The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-16
This Office closed.
Moved to the new City Hall.

The city officials bade goodbye to the
old hall, which has been the scene of
many famous meetings, important con-
ferences, wordy wars and bitter political
conflicts, this morning. They did not
move entirely without regret. There were
some men in the old building who have
spent a major part of their lives there.
Change of administration did not disturb
them, but some of them, particularly the
superstitious ones, fear that change of
quarters will not be beneficial to- them
politically.
Everything in the old Hall which was
! of any use has been transferred to the
new building. In going through the old
records many curious documents were un-
earthed. Some of the clerks have found
odd things which have been stored away
in vaults for perhaps upwards of twenty
years.
Mayor wansers secretary, John Nevin.
has seized upon an old relic. He prizes
his find highly. Just what 1t is he re-
fuses to say. explaining that the owner
might turn up if he did.
The old City Hall has been in use thirty
five years. For the last week the city
officials have been doing little else except
get their things ready for removal to
the more cheerful and eommodieus quar-
ters which have been provided for them
in the new building.
All the old papers have been taken to
the new Hall, but many of them will be
stored away in the basement, the new
building being equipped with so many
fire proof vaults for each department as
to make safes almost unnecessary.
Some of the furniture from the old hall
is to occupy conspicuous places in the
new building. For instance, the hand
some leather couch which the late Orestes
Cleveland bought for his own use has
been turned over to City Clerk O'Don-
nell. He prizes the gift highly, When
an official under Mayor Cleveland, Mr..
O'DonLell spent many pleasant hours on
the couch. An immense leather arm
chair, which was also purchased by May
or Cleveland, is to be the property of
Secretary Nevin. The hardwood screen
Office and hid him from view Of those
outside, has been delivered to the Tax
Commissioners at the request of Com
would have nothing put In his new office
which had been in the old place. The
Coloners office, by the way, is the nat
test in the new building. The carpet is
a marvel. 1t is a selection of his own.
1t has a border of various colored flow
ers Mayor WanSer and the other offi-
as naye pt ryng 10 rig pe
rigged. He says ne wanted something
odd and got it. No one disputes with
him the fact that it is odd At the same
time it is the handsomest carpet by long
odds in the new building.
Tax Commissioner Love is the only
man who is dissatisfied with the carpet
Mr. Love says it should have been blue
That color he asserts. would have better
thizing hn with taxpayers who We're blue
over their valuations.
Up to date only one man has had a
thrnEing experience in the new building
Custodian Datz enjoys that distinction.
The elevators were being tested few
days ago and ton and a half weight
on admiringiy as the elevators ran up
take ride. His weight did the trick
mas in as many seconds The Custodian walks
up and down stairs now.
Martin Finck, Clerk of the Board of
Finance. is taking great interest in fitting
up his Office His quarters will be about
as easy as any in the building.
oors 'hs have alnies been On carpeted and and Unless
something unforeseen happens the third
floor will be all ready for occupancy by
be thrown open for the first time for
the general transaction of public busi-
ness.
to enter the new municipal household
He says he has been quite happy in the
old building and he hopes to be IN the
new building for the balance of his
term
Custodian Datz is the happiest man in
town. Every official and every visitor
who has looked through the building has
congratulated him upon its appearance,
and in nearly every instance has said that
the interior is handsomer that that of
any public pudding In this State, if not
In any State in the Union The new
building has cost 100000, and Custodian
DatZ says it cannot be duplicated for at
least $500 600 more
With three exceptions the City Hail
Commissioners are prepared to accept the
building as complete. The exceptions are
the reof, the allegorical groups in the
pediments, and the glazed brick work
The latter Richard English is responsible
for. Architect Broome is now under in
dictment for his alleged connection with
the glazed brick work. There are about
10000 of the glazed bricks in the building
They were to have been of uniform size
and color, it is said. There seems to
are, hardly Of one color. The roof has
dispute is over the groups in the pedi-
ments. which We're to have been Of
bronze. 1t Is asserted that improper
material was furnished.
Contractors English and Herman have
been notified that they will have to sue
to recover their claims against the city
for the disputed work
appNrp nora m 1A1T