The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-21
MALARIA'S HUME.
Horrible Condition Of North
Street and Cambridge Ave-
nue-Residents Up
In Arms.

The people residing IN the neiSHpoihooo
Of Cambridge avenue and North street.
Jersey City Heights, are up in arms ABOUT
the condition of the street at that corner.
Many complaints nave been made to the
health authorities, but no attention mas
been paid them, and now most OF the
residents lave decided to pack up tnelr
belongings and leave the neighborhood.
They say that they will no longer lay
themselves liable to such a long siege OF
sickness as has already resulted In some
cases.
The street is in a most wretched condi-
ton, and too much cannot be said against
it. Drivers of vehicles are compelled to
drive around two or three blocks in order
to reach a street that is in halfway de-
cent condition.
There are no sewers on North street,
and all the drainage from the adjoining
property flows down the steep grade, Of
ten flushing Cambridge avenue and the
cellars of the houses, to the great dis
comfort of the tenants. To make things
more disagreeable two houses have been
built ON the vacant lots on Hancock ave-
nue., which AVE their closets In the
yards, and very frequently after a heavy
rain the closets are flushed, and the con-
tents driven down the incline into the
intersecting streets. The odor there is
something terrible.
Two great lakes are directly in the
rear of this property, and are constantly
filled with dirty water, into which bare
foot boys and girls a TX great pleasure in
wading, never thinking of the deadly
germs which abound there. These
lakes overflow and help to fill the many
outlets, which have for their destination
the streets of the -neighborhood.
There is no grade to the street. and
at the corner of Cambridge avenue and
North street, the pedestrians are compell-
ed to descend a flight of stairs, consisting
of ten steps to cross Cambridge avenue,
and are then forced to walk up hill over
a road which is without a doubt worse
thar 1.-The rocky roads to Dublin AS
there are no protecting rails, the city
in the case of aecident would lay itself
liable to heavy damages.
About one hundred feet from the corner
of Central avenue on North street, there
is a large cesspool which Is supposed to
carry the overflow of water to the
Cambridge avenue sewer. This hole, the
residents say is practically Of no use.
There is no railing around it, and it is
hidden from public view by a growth of
weeds. If a person did not know that
such a hole existed in that spot, he might
walk or fall into it and be seriously
injured.
A News reporter visited the scene
yesterday afternoon, in order to see If
the complaints made could be confirmed.
He found them just. The %neighbors were
loud in the condemnation of the
authorities to allow the nuisance to go
undated.
Why, said Mrs. Walker, of No. 70 North
street, 1 will not stay in this house
another month. 1 lave already notified
my landlord that 1 intend to move on the
first of the month. During the eleven
months 1 have resided here there
lave been nothing but bills for
doctors and medicine. I have been
for nearly six months, and he said my
condition is due to the fact, that
malaria exists in the dismal swamp
opposite.
Mrs. John Cure, who lives, next door
to Mrs. Walker, was next seen, and she
said she was simply disguised with the
condition of affairs. My husband has
been down to the Health Board and COM
planned. but his action was OF no avail.
He has since written several very strong
letters to the authorities, but they have
paid no attention to them" she declared.
All the neighbors on North street, from
Cambridge venue to Hancock avenue,
complained very strongly against the ac-
| ton of the Board of Health.
The residents of Cambridge avenue also
| made strenuous objections to living IN
| such a neighborhood.
Mrs. Lohson, of No. go Cambridge ave-
hue, said chat these houses being built
| nine feet below the grade of North street
and the adjoining property, receive the
full benefit of the refuse that is washed
down from the vacant lots on the north
| side of the street"
The property which the neighbors say
| is responsible for the nuisance, is situated
| at Nos. 381 and 1888 Hancock avenue. 1t
consists of two very ~dilapidated ~shanties,
| ane of which was partially destroyed by
fire a few weeks ago.
Mrs. Burkhardt and her husband re-
| side in No. 1888. Mrs. Burkhardt said to
| q News, reporter that she did not own
| the property. She only paid the taxes
| on it for her rent. The property, she
continued. belonged to q New York estate
| and is in the hands Of Real Estate Owner
| Vapels of West Hoboken. TIL estate,
| she said. has refused to sell the property
! and they only lease it for a term of 20
| wears. No one wants to erect houses on
the property when they know that after
| only a short time it will go back to the
| original owner.
iRegarding the %outhouses, Mrs. Burk-
| bardt said tha she had put in twenty
leads of dirt within the last few days,
| which she hoped would prevent a repeti-
ton of what has already happened.
WOULD NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS