The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-05
WHOLESALE
PRESByT!VBNTS
Grand Jury Comes Into Court
With Four Sensational
Documents,
RAILROADS ARE INDICTED
Waterfront Grabbing Is
Made the Subject of
Criminal Pro
Ceedings.
PLUMBER OF HUDSON COUNTY
Robbery and Extravaganza
of the Republican Board
of Freeholders.
OUTRAGEOUS CARRIAGE BILLS
Decay of the Boulevard and
Seandalous Sineeurism at
Snake hill.
MoNsTROsIfy SITE PURCHASE
Belated Scandal Of the New City
Hall = Temporary Loan
Bond Abuses.
MR.. RApPLEYE's coNTUMAcY
The Grand Inquest Wants she Court
to Pas. on E.. Rights and the
Yellow ssJournal,s''
Deiapce Of IL
MR.. RApPLEYE'S coNTUMACY
The Grand Inquest Wants she Court
to Pas. ON Hts Rights and the
Yellow ssJournaI,s"
Defiance of IL.

The Grand Jury came into court this
morning with batch of indictments and
four presentments The sensational fea-
lure was that bills were found against
railroads for depriving the city of its
right to the use of the water front
Among the presentment was one based
on the recent instruction of Justice Lip
pincott to look into the affairs of tie
Board of Freeholders. 1t was as follows:
1.-The Grand Jury respectfully presents
that on the first day of December, 1897,
the amount of the appropriation was as a
limit sof expenditure of the Board of
Chosen F'reeho1ders for the year ending
that day had been disbursed, with the ex-
ception of about s11 000 and that since
that date there has been expended by
that board for work done and material
furnished during the year then ending up
ward of 100000 About $4,000 of this
amount has been disbursed by the County
Collector without resolutions of the Board
being expended in administration of JUS
tice.
.sThey further respectfully present that
they have examined the itemized state
ment submitted to them of the cost of
construction of the addition to the Hud-
son County Boulevard known as the
LOOP This addition is about four
miles in length. From June, 1895, to De-
cember 1897, there were expended for en-
gineering work and surveying on this
loop SAC, ,902 IL, of which ST, ,S21.2 were paid
to the regular Eungineering Bureau, and
s23. .1S6 for extra surveys, location and
cross sectioning final lines including
maps" Mr.. Edlow w. Harrison. Chief
Engineer of the Improvement being ex-
amined, has testified that the work was
necessary and was done with proper re-
gard for economy. No member of The
jury having any technical knowledge of
the cost of such work, we are unable to
say that the amount paid being at the
rate of about $4,000 asmile is excessive,
and we, therefore, submit without
comment the result of our inquiry.
1.-The only item in the cost of the con-
struction of this addition that can be
properly examined except by expert in
road building is the item for coach and
carriage hire amounting. from June,
1885, to October, 1897. to 81. 493.OS. The ques-
ton of whether this money was expended
without warrant of law will be referred
to the Prosecutor of the Pleas. If. how
ever. there are any more loops for extern
sions of this road to be constructed, it
might be found advantageous to invest
a few dollars of the county's funds in
trolley car tickets.
ssThe testimony of several witnesses has
been heard rs to the condition of the
Boulevard. There is agreement that the
road is not In proper condition. and dis
agreement as to what it would cost to
put it in such condtion- Mr.. Harrison
estimates that it would cost between
twenty and thirty thousand dollars. The
contractors who have undertaken the care
Of the road for the present year estimate
the necessary repairs would cost about
$4,000. 1t is nor necessary to settle this
question while ths road remains under
the care of the Board Of Chosen Free
holders. When the loop is completed the