The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-26

credit be it said, he laid the foundation
for the magnificent editice now being
erected under the watehful eye OF Mayor
Wanser. In that year q bill was introduced
and made q law authorizing tne
/ issue of 100000 of City Hall bonds
and allowing the non-partisan commission TO
be appointed under its provisions to obtain
| $4,000 more from the sale of old property
owned by the city 1t was under the pro-
visions of this act that Mayor Cleveland de-
clared his intention of appointing the present
commissioners, Messls. Pearson, Datz and
Burke. Mr.. Datz's appointment was for
some reason opposed by the Board OF tln-
| ance. Mayor Cleveland was resolute and in
June, 1890, or three years after the passage
of the act the present commissioners We're
| appointd That they have acted wisely and
| well is demonstrated by the magnificent edi-
| fee now being erected. The commissioners
organized on June 8, 1890, bv electing John
| Pearson president Fred. k1ssam, who ac-
quired the notoriety OF carrying the minutes
of the Board around in his bat. was made
clerk His term was short one
If THE PEOPLE HAD VOTED.
In the fall of 1890 Michael Mullone, then
an Assemblyman, introduced IN the Assem-
bly, bill submitting to the people for a vote
whether they wanted new City Hall or not.
The bill passed The following year, 1891,
Pearson succeeded In having it repealed.
| After repeating the bill, which, he declares
now would have put an end to a new City
Hall had it been submitted to popular vote,
| lA caused to be introduced a bill giving the
Board of Finance the power to issue $3.50, COZ
more bonds, in addition to $3.50, 900 provided
| for by the act of 1881 The bin was passed,
but when it fell into Governor Abbett's
hands there was some delay, until President
Pearson assured the Governor that the hall
was needed and that there would be no
monkey business The bill was signed
There was considerable talk as to where 1t
should be located. The downtownerS finally y
carried the day. The work of procuring the
southern half Of the block bounded by Mont
gomery Mercer, Henderson and Grove
streets was begun. The valuable assistance
given the commission by Corporation Coun-
sell Edwards expedited matters wonderfully.
Then came the election of Mayor Wanser.
This put new confidence In property owners,
and they insisted that while hall was to be
built one which would be a credit to the
city should be erected.
THE FIRST BIDS RECEIVED.
Bids were advertised for under specifica-
tions drawn by Louis Fl. Broome, whose
plans for the new municipal building had
been approved of after lively competition
| amongst competent architects On Novenl-
Der II, 1892. the bids, which were for build
ing not to cost more than $3.50, ,0O0 were re-
ceived. 1t created some mlstrust IN the
minds of the commissioners when 1t was
found that all local bidders had estimates in
of $500, 600 or more. Colonel Bouton of New
York, however, came 81 within the limit.
President Pearson investigated Boutons
reputation and scured clippings from the
New York Tribune which in his mind, were
enough TO warrant the rejection of Bouton's
bid without the slightest consideration,
which he did, Commissioner Burke voting
with him Mr. Datz voted In Boutons S
favor.
This caused another delay and charges
were made that favored contractor was to
get the work.
The Board of Trade finally took up the
subject and demanded OF Mayor Wanser and
all the other city officials in any way in
terested and connected with the new City
an additional issue of bonds authorized for
the acquisition of the entire block. men
toned above. In response to this popular de-
n,and, March g. 1893 was witnessed the pas
sage of law placing $780, 900 more at the
disposal of the commission, making $780,
600 in ready cash, with $4,000 or there
abeuts to be derived from the sale of old
buildings. This additional legislation made
decent City Hall a surety. Under the first
bids received Patrick Connolly submitted
such low bid for the pile driving that the
commission decided to give that portion of
the work to him
THE STONE TRUST KNOCKED OUT.
new specifications which should make the
main entrance to the hall on Grove street,
instead of Henderson. as was contemplated
under the original plans.
This accomplished, bids were advertised
for the second time, pile driving excluded,
on June 20, 1898. Again the bids exceeded
the limit. and it was thought that Architect
Broome would have to reduce the size Of
the proposed building This would preb-
ably have been done had not Mr.. Broome
unearthed a scheme of the stone men to VIC
tinize the city. The stone men and masons
had combined to keep up the, price and ex-
tort from the city high figure, On June %
that combination was exploded by the COM
mission, compelling English and Condor to
submit new bids and making new specifca-
tions for the stone work, in which granite
was added to lime stone. This timely action
broke up the deal of the contractors and
set Condor and English against one an
other.
THE CONTRACTS AWARDED.
On July 5, 1893, new bids were received
and the various contracts awarded Rich
ard English was awarded the brick and stone
work at the price named in his bid, viz,
$236 436. w. w. Farrier received the plumb
ing work contract for S1o, ,160 Patrick Con-
molly, pile driving, s13, ,646.5 John Herman,
carpenter work, S75, 900, making the con-
tracted price of the building, S343, 242. So.
The block secured for the site cost 1896, 900,
making in all S73S 242. Sc. The remainder of
the money will be eaten up in the payment Of
the commissioners and Clerk G.. Fred Far
rel, who has proven an efficient clerk, the
architects fees, inspectors salary and incl
dental expenses Of the commission in procur-
ing furniture, etc.
SIMPSONS DEAL SPOILED.
There was not a hitch anywhere, that is
politically, against the Democratic majority
in the commission until Mayor Wanser was
compelled to leave the management of the
citySs affairs in the hands of Aldermen-a at
Large Reuben Simpson. By virtue of his
position, Mr.. Simpson was made acting
Mayor Mayor Wanser was undergoing a
critical operation when Acting Mayor Simp-
son began to raise high links with the city's
affairs He became disagreeably tangled
up in asphalt and in the Railroad avenue
vacation These little matters have been
aired before, but the crowning act Of the
Celery district statesman has never been
published 1t is this, William D. Tallman
had been appointed Inspector of the new
hall at Mayor Wanser's request
He was a man well qualified to fill
the position as he has proven to the satsfac-
tion of everyone. AS soon as Mayor
Wanser was out of the way Acting Mayor
| Simpson entered into deal to bounce all the
present City Hall Commissioners and re-
appoint men of his own choice One Of the
new men was to be Mr Warner Of the Board
of Appeals The new Board by Agreement
was then to bounce Inspector Talman and
appoint no less experienced builder than
| Ex-City Treasurer Nugent, inspector. The
| Job reached Mayor Wanser's ears His in
1,,avu mr. f,o,1pIc crOr, 1,17t