The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-11
GOOD ROADS men.
Association Restive About
the Delay in Completing
Mercer Street AS
phalt.
THE LICENSE FUND TANGLE
Condition of the East Side Drive
way-Will the Mayor Veto
the New Asphalt Re-
strictions ?

Division No. of the Good Roads Asso-
ciation met in the Palma Clubhouse last
night. There were nineteen members
present. The constitution and bylaws
which were reported by the committee
were adopted without dissenting vote.
They are as called for by the County As
sociation.
Henry Maver reported that the recent
rain storms had washed all the top dress
ing from the macadam roadways of Ar
lington and Garfield avenues. The dress
ing, he explained, is nearly all in the
cutters. With the expenditure of a small
sum of money he is of the opinion that
the, city can place the roads in just as
good condition as they ever were. 1t was
decided to petition the Street and Water
Commissioners to make the required re-
pairs at once. A report was submitted
showing that the Street and Water Com
missioners have complied with the re-
quest of the association and erected street
signs along the asphalt and macadam
roads, bearing directions as to which is
the shortest and best way to reach the
Boulevard
There was brief discussion about the
condition of the unfinished portion of
Commissioners were for a few moments
hArshly criticised.
DR. Benjamin Edge and another gentle
man, who have looked into the subject,
explained the delay by declaring that
there is a dispute between the Finance
and Street and Water Commissioners as
to who has control of the special street
portion of the liquor license fund.
Prior 10 four years ago, the Board of
Finance, some time in July, yearly set
fO
Street and Water Board without a re-
striction OF any kind. Mayor Wanser was
the first one to introduce the system Of
giving the Finance Board control of the
funds. He did 1t at time when he had
Napped out a system of smooth surfaced
roadways which ex-Street and Water
manding the paving of Pacific avenue
from the canal bridge to Communipaw
avenue with asphalt Mayor Wanser car
ried his point and from that occasion the
Finance Board dictated every improve
ment that was to be made with the spec
ial street money. When the improvements
were finished the same Board set aside
sufficient money to make payment. The
present Street and Water Commissioners
have been advised that the Finance
Beard has no. control over the special
street money further than to apportion 1t
as required by law, which allots so per
cent for special street purposes.
Mayor Hoos has communicated with the
Good Roads Association and has advised
the members that he favors the imme-
date Improvement of the upper end of
the street If for no more than is feet
in width, SO that it will be passable for
Mheelmen and drivers of light carriages.
Commissioners Heintze has also promised
to repair the street, and because the
work has not been done he has been
criticised. AS soon as the special street
funds become available he has pledged
himself to make the Improvement At
their meeting on Monday, the Street and
Water Commissioners took the first step
to have determined which Board has con-
troll of the fund in dispute, by award
contract for the repaving of Montgomery
street between Warren and Hudson
streets. That Improvement has not been
authorized by the Finance Board but it
ciai street money of the liquor license
fund The Sheridan & Shea Company
will sue the city if the Finance Board
refuses to settle in a reasonable time.
When the above facts were given the
that the Street and Water Board was not
so much to blame after all.
A vote of thanks was given the Com
missoners for passing the bicycle ordi-
nances and those which restrict the use
light wagons. There was a rumor to-
day that Mayor HooS might veto the or
dinances on the ground that their en-
forcement would work hardship to BUSH
senting the Good Roads Association calls
ed at the Mayors office this morning to
urge His Honor to approve the ordi-
nances without delay.
The Mayor has never expressed an opin-
ion about the ordinances, but from a re-
liable source it was learned that he will
sign them. The Good Roads Association,
in the event of the approval of the ordi-
nances by the Mayor will appeal to the
Police commissioners to have them
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