The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-11-04
A. H-ardenbergh, was unanimously adopt

"A H~dfueuDeFSly WAS uiialill0uSiS aoope7
| ed
Resolved, That we express our re-
gret at the sundering of relations by
which we have for the past year been
SO amiably bound in the common en-
deavor to discharge our obligations to
the citizens of Jersey City, and that
we testify our admiration for the spe-
cial services rendered by the Hon.
Allan McDerrnott for the faithful and
diligent performance of duty as Presi-
dent of this Board. whereby the best
interests of this city nave been con-
served and its credit placed beyond the
reach of controversy.
1t Is to Allan McDermott that Jersey
City is greatly indebted for the acauisi-
ton of thai valuable tract Of land known
as the South Cove. In the early part of
1855 he began an investigation into the
matter. He consulted with Supreme
| Court Justice Gilbert Collins, who was
then Mayor of this city. and at Mr.. Nc
Dermott's suggestion the Mayor sent a
| letter to the Board of Finance, advising
tina the necessary steps be taken to Sc
cure possession Of the grant. The Boards
of Works and Finance followed out the
suggestions OF MIR. McDermott, made
through the Mayor, and then began the
| famous fight with the American Dock
and Improvement Company which, after
many years of litigation in the courts Of
New Jersey and the United States, re-
suited in a victory for Jersey City and
placed her in possession of a very valu-
able tract of land.
AT about the same time he was max
ing the fight for the city's interests in
the South Cove matter Mr.. MeDermott
was struggling to raise the credit of Jer-
sey City from lie disastrous condition
into which it had fallen and he found
it when he became a member of the
Board Of Finance and Taxation, as it was
then called. The financial affairs of the
city were in such a deplorable condition
that Marcus Beach, Marnladuke Tilder.
J. Witsch and Simeon Smith resigned
- N
from the Board in fear that bankruptcy
was inevitable. The hnancierins of this
gentleman resulted in Jersey City six per
cent. bonds selling for 81. There were
several hundred thousand dollars worth
of indebtedness to be met within six
months after Mr.. McDermott was made
President of the Board. Fearlessly he
went to work, devoted his time and en-
ergy to the difficulties confronting him,
and within one year what appeared to
others an i-nsurmountable barrier had
been removed. Jersey City bonds were in
demand at us. and millions of dollars
could have been borrowed if necessary.
This seemingly miraculous change of the
financial standing Of Jersey City was due
to Mr.. McDermott's efforts.
one Of the most important decisions of
the Court of Errors and Appeals in this
state, and one which attracted a great
deal of interest, was one in which Mr..
McDermott saved Jersey City from pay
ing a fraudulent claim of $4,000. This
was known as the Elmendorf case. In
1871 the Street Commissioners of Green
vile awarded to James Elmendorf a con-
tract for the Improvement of the new
Bergen Road, in the Township of Green
Canal. His bid of s1oo, 1856 was the low
est. but on the certificate Of Henry D.
Butts, then engineer OF Greenyille, he
was paid s104, 4sS.8s, four-fifths of the
amount certified to be due him. Butts
gave Elmendorf a certificate showing that
there was still due him s2o.27S.So. Before
the township could pay the amount q
bill was filed in Chancery to stop the
payment of the money, ON the ground
that the claim was fraudulent, inasmuch
as he had failed to comply with the pro-
visions of the contract.
In the meantime Greenville had become
Incorporated with Jersey City, and while
the suit was pending I1lmendorf secured
the passage of a measure which was
signed on April o., 1875, by Governor Bedle.
This bill provided that in any case any
work has been done or materials fur
nished for the Improvement Of the new
Bergen Road, from Myrtle avenue to the
Morris Canal, in any township now in
cluded within the limits Of Jersey City.
ann s11ch materials were not duly adver-