The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-25
FREE ROADS IN JE asEY.

Away With Toll Gates and Toll Bridges-A
Bill Before the Legislature to DO Looked ON
with Suspicious Eye.
AS has already been time and again stated in the
HERALD, there is not single road between Jersey
City and Newark, the American Birmingham. which
Is not trammeled with tolls and toll bridges. Slim,
ulated by the agitation In these columns for years
past the people In Newark especially are now fully
aroused from their erhargy ON the subject, and are
taxing some steps to achieve the contamination de-
vouty to be wished. Some time ago, under an act
Of the previous Legislature the BRUCE over the
Passaic which Joins Hudson county to Newark
was purchased from the New Jersey Railroad Conn
pany for $4,000, the counties sharing the cost
equally. On grounds seemingly the same 1t Ia
sought to acquire power whereby the PLANK ROAD,
with ts bridges, may be purchased from the same
owners-tne New Jersey Railroad Company or heir
representatlv To accomplish this there Is now
before the Legislature q Dill which has
SOME VERY OBJECTIONABLE FEATURES,
and which 1t is very likely Will meet the united
opposition OF the Hudson county Legislative dele,
CATION. The bill Is long, verbose multiplicity OF
utterly unnecessary words and In the first clause
provides 'that George Peters, A. Bishop BALDWIN,
Isaac N. Van Wagenen. Marcus Beach, J. Van Worst,
Nehemiah Perry, Peter >. Duryee, Ira Nj. Harrison.
Isaac W. Scudder ana Alfred L. Dennis, OF ma
jorlty OF them, be hereby appointed commissioners
with Iul power and authority to contract with the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. the Newark and
New York Plank Road Company the pr0prietors Of
the bridges over the Passaic and Hackensack, to
purchase and acquire for The public use OF the
counties OF Essex and Hudson. the rights franchises
privileges ana properties Of the Newark ana New
YORK Plank Road Company, and OF the proprletors
OF the bridges over the Passalo and Hackensa for
the lowest price for which the can be obtained,
provided the Boards OF Chosen Freeholders Of
Essex and Hudson counties respectively shall con-
sent TO and approve oil the said price.
As regards those named for commissioners all
are from Essex county except lwo Van Worst and
Scudder. Mr.. Dennis - President OF the New
Jersey Railroad, aud Mr.. Perry director, SO that
their appointment as commissioners would give
them authority to vote for purchasing their own
property 0stenslbly Tor The people o the two coun-
ties. still more Objectionable feature OF the bill
Is contained in the second clause, winch provides
that In case lne Boards OF Chosen Freenolders are
missioners the latter Will nave power to consuut-
mate the purchase themselves, the respective
boards being "hereDy authorized, empowered and
required TO borrow from time TO time Nc
all such sums OF money as may be necessary to pay
the valuation and expenses aforesaid, which sums
Of money shall be paid over to said commission.
ers, to be applied by them to the purposes provided
to the commissioners MS Is taat ,' they snonI% pe
paid live dollars per day for the time necessarily en-
ployed In the duties imposed by the act. The
VOICE OF HUDSON COUNTY
has already been heard IN opposition 10 the whole
measure, and there are fears OF lis beng carried
through the Leelsntuic u.iea0 .,osuu VI lts un- 4
fair and Objectionable features IL Ia estimated tnat
the pay which Will probably 90 asked for the road
ana bridges by Messrs Dennis Perry ana Conlnanv
from Commissioners Dennis Perry anu Cornpamv
Will not he short OF $3oo0Oo. II viii lako nearly ns
much more 70 properly reconstruct the highway and
aud ticn lncio would bc regular yearly
O pense TO each county. While The people OF roin
counties agree that The having urcai ircc hIun.
way etwccn tho two rrcit cica ~ tho state nd NO
with New York would bo Of inca ouIublo value both
10 traic anu 10 real estate property ~ IN nos likely
that they VIII allow tho wool to bu drawn over tholr
eyes by any nurh M ~ mat now boiuro Tho lousc
u has only been introduced and has had no roadnu
yet