The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-08
WANT MORE FIRE BOXES
Hudson City Improvement As
soeiation Aroused by the
Germania Avenue
Catastrophe.

The Hudson City Improvement Associa-
ton met last night in Groechefs Hall and
discussed a number of questions affecting
the interests of that section. Frederick
Kraft of the School Committee reported
that the matter of securing an addition
to the new No. 27 School, at Palisade
and Reservoir avenues, is progressing
favorably The excavation for the cellar
of the main school is completed, and
Contractor Dubois has signed the con-
tract awarded him. The work will be be-
gun as soon as the weather is favorable.
Financial Secretary Barber suggested
that it would be well for the committee
on the addition to get to work at once
to secure the money necessary for the eX-
cavation for the addition and have that
work done at once, as it might injure
the walls of the main building to blast
for the addition after the walls were
erected.
Later in the meeting a letter from
Mayor Hoos, in reply to one from the
secretary of the Improvement Associa-
ton, was read. The Mayor said that he
fully appreciates the needs of the Hud-
son City section and that he mas already
done all in his power to remedy the de-
plorable condition existing there. He is
willing to aid in every way in his power
any feasible scheme for the bGttering of
the school accommodations i'll Hudson
City.
Acting Secretary Sheridan reported that
from Newark to Hoboken avenues, was
ready and would be presented al the next
meeting of the association. He said that
the petition called for taking 10 feet from
the east side of the street. and asked
what instructions the association desired
to give the committee about the matter.
He said that Engineer Fowler had stated
that if more than 10 feet were taken it
would interfere with the new Swedish
church. The secretary was instructed to
communicate with the Chief Engineer
and see if it could not be arranged to
make the additional width 16 feet.
Mr. Kraft wanted to know if the as
Sociation proposed to take action rela-
tive to recommending change. in the
present system of fire alarm boxes He
said that the Hudson City Turn Verein
of which he is president, in view of the
recent awful fire calamity on Germania
avenue, had considered the matter at
their last meeting, but concluded to await
the verdict of the Coroner's jury, fixing
the responsibility in the Reich tragedy,
before taking any action.
This led to a discussion of the present
fire alarm box system, and it was gen
orally agreed that it was an obsolete one
and should be replaced by the more mod
ern glass front and keyless box.
Financial Secretary Barber thought
there was scarcity of boxes in the sec
tion covered by the association and asked
that they recommend that an additional
one be placed at Bonner and ST. Paufs
avenue.
The whole matter was finally referred
to a committee consisting of Messrs
Kraft and Wackernau, who will make
careful inquiry and submit their findings
at the next meeting of the association.
Hugh P. Sheridan reported that the En-
gineering Bureau is preparing to lay out
the park at ogden avenue and Bowers
street, the site for which was bought a