The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-03-29
LANDMARK OF TIME
The City Hall Corner Stone
Laying a Notable
Event.
AN OCCASION TO CELEBRATE
The Board Of Trade May Lead in
the Movement What Prom
inent Citizens Say.
An OCCASION TO CELEBRATE

Since THE NEWS few, days ago exclu
sively said that the laying of the corner
stone of the new City Hall would take place
some time in August no little interest has
been shown in the ceremonies which ought
to mark so important an event. Other
cities have made the day public holiday,
and its citizens have turned out to witness
the ceremony performed in the presence Of
the best people in the State. Only the other
day the city of Paterson was en- fete for a
similar reason. If the occasion at Paterson
was SO grand an affair, surely Jersey City
ought to make it red-letter day in its call
endar. This view is shared by large num-
ber OF Jersey City people, who begin to feel
some pride in their city.
BOARD OF TRADE FAvoRs IT.
When NEWS reporter spoke to Mr.. Joseph
A. Dear of the Board of Trade this morning
and asked him what the board would do in
this matter of celebrating the corner stone
laying with befitting eclat he replied
Eyes. you are right, we ought to take
some part in it. I've been thinking about
that very same thing. Really, we have a
City Hall site now, because of the Board of
Trade. We ought to do something since it is
largely due to us that the Hall has become a
condition and not theory"
will you bring it up at the next meet
ing2n asked the reporter.
Eyes, assuredly, unless, he added, with a
smile, sssome other fellow gets in ahead of
me-
Ex-Sheriff Cornelius j. Cronan agreed
with the suggestion Of The NEWS, that the
ceremony should be of special character.
MILITIA ENDORSE THE PROJECT.
The suggestion of THE NEWS that the
laying of the corner stone of the new City
Hall be made the occasion of a grand diplay
meets with the hearty approval of the of
ficers and privates of the Fourth Regiment,
who are anxious to participate in the parade,
if one should be the feature of the day The
cost of parade would be nominal as the
only expense incurred would bs for music.
the regimental band of course, would be too
expensive. but the drum corps, which by the
way is the best in the State, can
be secured for fifty or seventy-fve dollars.
The National Guardsmen are willing to
sacrifice days time to make the occasion
the grandest in Jersey City's history.
During the early part of August the rcgi-
ment will be ordered to Sea Girt for a
weeks rifle practice and drilling, and if the
ceremony takes place after their return the
soldier boys will be in fine form for a
parade
WHAT CITIZENS THINK.
Mr. George Stratford of the Stratford
Oakum Company, was enthusiastic about
celebrating the laying of the corner stone in
befitting manner. He thinks that Jersey
City ought to do something to make the oc-
casion worthy of real Importance
Hon. FiaveI -McGee yves mot much in
favor of spending any city money for gala
day, but is of opinion that the cornerstone
laying should be signalized in some way.
City Hall Commissioner Emil Datz had
something very interesting to say
about the matter. He, while of the opin-
ion that the ceremony ought to be one
duly honored by the citizens, remarked that
the City Hall Commissioners had no author
ity to use any of the money appropriated and
expend in banquets or receptions
LET IT BE DONE WELL
ssOf course he said, s'if there is to be
such display, let us do it we'll No mean
ness nor shabbiness. My opinion is that if
the Board of Trade and friendly societies
say in this city take up the initiative, we
will be able to know exactly what the peo-
pie want"
Mr.. Datz, assuming that the general de-
sire should be that celebration
should take place, and that the
property authority was received for
spending the necessary money for it, said
the stone would be laid by the Mayor Then
the Senator, Assemblymen and public Off
cials should be invited and banquet would
follow. All the expenses need not exceed
50, 000 This would be raised either by pub
lie subscription or by an appropriation
from the Board of Finance.
Mr. Datz specially emphasized the state
ment that If the people desire it, the Com
missioners would do all in their power to
unite with the Board of Trade, which he
said was instrumental in procuring the site,
and make the laying of the cornerstone of
Jersey Citys Town Hall gigantic success