The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-04-13


zens and of the observant visitor. The
first step towards a change was made
last year when Chapter 166 of the Laws
of 1894 was enacted. This measure ema-
mated from this city. Previous require
ments were greatly simplified and costs
much reduced: BY reference to the act
take advantage OF it's provisions, the
petition must be signed by every owner
liable to assessment for the contemplated
Improvement; but when the petition is
so signed the city can advertise for pro-
posals, award a contract. and have actual
work begun on an Improvement in less
than three weeks, while the cost to petit
TONERS Is represented by the pro rata
oI contractors, prices for frontage only.
The cost Of all intersections. of all adj
vertising, surveying, maps etc, is borne
by the city, while the salary of the in
spector Is paid by the contractor. with
the additional advantage that when the
Improvement is completed the property
owner may exercise the option of paying
immediately or of having the assessment
ing per cent. interest, one of each in
stallment being payable annually. For
cltlzens VINO can unanimously agree on
an Improvement It is a most liberal in
ducernent.. New laws recently enacted
are as follows:-Chapter 217 of the Laws
OF epd lSs So relates to the sewering. paving;
sewers. Hitherto. when an individual
desired that his street should be paved
VI oEWSreu, ne secured q Dlank petition
and circulated it among his %neighbors,
meeting with and having to combat diff
ferences of opinion as to the character
which the work should assume, and often
times being rebuffed by that too prev
alent citizen who believes that existing
conditions are good enough; and when,
senting one-thfrd or more of the
frontags mad been secured. the city
matter until $50 had been deposited to
cover the preliminary expenses. Under
the most favorable conditions, from four
to six months must then elapse before
actual work could be commenced, and
when the Improvement or sewer was com
pleted; it became a lien, Immediately
ferred to, one or more property owners
can now petition. No deposit Is required.
The expense of advertising and posting
is reduced more than one-half. The inn
proVement can be begun and finished in
about half the time heretofore required,
and, when completed, the property owner
ately or on the five years installment
plan. as explained above, except that the
installments bear but six per cent. inter
est.
In the matter of opening and extend
ing streets, etc., chapter 2S9 of the laws
Of qfs 1925 has reyolutionized old methods:
methods OF procedure can now be done
for much less cost with one. Under
to proceed 10 change and establish a
grade in order to secure uniformity; then
to acquire land and formally open the
street or avenue, and finally to improve
sible. These various proceedings would
together occupy about two years, while
to make improvements of this nature. al
most prohibitive. Under the new law
(chapter 2Sg, one or more owners can
present a single petition, combining in
itself the establishment Of a grade, the
acquiring of land, and the actual work
of grading, curbing, bridging, where
move as a whole. so that when its terms
have been complied with, the street. will
be passable for both pedestrians and We
hicles. Preliminary costs have been also
greatly reduced, while the installment
method of paving for the Improvement
the last quoted laws an approximate of
the amount can be assessed against each
lot or parcel of land will be prepared
actual work, when, if those liable to
mere than one-half the amount of pro-
posed assessment, sllal present written
ing the old established feature of the
printed for the use Of the public blank
applications whereby improvements con-
templated under the provisions of said
for. hut ] would strongly urge the ne
cessity of having such petitions filled
out by the Chief Engineer in order that
requests Inlay dtcOIu will iIG pOliCy GS~
tablished by the city. The last new law
to which l would refer is known as chap
ter 27o OF the laws of 1895, and relates to
the repairing of curbs and sidewalks.
Heretofore it has been practically Inn
| possible for your honorable body TO
cause a Uniform condition of the curba
and sidewalks of this city. Owners
would be notified to make proper repairs
but oftentimes the notices were unheed-
ed, 50 that while, perhaps not a little
has been accomplished, much remains
to be done. Under the new law, where
notice is served upon property owners
and remains UNDECIDED for a space @,
thirty days, this board is then permitted
to make such repairs as are found to be
| necessary, while the cost thereof will
| be assessed against the property benefited
BIZ. It would seem to me that a clear
| understanding of this law must cause
to place their curbs and sidewalks in
proper condition., but in any event the
| power now vested in your honorable
BODY is such that the condition of ba9
| walks and crooked curbS need no longer
exist in this community.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE T. BOUTON,
Clerk.
Was received and referred to Com