The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-12-31
PROGRESSIVE
MORRISTOWN
The Closing Year will be Mem
orable for Important Pub
lie improvements.
SEVERAL GOOD BEGINNINGS


Looking back over the year it would
seem that in Morristown it has been a
season of betterment and preparation
for expansion rather than OF progress.
Building has been very quiet, the strike
which began on the first of April de-
terring many who had contemplated
improvement or new buildings. What
has been done has been by the public
or for the public rather than personal
enterprise.
First in Importance is the starting
of the sewer system on which ground
was broken about the first Of July,
since which time several miles of sew
ers have been laid. The system is not
completed, nor are all the details set
tied, but the work is progressing and
the citizens are certain that the cess
pools will soon be thing of the past.
The lighting question has been a
vexation and Morristown for years has
borne the reputation of being the poor
est lighted town of it's size and wealth
to be found, but the new contract has
been awarded about three hundred
ornamental iron poles are erected on
the streets, all that the manufacturer
could turn out in the limited time, and
within few days the light will be
turned on and we are promised that
ours is to be the best lighted city in
The United States. There willbe three
times as many arc lamps as at present
and the incandescent lights will be so
close together and SO well placed that
we will be apt to forget it is the same
town.
To provide this light the newly Or
ganized Morris and Somerset Electric
Co. is erecting large power house on
Whippany street which is now under
roof and the machinery being installed.
Over three lfdndred feet of timber
trestle was erected to supply the boilers
with coal from the cars. Conduits are
about laid and pole lines are under
way. ass
The lighting Improvements have ex-
tended to Morris township and that
municipality has voted 81, 900 for light
ing for this year and three year con-
tract has been made with the Public
Service for street lights which will
probably be turned on in month,
The Public Service Corporation has
purchased the Shelley ice plant adj
joining the power house and promises
to erect a new power house with inn
proved machinery. Several miles Of
conduit were laid by the corporation,
but as yet nowires have been drawn
through and the poles still remain,
The Morristown Gas Light Co. has
kept pace with the demand for better
things and as a result of their efforts
the plant on Water street has been re-
built and improved and the largest
main everlaid In Morristown put down
during the past few weeks to fill the
demands from the Park and South
street territory.
Then the start has been made toward
the trolley. One track has been laid on
Speedwell avenue from the town limits
to Spring street, the iron poles have
been set most Of the way and span
wires have been put up. Work was de-
layed by the sewer operations, but it
seems reasonably certain that cars will
be running next summer
The police for years have occupied a
miserable shanty on Speedwell avenue,
a disgrace to the town, but that is a
thing of the past and the new brick
structure is almost ready for occu-
pancy. Ample room isprovided for the
police force, court room and room
for the board of aldermen on the sec
ond floor which will do away with the
hiring of room. Then in the build
ing are three spacious fire proof vaults
in which the papers, maps, etc., of the
town can be gathered.
The board of freeholders has helped
the general improvement by the
OOA CllS UllCLlAN dttO WAQCutuS VI UlC
Center street bridge and the laying of
concrete floor, walks and sidewalks in
stead of the old planks and iron rails.
In benefacati0n the most notable
thing is the new park and fountain,
made possible through the munifcence
of the late d. Willis James. The work
is much admired and extends the First
Presbyterian Church Improvements
through to the Merchants Block, CIV
ing the old Morristown Green at least
one beautiful side.
The hospitals have not been back
ward. Memorial is just finishing the
new addition which will more than
double The accommodations OF that in
stitution, providing wards and private
rooms absolutely fireproof. The di-
rectors are considering the matter of
furnishing and opening the addition
which will probably be in the spring.
All Souls Hospital bought the large
tract on the opposite side of Mt. Kem-
BILE avenue from the main building and
have made many Improvements to the
large house on the property, using it
for private patients. Some day the
main building will be on that side Of
fha road a and 0thor t1co faiInd for f,ha