Perth Amboy evening news., 1908-10-31

dations necessary to do so. Another
improvement and one which is of
great assistance to the citizens and
credit to the city, consists of the re-
numbering of the houses and placing
of new street signs at the intersec-
tions of our streets.
/ have repeatedly visited and ex-
amined the schools for the purpose
of ascertaining their needs. l have
found them, so far as scholarship is
concerned, in excellent condition,
the great difficulty having always
been lack of sufficient school room
for the children; and have continual
ly urged the building of additional
schools for the purpose of overcom-
ing these Objectionable features.
And especially have l favored and
urged an appropriation of one hun
dred thousand dollars ($100,000)
for the purpose Of purchasing the
sites and building of the two new
schools now in contemplation; and,
had 1t not been for the unfortunate
Misunderstanding in the school
board, those buildings would now be
well under way.
When | came into Office | found
that d contract had been given. to
pave Market street, from City Hall
park to the westerly end at Pardee's,
and part OF the work had been done.
Personally / looked into the matter
and found that that contract had
been based upon specifications which
were not according to the establish
ed grade of that street. l repeated
ly urged the republican council to
70 Iya 10 10
because | believed that it would in
volve the city in litigation and COM
pei 1t to do a certain portion of the
work over again. They would do
nothing and the work was continued
to the point where the mistake had
been made. There was but one
thing to do and that was to build a
retaining wall in order that the
street might be brought up to grade
and 1t was necessary, in order to
avoid legal complications, that it be
done at once. 1t was done, with the
assistance of a democratic council.
The work speaks for itself and the
price, in my opinion, was reasonable
when all of the circumstances are
taken into consideration, and the
method of doing it was proper. also.
Whether it was better to take the
chances of litigation or to do the
work twice, and afterward build the
retaining wall, leave it for you to
judge.
I also called upon the passenger
agent of the Central Railroad of New
Jersey to give us a new station and
other improvements, which are sore
ly needed. He came to Perth Am
boy, looked the matter over and all
that l could get from him was a
night gateman at New Brunswick
avenue.
l urged an inspector for the Board
of Health, because l believe the
health of our citizens of the highest
Importance and that an inspector
was necessary to increase the eff
cheney of the board. That was pro-
vided for and that board is doing ex-
cellent work.
Before signing the contracts which
the republican council had ordered
awarded for the building of the
Sheridan street sewer and that great
system of sewers which should enter
into the same, 1 examined into the
matter and learned that the contract
had been illegally given, and refused
to sign it. My attention was called
to the fact that the approval of the
State Sewerage Commissioner was
necessary before sewage could be
emptied into the Raritan river. Af-
ter some delay and trouble, that
approval was obtained and proceed
ings are now under way by which
the sewer will be built according to
law and without the city getting into
trouble with the state authorities
and be compelled to stand the ex-
pense of considerable litigation and
also without the delays which would
be incident thereto.
l vetoed the assessment for the
requirement. of Smith street with
wood block for the reasons stated in
that veto. / did not at that time
think that the property on the line
of the street was benefited to the
extent to which it was assessed. The
block, In my opinion, was not prop
erly laid, and would soon show it.
If anybody doubts that l was justi-
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