The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-09-13
POLICE PAINTERS.
Jersey sCity's Finest Will
Be Turned Loose On
Headquarters.
STATION NEEDS ATTENTION
Commissioners Walters Plan
to Get the Improvement
Without Appropri-
alton.

Police headquarters is soon to undergo
a decided change. Since the present
Board of Police Commissioners, last May.
the ACCESSIBILITY of painting and renovat-
ing has been considered. The work was
permitted by the Board Of Finance, which
failed to allow enough money in the APP
preparation.
For the past five years the interior or
the building, located at the corner OF
Gregory street and Cooper place, one OF
the handsomest buildings in the munlci-
pality, has been sadly neglected. the
walls and ceilings in all the rooms are IN
a disgraceful condition. The entrance
too, could not bear inspection. It is IN
worse condition than the hallway III some
Of the lowest tenement houses in the city
Under the circumstances the Board had
to put up with it and say nothing.
About two weeks ago Police Commits
sioner Adolph Walter, visited the Second
precinct station house, The contrast pc
tween that building and Police Head
quarters was amazing. The Commission
er learned that the work of beautifylng
the building had been done by policemen
in the department who had been detailed
to do the work by Chief of Police Muir
ply. Policeman Mccarthy of the Seventh
street station had charge of the work,
which cost the Board less than $50.
On learning these facts Commissioners
Walter began to think that headquarters
could be put in a similar condition under
the same circumstances. The matter was
discussed at a recent meeting Of the
Board. but nothing definite was decided
upon. Police Commissioner Walter was
pleased to say this morning
1.-THE work will be commenced within a
few short weeks and Policeman Mccarthy
will, no doubt, lave charge of it."
The hallway, from the inner doors to the
stairs leading to headquarters. is also dis
graceful. The walls were painted a light
brown some years ago, but tinted by time
and the dirt which has accumulated, the
walls are almost black. The dark walls
give the place a very dingy appearance.
The ceilings were painted with nearly all
the colors of the rainbow. The plaster is
cracked and in some places has fallen
from the lathes.
The Sergeant's desk room in the First
precinct police station, located on the
first floor, is also sadly in need of several
coats of paint. For many years a large
electric arc lamp was used for lighting
purposes. The heat of the lamp burned
the ceiling black, for a space nearly six
feet in diameter. This blemish is plainly
seen in daylight.
The patrolmen's sitting room at the rear
of the Sergeants' room, too, is in need
Of immediate attention. The walls are
dark and badly need painting. The light
In the room in consequence is very bad.
One of the greatest changes on the first
floor will be the removal of the reporters
room. This room will be transformed in
to the city prison kitchen. which IS now
located Immediately behind the patrol
wagon quarters on Cooper place. The
kitchen in it's present location is out of
the way and to reach it the prison keeper
must pass through the cell corridor. The
room given the reporters will haye to
undergo a decided change. The room at
present is in worse condition than any
other in the big building. 1t has not re-
ceived a coat of paint in many
years. AS it is absolutely necessary for
Headquarters reporters to have a room
IN the building, the board will shift them
upstairs to either the detectives room or
one of the rooms, now occupied by the
Board of Health, on the top floor.
Inc rooms now occupied Dy the BOARD
OF Health will soon be vacated, as the
Police Commissioners insist hat the
BQard take possession of the rooms pro-
vided for it in the City Hall. No action
I'm forcing the Board of Health out of
headquarters has been taken as yet, be-
cause of Colonel Heppenheimer's absence
IN Europe. The City Hall Commission is
ready to turn over the offices provided for
the Board of Health as soon as that body
files its request.
Chief Murphy's suite on the second floor
will rpC0fUn q ho DIV nand65 mot af mint
The walls are in the same condition as
in the other rooms.
The First Criminal Court room, too, is
wretched. The walls are dirty and dark.
The old blue shades in the windows
ought to be replaced by new ones. The
ceiling is cracked and the paint is falling
from IT, The prisoners pen is a disgrace.
The walls half way to the ceiling are
painted black. In the walls are carved
the names OF many prisoners, who no
Goubt gloried in the fact that they had
been incarcerated there and wanted their
names p-erpetuated. The room, when
filled With unfortunates, is dismal and
suffocating. It is lighted with about a
I'VE candle power gas jet. The only ven
tilation is that obtained through the
grating in the door.
The patrolmen's sleeping quarters on
the top floor is in equally as bad condi-
ton as the sitting room on the first floor.
The room, however, Notwithstanding the
fact that it is many feet above the first
floor. is in a decidedly unhealthy condi-
tion.
Changing the reporters room to the
kitchen besides making the kitchen more
convenient will afford more stall room.
The horse off duty will not be housed IN
a livery stable Both horses can be
stalled in the patrol house. after the
walls ave been cut through and the
necessary changes made.
Police Commissioner Walter is re-
ceiving congratulations on all sides for
the interest he has taken in the work Of
beautifying Police Headquarters.