Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-08-06
PROPERTY OWNERS
BEFORE ASSESSORS
Have Long Session Last Niqht
-AIdermaniC Meeting Ad-
Iourned Until Tonight.
ALDERMEN ARE PUZZLED
Want to Learn Best Method of
Handling Preliminary AS
SeSsment Without Delay.
ALDERMEN ARE PUZZLED

hanulIng preliminary AS
Sessment Without Delay.
! Forty-hve property owners appear
| ed before the Commissioners of As
sessment for Street Improvements,
some of the aldermen and City
| surveyor Samuel J. Mason last night
to demonstrate against paying ap-
| proXimately $3.50 a lot for street
pavements. While the number to
complain was larger than had been
expected, because of the new method
OF making preliminary estimates, it
was not sufficiently large to Offset
any of the work and the payements
will be put down, as originally pro-
Vided for, say the aldermen. Bids
are scheduled to be received on
Monday night, August 16 Because
of the absence of some of the mem
bers of the Board of Aldermen there
was no meeting of that body last
night, as scheduled. There will be
an adjourned session tonight, at
which several subjects will be
handled, including the introduction
of an ordinance to pave one block on
Catalpa avenue. Bids are scheduled
to be received tonight for grading
Pulaski avenue, Central place and
Valley place Because of an error in
specifications, bids for paving seven
streets will not be received tonight,
as had been scheduled. An ordinance
for paving Gordon street, originally
scheduled to have been introduced
tonight, will be put in August 18.
Hearing Before Assessors.
The hearing of demonstrating
property owners was conducted by
President Henry Mccullough, of the
commissioners of assessments for
street improvements, and City Engi-
neer Mason. The largest number of
demonstrators against one pavement,
numbered twelve. They were again
paying more than $140 a foot for
paving Brighton avenue. That is the
former fixed price for paving in
front of twenty-five foot lot. There
are fifty-six property owners in
Brighton avenue. 1t was reported
among the aldermen today that un-
less assurance was given that the
price would be less than $3.50 a lot,
remonstrance might be filed
against the proposed Improvement.
Eleven property owners protested
against paying about $3.50 for paving
High street and the same, number
complained about paying such a
price for paving Watson avenue
There are sixty property owners
along High street and forty-seven in
Watson avenue. Eight persons out
of forty-two property owners in Hall
avenue appeared to protest against
the cost of SLAP a lot there. Mr..
Mason stated that it had been found
desirable to use the old macadam
pavement now in place as founda-
ton of the new surface, which will
bring the cost per lot there down to
about s100.
Two property owners out of
thirty-three in Commerce street ap-
innate cost of $3.50 a lot, and there
was one out of thirteen in Catalpa
avenue who appeared to protest
against paying more than $3.50 lot
for paving that thoroughfare.
Aldermen today appeared puzzled
regarding the best method of hand
ling the preliminary assessment ques-
ton Some appeared in favor of 60
ing back to the old scheme, of re-
ceiving bids, laying them over and
then notifying property owners as to
the exact cost of the proposed I'M
Under a new ordinance
now in force the city engineer makes
the estimates before bids are re-
ceived and the property owners are
notified accordingly. His estimates
must necessarily be high, in order to
make sure that the actual cost does
not exceed his figure. The estimates
are known to be at least ten per
cent higher than the approximate
cost. 1t Is the contention of city Of
ficiaIs in favor Of the new idea that !
property. owners should not COM
plain against this ten per cent. in
crease in estimating as, should they
have to pay it, it would not amount
to more than $40 or SIS lot. and
they conclude that If property own |
er wants the street in front of his |
property improved. $40 or SIS one
way or the other should not make |
much difference.
Mr.. Mason states that it must be /
borne in mind that the surface to be |
paved of the streets about to be i'm |
proved is thirty-nine feet and six |
inches wide, as against thirty-six |
feet, which is the average width of |
the surface paved on streets wherein |
assessments were $40 lot. The i
making of assessments according to |
the quality of pavement, instead of |
evying a fiat rate of s140 lot
the city, is generally ap
proved, according to city officials. !
They hold that the additional cost /
per lot, as estimated, is made up par
tally of an increase made necessary
oy a provision that workmen shall
lot work more than eight hours daily
md the prevailing rate of wage must
,e paid by the contractors who do the
paving. In all events, Mr.. Mason
tates, 1t is not believed the cost of
he proposed pavements will reach
100 a lot, and it may fall below
,150.
In accordance with the provisions
# an ordinance introduced by the
,oard of Aldermen on July 10, the
ouncil will tonight introduce an or
nance to pave Cataipa avenue. be-
ween the intersection of Brighton
venue and Lewis street with two
nch asphalt block. This stretch of
avement is held to be necessary If
he Brighton avenue pavement prop |
.rxt, |