The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1903-02-14
VANDALISM
UAEARTHED
Board Of Freeholders Dis
covers That Manholes
Along the Public
Roads Have Been
Stolen.
UEPOLIGED SECTION
Frseholders in . Quandary
as to How to Protect
Valuable Property.

Vandalism OF character that might
cost the County many thousands of dol
lars yet still be of little pecuniary profit
to the guilty ones, was revealed yester-
day afternoon when the Road Commit
tee Of the Board of Freeholders on an
inspection Of the different highways un-
der their control, discovered that many
Of the iron covers of sewer manholes had
been stolen, leaving, the openings mem
ace to the life and limb of pedestrians.
Along The entire stretch of the Passaic
1 River road in Kearny which was recent
| " improved at the expense of the County,
| not a single one of the covers of the. new
manholes remains, and AZ number have
| been taken at different points on the Pat
erson Plank road
In some cases thoughtful citizens had
covered the openings with fagstones, but
in a great majority of instances they
We're entirely unprotected, and that some
one has not been injured by falling into
the sewer basins is nothing short Of re-
markable.
| The iron covers cost the County in the
neighborhood of four dollars each, and
the liability in case an accident occurred
might reach into the thousands. The
thieves, who it is believed, break up the
covers and sell them for old junk, can
only get few cents pound for their
booty. but do not hesitate to jeopardize
life and limb, to say nothing Of actual
and possible expense to the County, to
obtain this money.
The sections where the work is done
are not policed, and but little traversed,
except in day time, and one of the thieves
with a wagon at night could readily OBJ
tain a good load unobserved
The Freeholders are in quandary
over the matter. To replace the stolen
covers would only seem to invite further
| depredafions of the same kind, and to
! leave the ma1lholes in their present con-
I dition might render the County liable for
large amount. The only solution of
the problem, what to do under the cir
cumstances, seems to be to cover the
openings with fagstones. This will
make a somewhat dangerous sidewalk,
but is the only feasible plan.
The inspecting party consisted Of
Chairman Fallahee and Freeholders
Rooney, Griffin, Schmitt and Pairson.
The completed work of Contractor Ed
ward O'Neiill on the eastern portion of
the Paterson Plank road was found to be
satisfactory. and an examination was
made of The stretch ON the west side of
the road near the top of the hill, where.
/ the property owners have requested that
a sidewalk be laid.
The western section bf the road which
was improved about three years ago was
/ found to be anything but good condit-
ion, and several Of the manholes were
found to be filled with mud and stones
| washed into them from the adjoining
en- nknlent. The big sewer pipe which
runs down the hill aud drains into the
| creek west Of the Susauehanna Rail
road tracks IS broken in two places, and
| under the tracks It is clogged up 50 that
water cannot get through.
| From thejrailroad tracks to the rise of
| the hill IN Secaucus, which portion was
raised few years ago. the road is in
| bad condition.
The Passaic River road in kearny and
the Newark Turnpike were found in en-
cellent condition. The County road lead
ing to Snake Hill needs repairing badly.
In view OF the contemplated improve
ment OF the Newark Flank road aud the
BealevIlla Turnpike they were not IN
| spected.