The Jersey City news., 1899-12-13
FOR JERSEY CITY
Mrs. Edwards Compares
American Street Clean
ing With European
and Makes Sug-
gestions.
TWELVE ESSENTIALS
First, City Must Have Larger
Appropriations Uniform
Ash Cans and vigi-
liant Police.

entirely due to the elements, probably to-
try the women for the verdict of fair or
stormy weather improvers.
Yesterday was no exception to the rule.
The day dawned story and the meeting
was not as large as might have been ex-
pected, but that did not in the least inter-
fere with the quality of the meeting 1t
was up to par. Mrs. Hudspeth-Benson,
the president was in the chair. She
formally opened the meeting and called
for reports from the various sub-chair-
men, but as many of these chairmen were
absent, someone suggested that the adj
dress Of the afternoon be called for, as
some of the chairmen might arrive in the
meantime.
William D. Edwards. 1t was strong, fear
less and to the point. The subject was
upon street Cleaning in Large Cities of
the United States and Europe
Mrs. Edwards started by saying that
formal address was not in her line, but
she would throw out a few facts for con-
sideration and approval. 4'Let all things
be done decently and in order" and
whatsoever We do, do it heartily as unto
the Lord and not unto man. were two
texts she said, she had learned years ago.
ssThese thoughts continued she, possess
ed me, and as 1 walked our streets it
seemed that all efforts to uplift our people
morally at least, would be Intellectual
without more orderly and neater sur
roundfngs in our streets"
"A place for everything and everything
in its place" the speaker quoted as Poor
Richards saying, but the peoples theory
she continued, is THE street for every
thing, and so it came about that others
have been thinking the same thoughts.
and instead of individuals working singly
in given direction, nearly three hundred
volunteers are, nominally at our leaders
service, and willing to do whatsoever she
may command.
Every city must deal with its own
problems in its own way, but can gain
enlightment from the experience of others.
Municipal reform proceeds haltingly in
United States because many citizens who
desire to aid in the regeneration OF its
town life have formed no definite munich
pal IDEALS We are filled with good inten-
tions, but we must remember that the
prizes in life are not so much for those
who endeavor as for those who endure
citles and the problems which have been
solved by them, will probably help our
newer cities, which have not yet attained
unto that permanency of government and
consequently logical system Of work"
Then after dwelling upon the problems
in street cleaning solved by European
cities, the speaker continued: 'sWe should
put men into office who have the talent
for making and administering large cities,
who have high ideals and conception OF
duties and possibilities. besides possessing
great technical knowledge and experience.
In this way we can only be saved from
grave errors which will affect our whole
future.
fright here we might say that Jersey
City will soon have to widen Montgomery
street from the ferry to the Hill. We have
built, in the Boulevard, great causeway
north and south. We now need one east
and west"
From here Mrs. Edwards went on with
a description of street cleaning in foreign
cities, which she quoted as being far in
advance of America. beginning with Glas-
cow This city, she said. contained fif-
teen thousand acres, while Jersey City
contained but 10,423 acres. Glasgow,
said she, spends as much per head for
an efficient system as we spend for our
inefficient system, or taking into account
the difference in cost of labor, not twice
as much as we spend per head"
The speaker also reviewed the systems
used in Edinburgh Manchester, White
Chapel, London. and Paris, which latter
she compared with Jersey City, saying
s"There is a city below as well as above,
with streets, sewers and pipings. No
streets allowed to be torn up above as in
Jersey City-clendenny avenue, for in
stance, at the present time"
Then passing on to America, Mrs Ed
wards set forth a number Of suggestions
for Jersey City as follows:-
I'VE cannot expect to accomplish every
thing in a day, hut we can have wise and
thorough beginnings, in all these depart
ments of public works that relate to the
health and comfort Of our people, and IN
essentials for cleaning the streets IN Jer-
sey. City nv :,
10000 per year for cleaning the streets
and removing ashes and garbage Is ridicu-
| lously small. Without doubt the present
contractor accomplishes a great deal with
| the money at his disposal. Streets cannot
| be cleaned for s. per mile; at that price
| they can only get q lick and promise.
-. More attention TO be paid 10 the
| business and tenement sections of the
| city. Montgomery street. Grove street,
Junction and the Long Dock section need
constant attention Clifford place and
| Glenwood avenue can look after them
| selves.
| ''3. Househoiders should be required to
keep their sidewalks and cutters clean.
/ they should be swept just before and not
| just after the street sweeper. In one case
| the street Is Uttered up, in the other the
| sweepings are removed. In this respect
! every woman can test the efficiency Of a
| good example In her own home.
! a. The police should be required to en-
force the ordinances relative to the
| throwing of papers and rubbish In the
streets; circular fends should be arrested
habitually dirty and .nnkempt. he should
| be brought before the Police Board on
charges: this. fact alone would have a
! wonderful tendency towards cleanliness.
.s5.s A uniform aEh can with cover
should be required; starch boxes, old bar
| rels buckets and dshpans should be for
| hidden. Under the present plan on a
| windy day ten per cent. OF the ashes greet
| the passerby and find lodsment on the
ses Better pavement should be insisted
| upon. and when laid should not be torn
up for sewers, gas mains, water mains
| telephone couduits. trolley wires, etc. A
| pavement relaid In patches can never be
~. IN crowded sections OF the city
4 special men should be detailed with broom
| shovel and handcart. The best way to
1 clean such streets Is never to allow them
TO become dirty
rs. School children snould BE- taught te