The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-07-24
LEvARD FUNDS
Commissioners Say $4,000
Is Not Adequate to the
Roads Needs.
ASKED FOR $4,000
Messrs. Lewis, Birdsall and
Urquhart Tell What Can
Be Done and What the
Public Expects.

lHe boulevard commissioners are in a
state of mind over the appropriation
which the Freeholders have put in the
budget for their Board. The law requires
the Freehoiders to put in the budget the
amount the Commissioners ask for They
asked for s15o.000 but the Freeholders
thought that was too high. Some of the
Freeholders wanted to make the amount
$4,000, but finally put in the budget S1dO, ,0O0
This, the Commissioners declare is entire
ly inadequate for their needs, and it will
not enable them to take proper care of
the big road.
Personally I am not much interested in
the amount of the appropriation as L am
viii expect and what can be actually ac-
complfshed with so small a sum- said
Commissioner Lewis. ..It is immaterial
10 me Boulevard Commissioners how
small the appropriation may be if the
county cannot afford more, but do not
want to be criticised next year for not
doing what is impossible. We will spend
the money set aside for our use with all
the care and intelligence we possess bear
ing IN mind first those necessities which
are absolute for the lives and the safety
o1>our citizens and which will amount to
many thousands of dollars this year. Q re-
Ter IN particular to the bridges, which, as
you Know, are in, deplorable condition),
and, secondly, to keeping the road in as
good condition as circumstances will al
low.
We had hoped at the end of our term
to be able to turn over to our successors
road which would be a credit to our
selves and the people of this county. This
OF course, is now impossible, and / sim
ply want to say that what we can do we
VIII do, and for the rest you must take
the will for the deed, only asking you to
remember that every year our duties have
peen increased without any increase of
appropriation.
This year by the Weehawken extern
sion and next year by the Hoboken extern
sion, this means not only more roadway
TO repair and maintain but more lighting
ana more Sprlnkling, which are two very
important items of expense. Next year
we viii have our four hundred electric
lights. Why, l was on the New York
Speedway the other day and counted eight
sprinkling carts on two miles of road
way. We have seventeen on twenty miles
the Freeholders did not think it necessary
to consult us. l am frank in stating that
the results expected by the people cannot
be had for the money and / am glad of
next year when we are doing nothing by
way Of Improvement, the public will know
why"
Il will say that the Boulevard Commits.
sioners felt that they had a duty to per-
form IN fixing the amount of money
needed, said Mr.. Birdsall. ''They set
about 1t with the intention of obeying
law and doing their business in an in
telhgent manner that the interest of the
people might best be served They first
ascertained the amount required which is
absolutely necessary to protect the coun-
tvs property, and then complied with the
law. which we construed to mean Just
what it says, viz.:-Such Commissioners
shall make requisition on the Board Of
Chosen Freeholders for the money neces-
sary to enable said Commissioners to
carry out the purposes of this act and
such Board shall cause to be raised and
collected, ETC.. (See Sessions Laws 1885,
Chapter g.
I'VE did not fix an arbitrary amount,
but ascertained what would be actually
required to maintain the efficiency of the
lighting plant to properly maintain the
road where We have made necessary re-
pairs and improvements and to recon-
struct and repair bridges which have had
no attention for six years.
For the purpose of keeping the requi-
sition low we figured out everything that
could be left without danger of serious
accident or irreparable destruction to
property"
In speaking of the matter Mr. Urquhart
said:-"I cannot comprehend why this
Board of Chosen Freeholders should cut
down the appropriation sent in by our
Board, and to say / am surprised is put
ting it very mildly, as the law is man
datory. They possibly violated the law
by force of habit, dense ignorance, or
both. The Board of Boulevard Commits
s;oners, of which 1 have the honor to be-
| long, did not send in the amount of s150,00
without figuring out their expenses for
| the coming year and knowing very well
| that we would have to give an account
of our stewardship to the people of Hud-
| son county.
Although in the minority on our Board,
there is not a dollar expended by the
Board without consulting me and I am
asked whether it meets my approval or
dsapproval. / am proud to say that my
colleagues. have expended every dollar in
| the interest of the people of this county
and that 1 have signed every bill and
requisition that came before our Board.
will leave the rest to the judgment of
| the people, hoping the press will send an
expert road builder over this Boulevard
| who will properly criticize our work and
| inform the people through the press if we
have abused the trust placed in US by
them