Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-29
Lays Deaths of Many
Children to Delay in
Completion OF Public Bath

Setting forth the claim that many
deaths of young children living In
the neighborhood of the new Mont
gomery street public bathhouse had
occurred this summer because the
bathhouse had not been completed
on time, former Judge Algernon L.
Sweeney, president or the Board or
Playground Commissioners at their
meeting last night voted that the
w. G. Sharwell & Co, contractors,
should be made to forfeit the stipu-
lated penalty of $50 a day for every
day they had run over their contract
In erecting the building. The meas
ure was passed over Mr.. Sweeney's
head and the contractors were re-
leased from the penalty.
A complica ton was added to the
question by the fact that the Board
of Works had made the original con-
tract and had later, when the build
ing was more than half finished, turn
ed it over to the playground COM
mission.
In explaining the delay Mr.. Shar-
well stated the bid had been turned in
May 70, 1912, but it was August 10 be-
fore the contract was awarded, this
making part of the work he had
originally planned for the summer
months to lay over until winter when
1t was impossible to accomplish so
much. He claimed a further delay
was caused by the changing Of the
plans of the boiler room, the long
time required by the Works Board TO
decide upon the material to be used
on the shower partitions and in the
slowness of the delivery of the thing.
The contract called for the COM
pletion of the bathhouse at the eX-
piration of 200 working days. which
Bro hit it the first part of May. The
h was not turned over until Sep
t,s..oer l. This would have made a
reduction of about $1,000 had the
penalty clause been inforced. Mr..
Sharwell also told the commissioners
he had asked the Board of Works
several times for an extension OF
time and it had been promised him,
but no action was taken.
While he admitted some of Mr..
sharwell's claims Just. Mr.. Sweeney,
in explaining his stand, said:
"The people of that neighborhood
were kept from the benefits afforded
bv the baths during the three summer
months when the building was most
needed. ] feel positive that many
deaths of the little people in that sec
ton would not have occurred had the
plunge and showers been available.
commissioner N1cnOldS La NeCCuid
then moved to dispense with the de-
fault clause. In reply to several OF
the commissioners that the boiler
room leaked and that the boiler fire.
brick was cracking and the beading
was loosening from the tubing Mr..
| Sharwell said he would see that these
and some other minor affairs were
attended to.
A report from City Attorney. Her
bert Boggs on the application for PEN
sion made by Charles T. Williams,
superintendent of the Summer ave-
nue. bathhouse, was received. 1t stat
ed that Mr.. Williams had not been
employed the necessary twenty years
by the city, claiming that six months
| employment as street foreman and
paving inspector did not come under
the head of city employment. For
this reason Mr.. Williams would have
to wait four months longer.
| Another application was received
from Mr. Williams in which he gave
dates of other city employment that
made up the deficiency. The second
application was referred to the finance
committee to investigate and with
power to grant it should 1t prove cor
rect. Formal acceptance of the res
| ignation OF Xavier Del Nagro, director
| of the Canal street grounds, was
| made.
Halloween parties will be held at
each Of the grounds Friday afternoon.
| 1t was also decided to keep the play
grounds and baths open election day.