The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-22
ADJUST CITY CLAIM
NEWARK WANTS $37, 634FOR
PAVING COUNTY STREET.
Freeholders and Board of Works Repre-
sentatives Can't Agree on Interest
Charges.

me adjustment OF CldlInS OF NbWhTk
against the county for the laying Of the
bitulithic pavement in Central avenue out
side the city limits was the main busi-
ness transacted at the meeting Of the roads
and assessment committee Of the Board
of Freeholders yesterday afternoon, as
told in last nights edition of the EVEN
ING STAR. There was $4,000 put in the
county tax levy of 1906 to pay the county's
share of the cost Of paving the avenue
and $4,000 was put in the tax levy this
year, making a total Of $3S, 900 available.
Chief Engineer Morris r. Sherrerd, Of
the Board of Works, told the committee
the total cost of the paving was 7 $4,000,
roughly stated. and the county's share was
$37, 634.0S. The county was allowed $1,267.7j
for the bottom stone of the old pavement.
which was laid by the county, but the city
has, through a bookkeeping error, allowed
the county $1,000 too much for the bottom
stone in the Washington avenue paving,
and therefore he thought that account
should offset the other The committee
agreed to this.
Engineer Sherrerd said the city got only
$119 from the traction company for the
bottom stone taken out of the city part
of the avenue and stored in a vacant lot,
though the stone should AVE been worth
between 5000 and 500. The balance OF the
stone had been taken from the lot, Mr.,
oltII6Iu Sdlus anu it HuI1lbStd II Wuo hP
to Newark to ascertain who took 1t.
Mr. Sherrerd spoke of the county's share
of a bill Of $1,000 for interest on temporary
loans the city raised to pay estimates of
contractors and for incidentals, as the
city was the agent of the freeholders in
paving the avenue and paying the con-
tractors.
Freeholders Ougheltree and Baldwin said
that according TO the agreement between
tho gffy and the frpphOInerS ag thew nm
derstood 1t, the county was not to pay
any interest charges, and besides the esti-
mates Of contractors were not sent to the
committee as they were presented to the
Newark authorities and audited.
IF the estimates had been sent to us
said Supervisor Otterbein," we would have
paid them promptly, for we had and have
plenty of money on hand to pay for the
county's share of the cost of paving the
avenue. L do not believe we should pay
any share of the interest because of the
neglect Of city officials
Mr.. Sherrerd said the city paid most of
the contractors estimates when the Board
of Freeholders had trouble in organizing
and finances and other matters were tied
up. He admitted that the contractors
stimate should have been sent to the
F'reeholders' committee as soon as they
were presented to the city and audited.
He had rot learned Of this neglect until
two months ago, and then he was told the
final estimates would soon be In and he
decided to wait and make out one bill
against the county
"The city paid 4 per cent. interest on
temporary loans to get money to pay the
contractors" said Mr.. Sherrerd, and you
nave had the use Of the money appro-
priated for your share of the cost of the
paving. 1 suppose you get interest on
cash balances in bank"
1--WE get only ? per cent, or less said
Mr.. Ougheltree.
you ought to waive the interest charge
against the county" Supervisor Otterbein
said, 'tn view Of our action on the bottom
stone
Il have no authority to do that, Mr..
Sherrerd said, but will present the views
of the committee to the Board Of Works.
Further consideration of the charge for
interest was then postponed until the next
meeting Of the committee.
An application of the Commonwealth
Water ard Light Company, dated in Sep
TENDER to lay a water main 800 feet long
in Springfield avenue. South Orange Town
ship. to a little beyond the line in Mill
burn Township. was read.
G. p. Bassett, engineer and treasurer OF
the company, said the application was
dated In September because 1t was first
made to the Board Of Freeholders through
mistake. He said when the water main
was to be laid the streets were graded
and sidewalks laid. People were ready TO
build houses. but would not do It until
they could get water into the avenue.
Supervisor Otterbein asked If the com
pany would pay for an inspector and
furnish a bond, and Mr.. Bassett said |!
would. A motion was then adopted grant
ing permission to lay the main, the com
pany to give a bond of $500 and pay for
an inspector.
County Counsel Crane was directed to
notify Samuel II. Bowman, of Bloomfield
avenue, Caldwell, to move his house back,
as it is over the street line, interfering
with foot travel and a proposed improve
nlent Of the street. Bowman must do II
in ten days or the county Will take drastic
action against him.