The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-11-05
Newark 5 Improvement Plan Must Be
Commensurate Nth Future Needs

able, SO that we are forced to the
conclusion. however ludicrous it may
appear, that Tweed, the most corrupt
boss that even New York has ever mad,
in consequence of his reckless extrava-
gance in the right direction. has earned
for himself the title of the greatest
benefactor of his fellow citizens.
/ will now proceed to submit my sug-
gestions as to the best means for deal-
ing with the various problems under
consideration by the Council connected
with the projected improvements.
/ may state at the outset that, in my
opinion, the authors of the various
schemes which rave been submitted are
almost all utterly lacking in ingenuity,
resourcefulness and a comprehensive
grasp Of the main features of the prof.
ect.
Some of the proposals are absolutely
mischievous, and would entail a USE
less waste of public money. In none
do ! see a proper scheme commensurate
with the magnitude and Importance of
the undertaking. The chief objects in
view are to devise a plan for making
Newark into a seaport, to reclaim and
utilize waste meadow land and facili-
tate rapid transit by land and water.
There can be no doubt that the pro-
posal of Mayor Haussling and City
Auditor Forman to acquire all the
meadow land in the vicinity of New
ark, with a view to it's reclamation for
the proposed plans, is a sound one, az
the cost of the scheme falls on the AK
payers and the resulting enhancement
of value properly belongs to the city.
There is little doubt that by this pur-
chase the city would not only recoup
itself for the outlay IN improvements
by the sale of sites, but would also add
enormously to it's population and tax
able property.
l am inclined also to the belief that
Mr.. Forman is right in his opposition
to the building of a canal, seeing that
the bay and river, with a proper system
of dredging, could be made available
for vessels of deep draught. In case
the plan of deepening the Passaic
should be adopted, I would suggest the
desirability of acquiring the land front
ing the river from Mott street to Jack
son street. for the purpose of making
docks for the loading and discharge OF
freight. In any case, before the Board
of Works commits itself to a final de
cislon IN such an important matter, J
would suggest the advisability oi
adopting the suggestion of Mr.. Formar
to appoint a special commission to de-
liberate on the best methods OF carry
ing out the objects in view.
This commission should be composed
not Of experts (who. in my opinion. are
usually men without imagination, wht
are prone to adopt routine methods)
but of broad minded. progressive citi'
zens, who have shown an aptitude fol
dealing with such subjects. The ex.
perts might be employed subsequent,
In an advisory capacity.
On the proposal to erect a new bridg'
across the Passaic and Hackensacl
rivers, at a cost of $750,0 900, and for thu
construction of which bids are actually
to be opened on the 9th Of the present
month. I am prepared to speak moro
unhesitatingly.
This, in my opinion, Would be a mos
injudicious step to take. for variou.
reasons: and I may say that I regard
it as most fortunate that the neces.
sity for changes in the present unsatis
factory and archaic mode OF traffic OF
the Plank road route has come to az
issue at the present time, when 1t car
be taken up in conjunction with ths
other improvements with which It Il