The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-02
NO GRADE
CROSSING
Mayor Hoos Sends a Letter
to the New Street and
Water Board.
REMOVAL OF ASHES, ETC.
Trolley Companies Must Be
Made to Sprinkle the
Streets Water Rent
Collections.
REMOV AL OF ASHES, ETC.

The following communication was re-
ceived at the meeting OF the Board oil
Street 4 Water Commissioners this af-
ternooIs rom Mayor Hoos:-
May 2 1899.
Honorable Board of Street and Water
Commissioners
Gentlemen-Your honorable Board has
launched out upon new term ana az
the outset l would most respectfully can
your attention to few matters Which
come directly under your supervision.
During the past two years there mas
been considerable agitation with REFER
ence to allowing railroad companies TO
cross at grade. The city, after CONSIDER
able trouble and much annoyance, at last
succeeded in causing TWO of the great
lines which have their terminals IN TINS
city to elevate their tracks. rms IS the
only position the city should take GRACE
crossings should be refused and wherever
possible they should be abolished ana
companies compelled to elevate tnelr
tracks.
At this time cannot impress upon you
too forcibly the necessity of Insisting
upon the prompt, fearless ana Impartial
collection of the water rents Ihe ruies
and regulations of your Board on this
subject should be enforced to the letter.
1t is tal for the city TO pay her DEBTS
and IL is equally vital that the city pc
paid promptly in order to be able 10 meet
her Obligations. Furthermore, again
advise that ISaereyer large quantities OF
water are consumed that the water Dc
lltl6Ieu.
1t will be your province to give out
many contracts for the Improvement OF
streets, laying of sewers, etc. In TINS
connection l urge that you strongly IN
to the letter. When a public work OF
that kind is completed it should be COM
pleted in the fullest sense of the word
1t should not be necessary to grant time
extensions to dilatory contractors, nor is
there any reason, ii specifications are
properly and carefully made, why con-
ofara Gh
Last summer repeated endeayors were
made TO cause the street car companies
to sprinkle the streets. 1t is the duty OF
your Board to bring the trolley companies
TO terms on this subject, and, right here,
let me remind you tnat when the GroVe
street line changed its motive power from
horse TO electricity | insisted on clause
in the ordinance which would compel that
line to sprinkle. This was done and 1t re-
mains for you to insist that the North
Hudson County Railroad Company carry
out the provisions of that ordina ce.
At this time l would also call eur at
tention to the following clauses in the
ashes and garbage contract and insist
that the contractor be compelled to live
up to his obligations
Section / provides-"The contractor
shall call regularly at the time fixed in
these specifications, at all dwelling stores,
hotes, res taurants and buildings, ano coli
lect and remove in as clean manner as
as possible, all the ashes, garbage ana
kitchen refuse that may be offered to him
or delivered to him or placed in vessels
or receptacles on the sidewalk in front
of any dwelling. store, hotel, restaurant
or building. Said vessels or receptacles
when emptied shall be returned unlnjured
to the place where found?''
Section among other things provides
1.-THE contractor shall collect and remove
the ashes garbage and kitchen refuse
twice in each and every week during the
sawdust, removed from stores, butcher
shops, ETC., and deposited in barrels with
the garbage, shall be. classed as garbage
and removed as such by the contractor
l have received a number of letters
from citizens on this subject and II the
contractor complied with his contract
there would be no cause for complaint
l also suggest that the streets be swept
and the garbage collected at night. Fur
thermore it seems to me that matters
should be so arranged that the coilectlon
of garbage and ashes precede the Cleaning
1t IS the prompt attention to so-called
little things that the public appreciates:
l refer now to the prompt repairing OF
: spayements. to the cleaning out of sewers
and basins, to the laying OF croSSWalkS
and to the need of compelling owners to
lay proper sidewalks.
in these matters can only result in bene-
fitting the city. The city. is judged IN nine
cases out of ten by the impression
creates Good pavement, decent side
walks an efficient sewerage system and
clean streets will do more for this city
than anything else.
Finally, / trust that you will use your
best endeavors to pay promptly all la
borers in your department. When the
money to pay Is not at hand and no pro-
vision for payment can be made. the men
ought to be discharged rather than keep
them waiting months for their pay.
During the past two years your Board
has Introduced a number of reforms end
i trust you will continue in that line and
thereby merit the approval and sustain
the confidence which the people of this
cifv have bestowed upon the Democratic
party. Respectfully submitted,
E. HOOS,
Mayor.