yesterday
against the time made by the Republican
majority Of the Street and Water Commits
sloners in filling offices. The Freeholders
did not appoint as many as the Commission
ers, but the positions filed will cost the peo-
pie more. In May of the present year, the
term of office of John Boyd, clerk of the
board, and Hugh Dugan, County Collector,
expired. During April, County Superin-
tendent James F. Cannon resigned his posi-
ton, to take effect when his successor was
appointed. The Freeholders were well pleased
with Cannon as IN official, and until yester-
day refused to make any other appointment.
Gannon's term of office would not have ex-
pired until July, 1895, and, under the rules
of the board, Freeholder Hennessey had the
right to fill it. He failed to do so until
yesterday, and then just barely succeeded
He caused to be appointed County Superin-
tendent, Christopher P. Smith, ex-Superm-
tendent of Police. The salary that goes with
this Office is So, 200 a year. The amount OF
the picking has never been made public.
The duties of a County Superintendent re-
duire practical mechanical knowledge. A
man should be either an architect or an
experienced builder, because he is supposed
to prepare all plans and specifications con-
corning public improvements and'to know II
when prepared by others they are correct.
In this line of business comes the building OF
bridges, tthipk of ,Christy Smith building
q draw or suspension BRIDGE, erection OF
public buildings grading and paving of
streets, and the purchase and erection of fine
and expensive machinery. He is the general
OF all that the county has done by
mechanics MI. Smith is not a mechanic.
ooFhs Democratic members of the Board of
Freeholders did not want this appointment
made, and in the red hot caucus that was
held over it on Wednesday, they told Free
holder Hennessey so in plain terms. The
row in the caucus was the worst that has
taken place in a year, but under the rules
established by the members, the appoint
ment by Hennessey Of Christy Smith could
not be stopped. He insisted and the other
democrats with the exception of Dennis
Gallagher were forced to consent. Mr..
Gallagher said that he could not vote for
Christy Smith and retain any self respect,
and Mr.. Gallagher supported these convic-
lions at the meeting held yesterday. lie was
the only democrat VINO bolted the caucus
nomination. The vote for the appointment
was:-
Yeas-Cronin, Ellis, Heller, Hennessey,
Kelly, McNally and Director Bruggemann, Z.
Nays-Gallagher, Halliday, Hanna and
SwartZ, f.. s4r.
Freebooter Doscher was absent.
The reappoiutment of John Boyd, clerk
for three years, at a salary of S3,0OOa year,
went through with bells on, and Mr.. Boyd
will in q few days file his bond of 5000.
Hugh Dugan has been r~eappointed County
Collector of Taxes at a salary of S4,50O a
year. for three years. and his bond of $780,
900 will be filed at the proper time.
EPORT ON THE HALL OF
The Record Grand Jury, it will he re-
membered, presented to the court the bad
condition of the Hall of Records, aud also
indicted Louis Fl. Giele, the architect, for
permitting wrong doing in the construction
of the building. The Freeholders immedil
ately after receiving the presentment en-
ployed Architect H. Kreitler to make a
thorough examination and report his find
ings. Mr.. Kreitler, who was appointed by
Judge Knapp the architect for the new
ASYLUM. made the examination required,
and reported yesterday to the board as fol-
lows:-
In compliance with the resolution Of your honor;
able body o. April :, 1924, directing the undersigned
condition of the building known as the Hall Of
After havinsg nlads a carefni exalnlnati5n Of the
building, as wen as the plans and specifications on
/ ind that the Building is safe and strong.
The only defect in construction noticeable being
ceiling over second story are not built In the walls,
owing to the brick backing of said walls not being
The iron columns and Orders are all Of proper
and ample strength.
Thu iron floor and ceiling beams are excessively
strong, and herein there has been q positive waste
OF material, the hoor beams being OF dimensions
to the square foot, in addition to weight of floor
arches forming ceiling, etc, whereas provisions to
sustain a load Of one-haif OF the above m entfoned
amount would be sufficient. The ceiling beams
over the second story will safely sustain a load of
$50 lbs. to the square foot where no load at all Is
intended to be carried.
All these floor and ceiling beams could have been
safely placed five feet from centres instead of three
feet as now arranged and still be of ample strength
to sustain any load reasonably expected to be
placed thereon.
AS to the sanitary condition of the building, find
that the soil and waste pipes from plumbers fix
lures in stairs, hall OF basement, and of the water
closet connected with the Freebolders' meeting
room ara trapped and properly vented.
The waste pipes from the wash basin in Free
holders meeting room and ante room are trapped,
dication Of the waite pipe being extended out above
the roof or to the external air as 1t properly should
be-
The waste pipes from basins in Surrogates office
and Registers office are trapped, bat the traps are
not vented, and the waste pipe Is only carried to
level OF second story floor and there shut Off.
The want of proper vent connections and the
failure to extend the waste pipes to the external
air are serious defects that should be duly
remedied.
I also find an entire lack Of 1ues or shafts for the
purpose Of ventilation, no iue or chimney what
ever appearing above the roof, hence the only way
for removing the air from the several rooms is by
means of the doors and windows, a method Quite
proper in summer but inadequate and Objectionable
in cold weather.
Respectfully submitted
'EpErrr IN