The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-16

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by the Board of Street and Water Com
missloners had presented its report last
year. there were Sundry criticisms OF the
findings of that body. of which l TOOK
note to the extent of consulting with Ger
tain engineers who were familiar with this
kind of work. The judgments of these
engineers We're of such a nature as to lead
me TO believe that the plan of the com
mission was not. in all its details. the best
that could be secured. | am by no means
disposed TO accept these judgments as
final, but the matter is of such serious inn
portance, to the city. both at the present
time and in the future. that l feel war
ranted in asking. in case the law be sus-
tained. that a special Appropriation OF
5000 be set aside to my order 50 that l
may secure a complete analysis of the
subject with recommendations thereupon
from engineering talent of the highest
class.
In the consideration of this matter the
fact should not be lost sight of that the
project is, first Of all. an attempt to re-
claim the ado which constitute now an
unsightly waste, a detriment to settlement
and business. and an actual menace to
health. The material for filling. it appears
10 me. cannot be obtained as readily or as
expedittously in any other way as by utiliz-
ing the earth dredged out OF the bed of
what it is proposed shall be the ship
canal. II We can reclaim the meadows and
at the same time largely Increase our facil-
tiles for foreign and domestic we
Suitli ne 81 HtllCU Inc CUTTERS.
Grade crossings.
Recent court rulings have led to the in
ference that it Will be impossible for the
city II force railroad companies 10 abolish
the grade crossings now within the limits
of the municipality without additional legis-
lation. TIT necessity, then. for a determined
effort on the part of the city to secure the
proper statutes must be obvious. Every
year increases the danger to life and limb
nom existing grade crossings. Every year
iI.RFpaEaE the HHEt nGHpG=1VV IN enaDrn ahDli-
ton 1t occurs to me that the authorities
of Newark may well invite the cooperation
of other municipalities, all of which have
ance TO deal with. in a demand that our
Legislature shall enact measures 10 give us
relief.
Taxation.
From time 10 time during the last few
years the Legislature has enacted statutes
by means Of which large financial institu-
tons have been enabled to escape their Just
due Of taxation. These laws, which are
inequitable in their conception, operate TO
lessen the burdens Of those who are best
able 10 pay, and increase the expense Of
those whose means are least. 1t seems to
me that this Is another matter in which
Newark might, with propriety, invoke the
cooperation Of other municipalities in an
appeal to the Legislature.
Home Rule.
The question Of a larger measure of self
government for the municipalities of the
State is still 10 the fore, and recent events
in this city and county indicate how strong
Is the senumen Of our own people ON this
subject. 1t seems 10 NE that the demand
cannot much longer he unanswered by the
State Legislature, and that the citizens OF
Newark, in common with those of other
cities, will shortly have the power 10 regu-
late the excise aud other local questions in
accordance with their own wishes.
Care of Consumptiyes.
Pulmonary tuberculosis, or as II is COM
monty called, consumption, is at last geI-
orally recognized as mankind's greatest
foe, and the war against it is now world
wide. | am gratified to report that New
ark Is taking an e~ftectiV c part in this war,
chiefly through the tuberculosis sanatorium
IN Verona, which, although open less than
a year. has already discharged six patients
as apparently cured, and Twenty-Five as
LAYING the disease In their cases arrested
and lives Of usefulness. The city's sana-
forum deals with incipient cases. where
there is believed to be opportunity to
cure or arrest the progress of the disease.
II IS, proposed largely to increase its
capacity by the erection Of pavilions or
shacks, by means Of which even a more
approved method Of open-air treatment
can be carried out. I trust that the Com.
mon Council viii he liberal in its grants
Of money for this purpose. and that Il will
also lend its hearty cooperation to any
gested for the care of those in the ad-
vanced stages of the disease. When [
point out that there were about 500 deaths
from consumption in this city last year,
involving a direct loss. as calculated by
the most expert statisticians, of some
thing like 100000. to say nothing Of the
s mporfaGcs and :orr2T caused J4 5 thereby. Tie Tie
municipality can he realized.
Building Regulation.
An attempt has been made during tue
last Two years to formulate a code of
building regulations in accord with modern
ideas and approves systems. While / ana
led TO belieVe that substantial progress has
been made, the proposed ordinance las
not yet made It's appearance. il Is i'm
up, IN earnest and a practicable working
code for The building department adopted
Inc greater. the delay the greater the
danger to, life and property interests.
/ would suggest an ordinance whici
would prohibit frame construction in con
gested districts aud also provide that al
buildings for three or more families or foI
general business purposes should be con
structed of non-cornbustible material.
In this connection. / desire to record
myself as opposed TO the proposition re-
Gently advanced to extend the fire limits
so as to include all parts Of the CITY and
to require the disuse of frame construc-
tons. whether for business. tenements OF
necessity of preventing the erection OF
any more fire traps in the city. but the
prohibition or the use of wood would in
many sections work an unreasonable hard,
ship upon owners of property, particula rly
those of moderate means. 1 believe thai
every encouragement should be given Ia
the poor man TO invest in land within tho
city in which he earns his living ard IN
build thereon his own home. Anythine
which would operate to prevent this
would cause a loss that could not be meas
ured IN mere dollars and cents.
Baths and Fairgrounds.
| repeat the recommendations made In
previous messages for liberal appropria.
tons to provide a sufficient number OF
Fairgrounds for the children OF the CITY
ana public lighthouses. The Importance Of