New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-09
THE NEW,JERSEY RAILROAD CONTEST.
Correspondence Of The N. Y. TTibr

Correspondence Of The N. Y Tribune.
TRENTON, March 5, 1860.
It's difficult to witness the varying phases Of the
railroad coItest which has been carried on here for
weeks past without some feeling of parisanshp taking
hold OF the spectators mind 1t is even difficult
TO write about it without espousng side or the
other Each party seemed 10 possess certain positive
rigbts which ought in to be granted to him,
snd in the other which ought not to DO taken from
him. In this conflict of Interests there conflict
Of opinion among outsiders which continues even now,
after the struggle nas been decided. cannot under
take TO reconcile them, being looker-on, in no
way gamer or loser by the victory Of conbatant
or the discontinue of the other But there are Incl
dents Of this able contest which may be interest
,g to the arqe cicle of readers who have some 10
Ilov ledge of the railroad system which has so long
prevailed among us.
Mr. Edwin A. S eveDs has been for twenty years the
railroad Car Of EewJersey. He resides at HobokeD,
where be has vast landed property. Beside this he
pcssesses fortune which makes him the weathiest
nan in The State He is man of great iorasight, OF
prodgious capacity and requirements in railway and
steamboat engineering, and has spent great snms IN
testing inventions and improvements connected there.
With, so ne of bis own dovsiDg and some devised by
Otbers. rroect a theory which strikes his mind
as good and feeble he carries through with iron per-
tevtrsnfe, spariug neit1er labor, time, nor money
Such man must, therefore, be formidable antago-
list in any contest where ne may have mace no his
mind 70 win. IL TO tbeee strong personal charac-
terstcs that TIE virus of the recent legislative contest
was owing Mr. Stevenes plans being Hereby re-
sisted wee more Gercely pressed 10 consequence and
heIce the excitement here and throughout The state.
When The New.Jersey Railroad, from Ne w-Bfuns-
wcb jersey City, chartered, some 20 years 90,
WOE evident that it would nearly ruin the ferry at
II, bOkep, owned by Mr.. SeyeIs He therefore IN
sisted section being inserted in the charter author
i2ipg the construction Of railroad from Ne wax 70
HobokeD. But in place OF building that short ROAD OF
some n'ne miles long the New Jersey Company agreed
10 Jay Mr.. Stevens $lS,000 per annum as an equya-
lent for the INJURY done 10 his ferries at oooken fne
Company having notified him that they would no
longer pay ths tax he applied to the Legislature for
authority TO build the road himself Now, in 1890
monopoly was granted to corporation authorizing the
excus We right Of building bridges over the PAssae
az d HaekcDsack, two streams winch Mr. Stevens must
cross 10 enable him 10 get from Newark 20 H0oOkeu.
This monopoly grant was purchased by the New-Jer.
sey X IlrOad Company who cOntended that 1t esopped
Mr Stevens and all others from bridging those rivers.
and this point the controversy wdXed the herCest
Mr. Stevens claimed the right elthe- to build bridges
for himself the alternative of using for his road the
bridges sTeady used by the trans of the New-Jersey
Conn any, IL u unnecefeary to fecte the copions aud
cogeIt arguments sdduced on both sides. Much VITA
pt ration was INDUCED in by both parties, and an
amount Of bad blood eDgeDdered between parties who
bad been friends of many years standing which will
pever be forgotten II Is known that Mr Stevens rl-
umhed carrying hls Dill through Inc Legislature ny
naorities that asonished us all. The project OF one
com psny being authorized by law TO take the property
Of rival company il was thought impossible to car
w. But the contt has not ended here. IL will I'M
doubtedy be taken to the Courts, where long tsa-
ton mutt be had before the controversy is decided.
Our lie gitature has again become by-word of re-
preach ~ consequence of the means and appliances
utCd by both he contestants TO carry their respective
measures. HeadquarteTs were opened By both at our
prnoI al hotee where free dinners, free suppers, ami
Tree drinks were all the time III the ascendant Money
and champagne flowed like water, and every one was
free 70 eat and drink. The vuture3 of the lobby
gathered from all quarters OF the State crowded the
galleries. and overflow ed into the oor OF bot1 House
al Senate. Members known 70 be hostile 10 this or
that view Of the case, changed their opinions Ia
single Ms h. and next day voted directly cobtrdry TO
Their former pledges. Miraculous revolutions Of opinion
were continually witnessed. One member declared in
his eat that money hao been offered to him 10 vote for
Mr. StAvenss Ill., wbcreupOn another got up and said
that S3 eco had been offered him 10 the other
IL Was clear 70 all OF us that great used by
both parties TO influence legplalion al own opinion
IL thai not less than 500 900 have changed owners on
tb;s CONTEXT /, is quito certain that such scenes
lave been witnessed here for many years.
YET il is PROBABLE these humiat will be
neated befo the session closes. Two other railroad
bla are 10 come up, one for road from Ne@-Brans.
MI 10 pembertop little village the direct road
y, Card.n soue sixteen miles from the latter. rhs
looks 10 another thoroughare acrots the State. Bat
,Iongb n friends in the House are saoguine OF ts
sssspe vet viii be holly opposed and cannot % got
iLrou, n The Senate this yesr. That DDoy Is whohy
Deuocrsuc aid will not favor the preleet' theFe m
eus foreehadow al other snti-moDopoly excitement
in the STATE The muterpgs OF the coming s'ofu@ a''