The Jersey City news., 1902-11-14
JOB JAM|MED.
THROUGH. :
Board Of Education Out
at Last for the Har-
rison Site High
School Steal.
VOTE EIGHT
TO FOUR
Minority Report Shows the
Land Is Too Dear and
Totally Unfit.
VAN REIPEN PLOT BETTER
Fagan's Men Ignore the Wo-
mans Club and All Other
Protests Goes to the
Finance Board.
VAN REIPEN PLOT BETTER

The Board of Education decided last
night by vote of eight to four. to re-
quest the Board of Finance to purchase
the Harrison estate on the brow OF
the hill, just north of Newark avenue,
for a High School site, notwithstanding
the protests of the Jersey City Woman's
Club, which is composed of over 400 of
the leading women of the city, and many
others who vigorously oppose the con-
struction of a school building on this
plot.
About two years ago Board OF Edu-
cation selected the same site for the
same purpose, but the Finance Comrn;s-
sioners knocked out the scheme and re-
fused to bind the city to buy, being con-
vineed that the location was not al
together desirable by reason of its close
proximity to the branch railroad, only a
stones throw away, the i'll smelling mea-
dows at the foot of the hill and the Jer-
sey City Cemetery The price demand
ed Shy the owner at that time was
$4,000.
The present Board fddled around so
long in trying to make up its mind where
to locate the proposed school that the
price has jumped up, and now the city,
in case the Board of Finance concludes
to concur, will have to pay 100000 for
the property.
The site question came up late last
night in a report by the High School Com
cl,oc IF 10
land up on the rocks. 1t was submitted
by DR.. Egbert.
DIRECTOR COYLE'S PROTEST.
Director John III. Ceyle was on his feet
instantly and offered as an amendment
the substitution of the words Van Reipen
estate instead of Harrison estate in the
resolution.
He submitted a minority report of the
High School Site Committee in which
he said:-"We concede in favor of the
plot known as the Harrison estate its
accessibility and it's commanding po-
area, but we regard this as a detriment
rather than a benefit as it is very much
insNe excess of actual needs and adds an
unnecessary burden to the taxpayers for
: its maintenance.
Against the Harrison plot we urge
the excessive first cost of the land, the
great expense necessary to put it in con-
dition owing to its physical character,
and the great cost Of excavation and for
sewer system ETC., consequent upon the
same conditions. The extensive area
would necessitate very large outlay
on walks, approaches, etc. Again, a
building TO properly adorn so large a
tract would call for tremendous outlay
of capital, far beyond the amount neces-
sary for an entirely suitable building if
located elsewhere.
"We object to this purchase also be-
cause it takes from the ratables property
assessed at $4,000, while other suitable
plots assessed for less than one-ffth of
that amount can be had, which means a
saving yearly of over $1,000.
NOISY PLACE.
eve argue against the plot also be-
cause of its surroundings. On the east
we find the New Jersey Junction or West
Shore Railroad, with its constantly in
creasing business, the entire switching
for which is done directly beneath the
site. In addition to their present system
it is intended by the West Shore Com
pany to retain piece of land running
along the entire easterly side of the site,
about one acre-n extent, which they ad-
nit they will require for additional sid
ings. There is also the noise, dirt and
smoke from the spur connecting with the
Pennsylvania Railroad, as we'll as the
main Pennsylvania freight line. The
Erie Railroad is also constant annoy
ance and will be much more of one
when their projected tunnel is COM
plete."
He referred to the fact that the mea-
land east of the site is destined to
be occupied by factories instead Of DWELL
ings. He said that there was a poor
order of dwellings on the west, adding
that no decideded improvement could be
secured unless the property on Elliott
= SHOULD be condemned and the thor