Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-05
WIDER USE OF CIVIL SERVICE
URGES COUNTY SUPERVISOR

dren suffering from tuberculosis are
necessary. Some provision might be
made for the education of the boys
and girls while confined here. few
hundred dollars would provide sat
isfaetory garbage incinerator at the
base of the old smokestack and would
provide a very necessary apparatus.
A systematized fire alarm system
would be a good guide to those called
upon to answer an alarm.
Wants Comforts for Prisoners.
1.-THE Jail is in good condition and
should fill it's purposes for years to
come. If the present male witness
room is continued to be utilized, 1t
should be provided with proper fire.
escapes to protect the lives of those
confined therein. Put an electrical
light and small reading desk in each
cell; the cost will not be large. but
the comfort to each, prisoner will be
great.
"The penitentiary buildings are in
very good condition, except the
plumbing in the north wing, which
should receive your early attention.
The management is very creditable
and those In charge are exercising
every effort to advance the condition
of the prisoners. Systematic lectures,
frequent entertainments and some
form OF schooling might benefit and
uplift those confined here. Proper en-
ployment for male and female prison.
ers is eagerly sought, and recompen-
sing them for services rendered only
awaits necessary legislative authority.
Conditions at the house of deten-
ton will require your careful atten-
ton II satisfactory results are to OBJ
tain. Unless more ground is acquired
and another building erected to pro-
vide against overcrowding and to en-
able the segregation of boys and girls
and supply each with more recreation
space, II may become necessary to
abandon the present premises as such
institution and locate elsewhere with
building more In keeping with the
end sought to be accomplished under
improved conditions. In that event
the present site might be occupied
as a house of detention for witnesses
held to appear in court. The employ
ment of one additional woman would
enable the matron and cook to work
an eight day, whereas the latter
two now work twelve hours day.
Road in Good Shape.
THE county roads are probably in
as good repair as they have been at
any time. There was expended dur
$3.50 for road maintenance, of which
$40. 900 was supplied by the State from
the motor vehicle fund. The liberality
of the State department and extend
ing permanent pavement should re-
duce the amount required to be raised
by direct tax for repairs. 1t Is ex-
pected that the permanent pavement
of Washington avenue in Bellevtlle.
and Bloomfield avenue west of the
Newark line to the easterly line of
Montclair, will be completed In the
early fall of 1914.
1.-THE practise of laying permanent
pavement in streets where the munich
palities join In paying the cost there
of has proven to be both proper and
safe despite the increased first cost.
This policy should be continued. The
excellent work of improving the deep
cutters on steep portions Of our coun-
ty roads should be extended. The
patrol or stitch-in-t time system of
road repair has proven to be superior
to the old method, and while still i'm
perfect, 1t should be continued with
view to further improvement.
1.-THE completion of the Plank road
and its cordial acceptance by the peo-
pie of the interested communities is
a matter of great satisfaction to those
responsible for it's construction. A
continuance of this or some other
permanent pavement on Passaic ave-
nue., in Newark, from its intersection
with the Plank road, would insure a
continuous grand highway from Jer-
sey City into the heart of Newark. To
THIS end it Is suggested that you seek
cooperation with the Newark au-
thorities and obtain the necessary
legislative assistance to further this
improvement. This entire road should
become a part of the State highway
system.
New Bridges Needed.
1.-THE bridges of the county have
been maintained with due care to the
public safety. Your attention Is di-
rected to the fact that several bridges
on the west boundary of the county
have been in use for from thirty to
forty years. AS thirty years is con.
sidered the generally accepted life of
such structures, their reconstruction
should command your consideration,
in view of the increased travel and the
greater loads that they now have to
carry.
1.-THE Bridge street bridge is now
practically complete and open to
traffic. The structure is up-to-date in
design and appears to be very salts
factory. The plans of the new Belle
vile bridge across the Passaic River
await the approval Of the war de-
partment, and when that is received
the construction will proceed with
promptness. The systematized record
of bridges and culverts, when COM
pleted, will be a valuable adjunct
to the engineering department.
Each county department appears to
be sufficiently manned. Wherever adj
ditional help becomes necessary, the
appointment should be made from
the available Civil Service list, in
order that the best qualified appli-
can't may secure such position, in
stead of creating secretaryships in
order to avoid the civil service re-
quirements and open the door for
nolitical reward or nreferment.