The Jersey City news., 1905-08-11
SURVEYORS BUSY
Appearance Of Building Bz-
perts at Police Head
quarters Arouses Much
Speculation.

~ - tNSDAOAa
For the past few days there has been
something doing around police headquar-
tiers. Mr.. James Carlin. one Of the best
known practical builders Of the city, as
sisted by Surveyor Roland Daily. has
been surveying the interior. II has
been known for some years that the
building was in a more or less dilapidas-
ed condition. Big crevices have ap-
peared in its outer walls. but new cracks
in the interior walls have excited com
ment among those who daily frequent
the building and have excited comment.
For several years the different police
Boards spent money for repairs. They
got tired doing if. In the last estimate
sent to the Finance Board was an item
for s7ooO0 for new police headeuar-
ters building. II was said at the time
that the Police Board Republican,
didn't expect to get the item, but want
ed TO put itself on the safe side Of 4he
fence in case the building collapsed
Following the adoption Of The bridget
came an order of the Police Board 10
remove the First Criminal Court to the
drill room of the Seventh street sta
ton. Almost simultaneously appeared
Messrs. Carlin and Daley on the scene.
Chief Murphy says the building is in
mo danger of immediate collapse.
President Ringle. of the Finance Board,
says ''it's good for several years to
come" No appropriation is in the budget
for the next fiscal year.
The tax rate must be kept down.
There are only few reporters who use
the reporters room in the morning.
Some are glad that the Commissioners
ordered the transfer Of the Court TO ths
Seventh street station, even though they
are disconnected with thai court" FS1
the last two years the reporters room
has been converted into nothing more
than a waiting room to the court.
But the building ITSELF To the
Cooper Place side of the build
ing the path for people lsekons
for the Criminal Court room from
the Gregory street entrance to the
building, passing through Headquarters.
some of them with babes in their arms.
reminded old play writers of Eliza cross
ing the ice, in ''Uncle Toms Cabin.
That's on account of the floor. A spien-
did revelation of how Eliza crosses the
ice in the play, as a matter Of stage
make believe, is just in the path around
the reporters table in the Headquarters
building. The same state of affairs pre-
walls throughout the building. The aoers
are sprung and full of hillocks. Doors
that were hung on the level still main
tain their dignity, but a close scrutiny
will reveal the fact that if half inch Of
light can be seen at the door knob end
two full inches can be detected at the
end hung on hinges. The building is
surely sinking. AS far as can be ascer
tanned the trouble does not lie with the
contractor that erected the building, bui
with the contractor that drove the spiEes
Maybe he didn't fully understand the
site. which was originally marsh mud.
No matter who is to blame the old build-
ing is sinking. It doesn't require an ''ex-
pert builder 10 determine that fact.
Any man who has daily frequented the
building, with grain of inteiiigs snee.
could tell that it at least was setting
and the veriest pedestrian that passes
through Cooper Place. looking at the
creviees between the building and the
sidewalk will tell you the same.