The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-04-10
REAL ESTATE News.
Laws Passed by the Last Legis-
lature to Further the In
provement Of the City.

AT the request Of Mayor Wanser, Clerk
Bouton of the Street and Water Board
has prepared a report setting forth the
operation of new laws relative to street,
sidewalk and sewer improvements. The
report is an interesting one and hould be
read by every property owner 1t is as
follows:-
I'm accord with the expressed views
o. ms Honor the Mayor ! herewith sub
mt a statement explanatory Of the re-
improvements together with a COMPARE
son showing the radical changes between
ola ,ana new methods. In common with
growth, OF the city was handicapped by
the insistments of previous laws, and that
if the municipality was permitted to
exercise a more liberal spirit towards
petitioners for improvements, not only
would such petitioners be greatly bene-
increased demand for improvements soon
assume such condition as to excite the
favorable comment both Of our own citi-
gems 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-
ments were greatly simpliied and costs
moeh reduced, BY reference to the act
however 1t viii be seen that in order to
take advantage of its 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-
poSais, award a contract, and have actual
work begun on an Improvement in less
than three weeks, while, the cost to petit
OF contractors, prices for frontage only.
The cost of all intersections. of all ad-
yertislng, 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
divided into five equal installments, bear
lngf { per cent. interest, one of each in
citizens who can unanimously. agree on
an Improvement 1t is a most liberal in
are az follows:-Chapter 217 of the Laws.
or 1888 relates to the seWering, paving,
and Otherwise improving of streets and
sewers Hitherto. when an Individual
desired that his street should be paved
or severed, he secured a blank petition
and circulated it among his neighbors,
meeting with and having to combat diff
which the work mould assume, and often
times being rebuffed by thai too prev
alent citizen who believes that existing
after the necessary signatures, repre-
senting one-third or more of the
frontage had been secured. the city
authorities We're not able to move in the
matter until $3.50 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
plesed; it became a lien; Immediately
ferred to, one or more property owners
can now petition. No deposit is required.
The expense Of advertising n posting
IS reduced more than one-half. The i'm
provement can be begun and finished in
about half the time heretofore required.
and, when completed, the property owner
can take his choice of paying immedi-
ately or on the five years. installment
plan, as explained above, except that the
instalfments bear but six per cent. inter-
est.
IN the matter of opening and extend
ing streets, etc., chapter 29 of the laws
Of 1895 has revoluttonized old methods.
for much less cost with one. Under
the old system it was first necessary
grade in order to secur uniformity; then
TO ACQUIRE land and formally open the
the same so that its use would be pos
sible.. These various proceedings would
together occupy about two years, while
the ~annoyances and costs were such as
most ~prohibitive. Under the new law
Chapter 2Ss9, one or more owners can
itself the establishment Of a grade, the
of grading, curling, bridging where
necessary and tagging, and under such
move as a whole, SO that when its terms
have been complied with, the stree. will
hicles,. Preliminary costs have been also
greatly reduced, while the installment
method OF paving for the Improvement
can be exercised il desired. In both of
the last quoted laws al approximate of
the amount can be assessed against each
lot or parcel of land will be repaired
n ND nrrT nrfan = - A." e Ia
actual work, when, if those liable to
mere than one-half the amount of pro-
posed assessment, shall present written
! objections, no. fu;ther proceedings viii
be taken on that petition, thus retain
ing the old established feature of the
present charter. I have had prepared ana
| applications whereby Improvements con-
templated under the provisions of said
last mentioned acts may be petitioned
for. hut would strongly urge the ne
out by the Chief Engineer in order thai
requests may accord with the policy es-
to which l would refer Is known as chap
ter go of the laws of 1895, and relates to
the repairing of curbs and sidewalks.
possible fol. your honorable body TO
cause a uniform condition of the curbs
and sidewalks of this city. Owners
but oftentimes the notices were unheed-
ed, so 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 unheeded for a space o.
to make such repairs as are found to be
necessary, E-hila the cost thereof will
be assessed against the property benefited
bin 1t would seem to me that a clear
understanding Of THIS law must cause
a majority, Of the owners of properties
proper condition, but in any event the
power now vested in your honorable
| walks and crooked curbs need no longer
| exist in this community.
Respectfully submitted,
| o n ROTTTON