Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-31

|
to asphalt streets in 1913.... Sal, 529
Amount saved .....-......... s2s, S2s
Appropriation for sidewalks In
1917 ..',.,,.'............ 1900
Appropriation for sidewalks In
1913 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1000
Amount saved ............... $1,000
Appropriation for crosswalks
in 1912 ...................... $4,000
Appropriation for crosswalks
IN 1918 ....................... $500.
Amount saved ................ $4,000
1.-THE saving in the streets and high
ways appropriation was made not
withstanding the increase in the
street sweepers' wages. In 1913 my
recommendation that they be paid
at the rate of SO a week each was
adopted by the board. Previously the
| sweepers were each making from SO
to Sc per week. Many unnecessary
bosses were discharged.
I'm 1912 and during the first seven
months Of 1913 all the repairs to as
phalt streets were made by contract
with the Standard Bitulithic Com
pany. but last spring on recommanda-
ton of my committee, a municipal as
phalt repair plant was purchased, and
after some opposition and delay. was
installed and has been in operation
since October last, making repairs on
more than half of the asphalt streets
of the city. General superintendent
Charles M. Shipman and Jacob Camp
bell, inspector of asphalt repairs, have
both informed me that the asphalt
pavements are in better condition at
the present time than they have been
at any time during the past three
years, and the work was done this
year at cost of $28, 1923 less than last
year. Another page in the history of
| the mysterious methods of the Btu
| lithic Trust. If all repairs for 1918
had been done by the municipal plant,
the total cost for the present year
would have been very much lower.
1.-THE sidewalk appropriation of this
year, as above stated, Is $4,000 less
than last years appropriation.
THE department of crosswallks has
been merged with the department. of
streets and highways. and therefore
no appropriation was made this year
| for that department, crosswalk dis
| bursements being made from the gen.
eral fund
"Several useless employees were
suspended In the beginning Of 1913.
| lH6 IOTceb W6IC iOot 6lAiHCOy thho tAAS
work of the department since has
been done in a most satisfactory,
complete and efficient manner. Moth
| ing has been neglected. 1t was pre-
dicted that / would be unable to hold
my expenses within the reduced ap-
preparation, but I am proud to say
| that / have done SO and will have q
balance left over for 1914.
Recommendations.
at recommend that the street sweep
ers' wages be raised from 50 to $40 a
week beginning the first of January;
that the number of sweepers be in
creased from $50 to 275; that two OF
the suspended foremen be reinstated;
that the salary of Jacob Campbell
| inspector of asphalt repairs, be In
creased from 81, 200 to 81, 400 per year;
that the salary of Thomas Caufield
inspector Of distractions, be increased
| from $40 to $25 per week; that an adj
| ditional heating and mixing apparatus
| be purchased SO that all the old
| asphalt taken from the cuts and
patches which are undergoing repairs
may be reheated and used again fol
! a binder at a great saving to the
city; this old asphalt Is now thrown
| away; l recommend the purchase OF
a stone crusher in order that all the
old paving blocks and curb stones
/ may be crushed to supply the enor.
nous demand of the department fol
| crushed stone; I recommend that the
| Board of Works Mutual Aid Associa-
| ton be disbanded, as 1t was organized
| purely as an auxiliary to a political
machine and interferes with the eff.
| cheney, economy and discipline of the
! department. No organization of this
/ Iii ie 20 Aha. S.tc *
of the employees. Honest service Is
| the only protection the employees re.
| quire as long as I am a member OF
| the board.
| Attacks Inspectors.
"All the employees Of the street de.
partment, except the inspectors oil
pavements are entitled to common
dalton. Many of the paving inspect.
ors are unfit to continue in the city
service They are either ignorant OF
their duties or fearful of some higher
power. The pavements laid in 191;
are considerably better than those OF
| previous years, but still faulty In
| many cases. No contractor can vio-
| late the conditions of his contract II
| the inspector does his duty. Wher
you find bad pavements you will find
| graft. The contractor who does not
| live up to his specifications robs the
property owner who pays for the i'm
| provement. warn the inspectors
| and contractors that / propose tc
| exercise every power | possess as g
commissioner. a citizen and a tax.
| payer, to prevent the laying of in
! ferior pavements.
i Kept Pledge.
1.-THE Democrats promised that II
given control, the affairs OF the Boart
of Street and Water Commissioners
would be administered in an eco
nomical manner not inconsistent with
efficiency. regard a campaign
pledge as a sacred pledge. and car
truthfully say that our pledge has
been kept in the street department
/ have made sincere effort for bet
ter pavements. 1 have fought the
closed specification and propose tc
continue the fight. In the street de-
partment a sum has been saved al
i most equal to two points in the tar
rate MANY other city DEPARTMENT.