The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-31
E~IPHCYORA7lON COSTS.
Health Board Passes the Ordi-
nance Forbidding Splitting in
Public Conveyances.


BE it ordained by the Board of Health
of Jersey City, no person shall spit on
the floor or any part of any horse car,
trolley car or any public. conveyance in
lating any of the provisions of this or
dinance shall forfeit and pay a penalty
of $40 for each offense."
The above ordinance was adopted by
a unanimous vote at a meeting of the
Board of Health yesterday afternoon. 1t
was introduced a month ago, upon the
recommendation of the Committee of the
Whole. In Offering the ordinance the
Police Commissioners explained that they
were following the example of the New
York Board of Health, the members or
which body passed a similar ordinance
in response to the demand of the public.
Not only did the filthy and ungentleman-
ly habit of expectorating in cars and on
the platforms and even in carriages
breed disease, but it resulted frequently
in the destruction of expensive garments
wor1lby ladies. The officials of the Trac-
ton Company and the North Hudson
County Railroad Company are pleased
with the ordinance and have promised to
instruct their drivers, conductors and
motormen to lend all the assistance pos
sible to the health officers in having it
enforced.
AS soon as the ordinance becomes oper-
alive it is proposed to detail members
of the sanitary squad on the cars. of the
several railroads to be on the lookout
for those who violate the ordinance. The
police may also be called upon to help
enforce the ordinance Until such time as
persons become convinced that to vio-
late the ordinance means to separate
themselves from $40.
Mayor Hoos will approve the ordinance
as soon as it is forwarded to him. 1t
is expected that some difficulty will be
encountered in enforcing the ordinance
for a time.
The question Of allowing Charles F.
Staples to continue operating his candle
factory on Waverly street came up again
yesterday. Staples had been granted a
license for a month. His time expired
yesterday, and he was on hand to get a
renewal. His neighbors were also on
hand and as usual they made it lively
for him. Commissioner Feeney said that
while Staples had pretended to abate the
nuisance created by his factory, he had
in reality stopped up a drain~and forced
filthy waste water over on the premises
of adjoining property owners.
'If Mr.. Staples does not propose acting
fairly with this Board said Mr.. Feeney,
81 do not propose allowing him to con-
tinue a business that is so damaging to
the interests of Others"
Staples made a vigorous denial and de-
clared that his factory was as clean as
any in the State. He said those who
are opposing him are doing SO only to
drive him away in order to get possess
sion of his land. He also declared that
he proposes erecting a new building as
soon as practicable.
Three demonstrators were on hand.
One said the smell from the factory
made him unfit for work. He said he
would sell his house, which cost him
81, 200, for l ,S00.
Another produced bits of burned paper
which he asserted blew from the factory
chimney. He said insurance companies
would not insure their homes because
Staples had no safeguards against fire
in or about his factory. This caused
Staple to become excited and shaking
his fists at his accusers, he declared he
would make them prove every word they
said. After a long discussion he was
given permission to run for another
month. In the meantime the Health In
spector is to look at the premises and
see If he can offer any suggestions which
will abate the nuisance.
DR.. Atkinson reported that during Au-
gust he had Is cases and made 20 visits;
DR.. Wolfson, 40 cases, So visits; DIR.
Hoffman,, 10 cases, Al visits; DR.. Brinck-
erhoff, 9 cases, "a visits; DR.. Everett, is
cases, "a visits.
DR.. Wolfson reported having removed
three contagious disease cases to the En-
ergency Hospital. One scarlet fever pa
Health Inspector Benjamin reported 26
cases of d~iphtheria; 80 of scarlet fever; 2
of typhoid and A of measles.
Counsellor Atkinson reported that he
found it difficult to collect fines from
violators of the health rules because the
Police Justices do not hold defendants
until their fines are paid. His charge is
to be looked into.
Sunken lots on Garfield and Carteret
avenues were declared nuisances and also
lots on Eighteenth and Provost streets.
The owners are to be notified to fill them
in. If they refuse the Board will do 1t
at the expense Of the owners. Where
garbage is used as q filling it must be
covered with good earth.