The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-10-13
Mr.. YERMBULE'S PAY
Democratic Commissioners
Vote Against the Water
Experts Salary.
LAND VERSUS LAKE ASPHALT
Doings Of the Street and Water
Board-lmprovements and
Street Sweeping.

For several weeks the street and
Water Commissioners have refrained from
doing or saying anything pertaining to
water or a water contract. Yesterday
AFTERNOON, however, at the regular meet
ing Of the Board, the Republican mem
bers recommended for payment a bill of
1888. 90 to Cornelius c.. vermeule for his
services as water expert and advisor to
the Board for the months of August and
September. The bill was read off with
a batch Of others, which were about to
be ordered paid, when Commissioner Bolt
wood remarked: II think I heard a
claim Of c. C. Vermeule's read, and if
that IS so ! want to vote on it separ-
ately.''
The bin was singled out and when it
was put up for passage the Democratic
members, Messrs. Heintze and Boltwood,
voted against It. The three Republican
members voted for 1t, Mr.. Kaiser re-
marking with pleasure" and the Presi-
dent. Certainly"
4 had quite forgotten" said Mr.. Bolt
wood. after the meeting, THAT we had
a water expert on our payroll. The city
for some reason is paying that man at
the rate Of 1920 a year and what on
earth he is being paid for now / cannot
imagine. The water question has dropped
out OF sight completely. It must be that
our officials are 50 interested in politics
that they have forgotten the great water
problem which such a short time ago
was causing everyone uneasiness. am
opposed to paying a man for doing moth
ing.v
Tbs palrny days Of the "Big Four in
the Board OF Works were recalled by a
letter from Phillip Eley of Bayonne. He
Is the p~atentee and owner of an appliance
for tapping water mains without having
the water turned Off. He wants the
Street and Water Commissioners to adopt
1t. The Commissioners themselves want
to do so. but there is an old contract in
the way. The "BIg Four contracted
with A.. p. Smith of Newark to use his
patent tapping machine during the life
Of the patent. This forces the city to
pay 81 LOO for the Smith appliance, though
It IS said to be a back number and nearly
three times as expensive as other ma
cn1nes of its kind; recently offered the
city. Two weeks ago Mr.. Eiey gave the
commissioners and Representatives of the
water departments of several, neighboring
cities a practical Illustration Of the work.
lngs of his machine. The exhibit was in
Bayonne.s He had a water main un-
covered and in about ten minutes tanned
It without wasting a gallon of water. one
or the features Of the machine Is that II
can tap a pipe on the side or anywhere
eise. The tap is in use in New York,
other large cities, and if Mayor Wanser
consents an effort is 10 be made to get
rid OF the Smith machine and the costly
contract connected with Il.
Bids were received at the meeting for
the paving Of Glenwoed avenue with as
pnait. Estimates were submitted by the
Barber Standard and California Cornpa-
nles- The bid Of the latter concern was
szlS z yard against s2.35 for the Barber
and s2.SS for the Standard. The Caiifor-
MA Cer1pany's bid was only received pro-
v~isionally in order that its validity MAJ
~Hcations call for lake asphalt. The Bar
Der and Standard Companies appear 70
control that particular brand. The CALI
roTnia Company offers land asphalt. A
phalt was rejected by the Street and
Water Beard as being Informal The off,
Gals Of the California Company say their
aspnaif, is as good II not better than that
offered by the Barber people.
Owners Of property on Pavonia avenue
filed a remonstrance against the proposed
pavement q, the roadway with asphalt.
serviceable4 as Belgian block. The remon-
STRANGE was referred.
The Erie Railroad filed an objection ia
the proposed Improvement of St. Paul's
avenue. It objected on the ground that
they had been Illegally made. The objec-
tons were overruled and a contract for
the work was subsequently awarded to
Thomas F. McCabe.
No objections. were made 70 the proposed
improvement OF Custer avenue or Linden
avenue or the widening Of Gator avenue. |
The Gator avenue contract was awarded
to Joseph H. Jones. A contract for the
improvement Of Seraueus road was award
ed to Edward OsNein. The cost will be
equally borne by this city and West Ho-
boken. A final award was made to P. I. |
Side and Belmont avenues. A sewer IN
Duncan avenue, built by PluEkett, was |
accepted as complete. John j. Shea was
awarded a contract to improve Highland
avenue, from the Boulevard to West Side |
avenue. |
When bids for. the construction of a
sewer in Waverly street were opened. II
bidders. Phillip Tumuity and Bernard
were identical. New bids will |
have to be advertised for. This is the |
second time contractors have tied for the
work. 400
Adam Yokel was appointed inspector of
the Irving street Improvement; William
C. Collina. widening of Gator avenue; |
avenue. and William Neill, eve in First
street. |
! A. Jacques. who objected to the con-
of a public In Waverly
to the effect tina he would never make
objection If allowed to maintain a pri-
vate sewer, withdrew his remonstrance.
The public sewer will now be built. Spe-
were adopted for the construc-
tion Of a sewer In Graham street.
The Board of Finance was asked for an
appropriation of 5000, to be
This will ALLOW Contractor Byrne to
continue doing the same amount Of sweep
ing he does now until the beginning OF
the fiscal year. 1t Is understood the APP
preparation has been agreed upon.