The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-27
NEwBURG VS.. ERIE.
Erie Tries to Erect Repair Shops Projecting on
Western Avenue, Newburg-The Obstruc-
tons Pulled Down by Order Of
the City Authorities.

NEwBURG, Sept. 20, 1873
There has been considerable excitement In this
city this afternoon growing out OF the action OF the
city authorities In preventing the encroachment OF
the Erie Railway Company on one OF the public
thoroughfares Some months ago the Erie repair
shops here-large, connected frame structures
were burned and within o week or two the COM
pany has commenced the work OF rebuilding
Previous to this, however, President Watson, OF
the Erie applied to the Common Council for per-
mission to extend the new repair shops to ais
lance OF not more than sixty feet south of the
north line OF Western avenue and within the
limits Of said street.
HEREBY HANGS SHORT TALE.
The people OF Newburg have for some years past
been greatly exercised In mind over their riparian
rights at the foot OF the streets running the
river, said foot Tor fcet) having been squatted on
locked upon and monopOized almost from time
immemOrial by freighters and others. A several
years. Tight in the Courts has resulted In the citys
resuming or securing possession OF the foot of
OF the principal thoroughfares, South street, and
IT has asserted It's right to the river ends Of the
other streets with little opposition. Western
avenue for 500 or 600 feet west from
the river looks very little like street." 1t is,
out to the river as street, and the city reserves
the right to open and grade It. For about half the
distance named west OF the rivers edge the land is
"made ground" forms part OF the Erie yard" and
Ia gridrOned with the tracks OF that company.
Then comes stone wall precipice, some twenty
five or thirty feet high, and then South Water
street. West Of South Water street is O sort of
rocky terrace, the slope OF which is so steep
is "' quite ~ out of the question TO- '' West
of tn terrace is Western avenue proper, laid out
l2s ieet In width and running west to the westerly
a ~
beyond. The Common Council referred Mr.. Presi-
dent Watson's petition to the Corporation Attor-
authority to grant the permission asked. That
official was clearly Ofthe opinion that the Council
the street With building nre eye Snc 70 the
conditions proposed-that Of pulling the building
down whenever the authorities should see At 10
THE OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY
was unanimously sustained by the Council, and
the clerk was directed to forward copy TO the
proper ofncer Of the company. The Erie folks,
however, concluded TO ignore the action OF the
sna shs eres their ths
as at first intended. Interested citizens Of
the First and Second wards began to
the Council II ct a,m.s Tnis afternoon at Jour
under the command Of ,le City Marshal, went to
spot nS ere Is on se q
It's is said that on their appearance a large
crowd OF Erie employees lett their work and I'd
seemed imminent. But no blows we're struck and
the work OF demolition was commenced and CON-
pleted without serious disturbance. The perform
citizens by whom the action Of Mayor Shutes was
generally commended.
THE CITY NOW RESTS ON ITS OARS,
awaiting another demonstration OF the Erie folks
Homer Ramsdel, before the demolition COM
menced. said, 10 reply to o question as to what he
knew Of the action OF the company, that the Erie
were erecting the building on suiYerance. When 1t
became necessary to tear II down the company
would remove 1t. IL was only temporary AFFAIR
anyhow, and the Erie company would agree TO
sign paper to take 1t down when the Council re-
qured 1t. In TACT such Q paper was there, all
ready to De signed. He thought all the buildings
OF the Erie there would be torn down within six
months II the improvements already in cOntem-
platiOn were made. And so the case stands at this
writing. II Is hardly probable that the Erie will
insist erecting their buildings 80 as to project
on the In face Of the strong popular OppOsi
ton to the encroachment. II they shall lively
times here may be anticipated