The Jersey City news., 1899-05-02

BOULEVARD WORK
The Commissioners Say It
Is Being Done as Quickly
as Possible.
GANGS NOW ON THE ROAD
Explanations of Lack Of
Lights and Superfluity of
Holes and Brickbats.

The News" Saturday had an editorial
on the condition of the Boulevard. 1t
called the attention of the Boulevard
Commissioners to the necessity of repairs.
Yesterday News reporter visited the
office of the Boulevard Commissioners.
Commissioners Daniel Y. Lewis, Charles
Birdsall and Robert Urquhart were seen.
Commissioner Lewis in answer to
question about repairs said:-"The people,
or at least those who do not frequent
the Boulevard, have little idea OF the
enormous amount of work that has to be
accomplished and the vast sums of money
to be spent, in order to reconstruct the
road. Yes, reconstruction, is absolutely
essential This road we all admit is IN
deplorable condition. Probably not
block of the fifteen miles is in proper
shape. All these matters cannot be at
tended to in a day nor in week. 1t
will, 1 think, be year or perhaps longer
before the Boulevard presents it's proper
appearance. Then, all will be plain sail
ing.
ssAt the beginning of our term we were
in a sort of dilemma regarding funds Tor
repairing. Eventually $4,000 was apprc-
priated and power given US to issue
$50, 600 worth of bonds. The bonds we will
not touch until the other sum has been
expended 1t will take at least s2Oo,ooO
to put the road in good chape. Every
where something pops up.
''For instance the lights, which every
one knows, were in miserable condition.
hac
entirely reconstructed. Four dynamos are
now ready for use. We have but one
engine there but soon hope to have
another. Not since the road was built,
has the light been so good. Probably not
more than ten lights of the four hundred
fail 20 light each evening. This is due
to defective carbons. We have an in
spector on the road, who always attends
to these lights and before the evening is
far advanced, all are burning. The police
reports will Show that my remarks are
true"
Here the reporter was asked to look
over huge bundle of reports, which
bore out the Commissioners statements
Mr. Lewis was asked why the lights on
the bridges were never burning.
"Heretofore,' he said, 'sthe wires con-
nected with these lamps were under the
bridges and poorly insulated Conse-
quently much difficulty was experienced
and the bridge often became charged with
electricity. These lights have been cut
off The wires will be strung overhead,
and when this work is accomplished the
lights will burn continually and not spas
medically as heretofore. We are thor
oil fIo nf
the lighting system and these are being
repaired as rapidly as possible.
'"The poles put down sonnet ime ago
are now rotten. New poles to support
the lights and wires are being put in
their places. This takes lots of time,
you see. Another matter which I think
will interest the public is that yard
arms are being attached to all the poles
containing fights, which will hold the
lamp about ten feet out on the road
way. In this manner we get the full
benefit of the light In time 1 think it
will be necessary to suspend the lights
alternately along the line. This will me-
cessitate the hanging of two sets of wires.
The road was never better lighted than
at present and the lights will always be
kept in good condition.
1--WE are thoroughly acquainted with
all the defects brought to our notice, for
not day passes that we are not on the
road There is scarcely bad spot that
is not known to us. We have five gangs
at work on the repairs in the various sec
tions of the road. Three steam rollers
will soon be at work and within about
three months the road will be in fairly
good shape. Every hole or rut will re-
ceive the proper attention, but you might
inform the public that we cannot do ev-
erything at once
'In the centre of the road, which is in
tended for horses and carriages, we VIII
experiment with stone called shale. This
in time forms into sort of a cement.
1t is used in Central Park We will use
it on but small part of the centre road
way, and if 1t proves successful it will
be used on the entire centre. On the
bicycle paths the regular screenings will
be used for top dressing
Here the Commissioner was asked if the
stone would be hauled from the Snake
Hill quarry.
eve find,'' he continued, s'that the stone
can be delivered to us much cheaper than
we could have it hauled from Snake
HILL We are not here to spend the money
foolishly, but to get our moneys worth
every time"
He was asked regarding the trenches
dug by contractors and left in dangerous
condition.
"The majority of those trenches were
dug by permission of the old Board of
Freeholders,' he said. However, we
have inspectors who attend to these
trenches which will be repaired when the
repairing gang reaches those spots.''
I'VE hear on all sides that the work is
being done very slowly said Commits
sioner Urqulhart. IF we were 10 go
ahead under the directions or instructions
of some of these kickers, we would have
at least a hundred gangs at work. At
that rate our appropriation would last
about two weeks. You may rest assured
that my sentiments coincide with those of
my colleague, Mr.. Lewis. Everything pos
sible to put the road in good shape, is
being done. Everywhere we hear COM
plants, but we are doing the work as
fast as possible.
1.-The cause of much destruction to the
Constipation,