Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-09
SUMMIT SEWAGE
NOW APROBLEM
Councilman Knight Tells Trade
Board Immediate Additional
Storage Facilities Needed.

Followed In different municipalities
and they were also considerably en-
lie.htened by Councilman John q,
knight. chairman Of the street and
beverage committees of the Common
Council as to the heavy financial OBJ
LEGATIONS confronting this city al
present in connection with It's school
and sewage systems, especially the
latter.
In the opinion of Councilman
Knight a matter of more vital i'm
portance than permanent road con-
striiction for the consideration Of the
city's governing body is that of pro-
viiing additional sewage storage ca
pacity for the city's sewage pumping
system. This proposition, Commits
sioner knight told the trade board
members. means a minimum expen-
fiture of $4,000. with possibly an ul-
innate outlay by the city of from
$50 100 10 $40, 900, and this situation
must be met without delay. as condl-
tons in per DDS OF severe storms have
already reached a serious stage, ne
said.
This project. with a proposed high
school at a cost of probably Slf5'OUV
in the very near future, Councilman
knight opined, will be about sum-
cient in the way of city expenditures
for the taxpayers TO care for In the
iynnediate future without going into
permanent road building Anyway
the council member declared that
the so-called permanent road con
struction is only now In an expert
mental stage, and TO his mind mu-
nicipality of this size can well afford
10 await further results in larger
and richer cities before going into
large expenditure in road building.
The Problems of the Roads.
The problem of how to construct
lasting roads in the opinion of Coun-
Gilman Knight is not the only Sc
fious question for solution, but he
declared traffic regulation is Just as
much of a problem, and one whlch
must be overcome with that OF per-
uranent road build ng, for to build
roads to be cut up in. short period
by auto trucks of tremendous ton
rage is the height of absurdity,' he
declared.
To a question of whether a new
high school is to be erected within
the next two years, Councilman
Knight, who is the councils repre-
sentative in the Board of School Esti-
mate, which body certified to council
the necessity for an appropriation of
$4,000 for the purchase of a.-lligh
school site several months ago, but
which anprouriation has been held uo
BY council, despite Councilman
knights efforts TO have, the money
provided. the council member replied
that until the school site is pur-
chased | can't very we'll say"
Because OF the weather conditions
there were only about tnirty-five
- IF
these the councilman's remarks were
somewhat startling. and 1t was ap-
parent that they would be satisfiee
TO defer for a time permanent road
building here. President Jagels was
to remark at the conclu-
sion of Councilman Knights observa-
lions that I'm this there is much food
for thought" However, the trade
hoard head declared that 1--WE must
have good roads as we'll as good
schools. A city is judged by its roads
largely, and We may as well face the
situation right now" To the boards
on streets and highways
was referred the matter of securing
additional data on the subject, which
will be up for further discussion at a
future meeting Of the board.
Hard Road Construction.
Union County Engineer Baur was
The first speaker, Engineer Meeker, of
the State department of roads, being
unable to be present, because of ILL
1ess. MT. Eaur said that the time is
ripe for this city to take up the
matter OF hard-road construction. As
10 permanent road building. the
engineer said there is no such thing.
road building is like build
ing a house and keeping it in good
repair, which Is Just as necessary in
road building, no matter of what ma
terial the street may be built, the
engineer said.
He pointed out the universal agita-
lion for better and more lasting roads
and said there is no subject of in
rernal government receiving so much
at the present time as
Il road building. The county official
declared that six years ago Union
county authorities realized that mac
adam road construction had become
obsolete, because of the changed
.raffic conditions. OF the seventy-hve
miles of roads in Union county forty
miles are now built of hard-suTfaced
mostly amesite construc-
ton. the engineer said.
While the repairs and maintenance
sost Of macadam roads was from
Il 900 to $1,000 per mile, the hard
surfaced pavement is now maintained
oy the county at q cost not exceed
Ing $500 per mile. The cost of the
asphalt road building the engineer
gave as from 1925 TO $3.50 per square
Yard and SO per square yard for
granite block pavement. This city,
because of the gravel and sandy soil,
could resurface its present macadam
f1TP lie
sn4esite.
For the outlying, residential or level
streets. the smooth amesite or con-
crete road has proved most desirable
the county, but for streets
With steep grades this construction is
not suitable, because of horses being
unable to get q foothold and the dan
ger to horses in falling. For heavy
traffic or hilly streets concrete or
granite block road construction was
Favored by the engineer. Plainfield,
Crawford, Linden, Roselle and other
in the county have
/ AIKEN up the propaganda Of more per-
nanent road building, and 'as Sum
nit is, without doubt, the wealthiest
OF the smaller communities in the
you will be considered much
behind the times unless you move
more quickly in this matter of good
roads" said the engineer.
Assessing system Explained
Mr.. Baur explained the system Of
assessing the cost of permanent road
building in the different cities and
towns in the county. In some PLACES
the cost OF the construction of the
centre of the street is assessed against
the municipality and for either side Of
the roadway to the abutting property
owners. In other places the assess
ment of the cost is levied against the
property fronting on the street so inn
hroved, he said.
According to Charles E. Mcdowell
OF South Orange, road builder OF
wide experience in all sections OF the
tsnfintrY. fhis State is at present con