The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-19
DISGRACEFUL WALKS.
Some Parts Of Ocean Avenue
Look Like Miniature Skat-
ing Ponds Disguised
Pedestrians.

Although the Street and Water Commits
sioners promised over a month ago TO
begin work on the reconstruction OF the
sidewalk along Ocean avenue, III the
Greenville section, nothing has been done
as yet to improve that thoroughfare and
the very disagreeable weather of the past
few days has made the sidewalks almost
impassable Many complaints about the
walks are>being heard on all sides. Dur
ing the two weeks past the walks have
been filled with ice and when thawed out
pedestrians had to wade through some
thing like four inches of slush and water.
From Orient avenue to Woodlawn avenue
is perhaps the worst section of any; also
from the New York Bay Cemetery to
Gator avenue, and from Warner avenue
to New street Between these points the
walks are completely inundated and
pedestrians are forced to use the roadway
to pass The walk between Claremont
avenue and Woodlawn avenue is in very
bad shape at present, and at times the
water on the walks between these two
streets is almost four inches deep in some
places. The sewer basins also are in bad
shape, overfiowing almost every time 1t
rains hard thus causing the water to
flow over the walks and compelling pedes-
trians to abandon that side of the street.
This is due to the sewer basins being
placed at the highest points Of the street
and water at times, instead of flowing
into the sewers, recedes and forms IN
large ponds on the walks, making walk
ing extremely disagreeable. Many OF
these pools are due to the sinking of the
flags, which form large pockets for the
reception of water and mud and the un-
wary pedestrian is sure to get good wet
feet if he walks on the sidewalk instead
of taking to the street, as those do that
are thoroughly familiar with that treach-
erous thoroughfare.
Many other flags which have sunk
edgeways project several inches above
the level, cause many fall to pedes-
trians, some of which have been serious.
Women suffer most from this annoyance
and many of those who are compelled to
travel over that thoroughfare have
learned the advantage of taking to the
trolley track, which is bad walking, but
being far better than endangering life and
limb on the walks.
Since Contractor Byrne laid a sewer
under the sidewalk between Chapel ave-
nue. and New street, two years ago, the
walks have never been restored to their
former condition. although many COM
plants have been made to the Street and
Water Commissioners, and under the
Republican administration, too.
Commissioner Hauck said short time
ago, when in conversation with a News"
reporter. that the work of improving the
walks along Ocean avenue and other
1a would
begun early this spring without fail and
the work, when begun would be pushed
rapidly.
I'VE are anxious to do the work., he
said. .qbut it takes time, and the people
seem to think that everything can be done
at once. Just give us little time and
we will have all the walks put in good
condition and no one is more anxious to
have it done than l am"
Ocean avenue is by no means the only
street that needs new tagging, for the
walks in Danforth avenue, from Old
Bergen Road to- the Boulevard, are dis
grace to the community. Mud holes and
dangerous flags projecting up for three
and four inches are there galore and
lucky is the person who escapes a good
footbath when walking in that street in
rainy weather.
There is very bad spot within about
ten feet of the clubhouse of the League
Club. This place, when not covered with
a beautiful layer of mud about half a foot
deep, is a, miniature lake and in cold
weather resembles a skating pond. The
point is impossible at times and pedes-
trians are forced ito walk block out of
their way and go down on the other side
of the street, as it is impossible to cross
the street at that point, as it is one mass
of rich red mud, the street not being
paved Hundreds of other streets in
Greenville are in the same bad condition
and it is with much impatience that the
people are waiting for the Street and
Water Commissioners to begin the i'm
nrnueraantS