The New York herald., 1874-07-21
STOPPING A TRAIN.

Track Torn Up and q Trains Progress
Della elayed-IndignatiOn OF the Passe"-
gers-A Railroad Onicial Denounced
What He Says About It-Probably ~
Case for the Courts.
The Montciaar Railway of New Jersey, which
some time ago ceased to run by virtue Ul an III
junction obtained from the Chancellor OF that
State by j. H. Pratt, President OF the Hudson Con-
Meeting Railway, commenced to run trains anew
yesterday under the direction OF Mr.. A. s. Hewltt'
the trustee OF the second mortgage bondholders'
About eight O'Clock yesterday morning wben inc
first train touched upon the hlgn trestle work.
where the road passes over the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad near the Erie Tun-
mel, the engineer was signaled to stop. He dld
30, and upon inquiry the passengers learned that
the track, or a considerable portion OF II, had been
torn up, and 1t was impossible for the tram 10 pro-
ceed any further. Mr.. Pratt was on the spot, and
the passengers appeared exceedingly indignant
upon ascertaining that the track was demolished
at his suggestion. The trestle work at this point
was very high, and, as several ladies were on the
train, a platform had to be improvised, otherwise
they would have had to get OIL the train as many
OF the male passengers did. by climbing over the
locomotive. They afterwards walked some dis
tance, and were conveyed by Midland Railroad
train so Jersey City So great was the INDIGNATION
of the passengers at the action OF Mr.. Pratt That
they called meeting IN the Cars 70 express tnelr
dlsapprobation OF his conduct. Mr.. Richard b.
Ferris, of the Bank OF New YORK, was called upon
to preside, and Mr.. Leroy s. Cove, OF No. So Wall
street. was CHOSEN secretary, alter which the iol-
lowing resolutions, as furnished HERALD repre-
sentative by one OF the participants, were
aoopted-
Resolved That we, as passengers upon the Montcatr
ton OF julius d. Pratt in tearing up rails pre-
venting M from Inn %pan sa Wor sna
gefed the lives OF passengers in getting ron he tram
action other Than by redress TO the Courts tor his
Resolved That we, citizens of Montcair, request
MI Jpins IL pra S remG,e ,Sm Spnse sna the
Resolved, That copy Of these resolutions be pub
lshed the daily papers
MR. pRATTs STATEMENT.
Arepresentativee OF the HERALD yesterday after.
the Hudson Connecting Railway. and that gentle
man made the following statement IN relation TO
the one s ar gen partv OF
six in number, formed syndicate for the purchase
OF the second mortgage bonds of the Montclalr
Railroad Company. The company had never sold
any OF It's bonds, but had hypothecated them.
This syndicate bought them in for about fifty cents
on the dollar. The syndicate was represented by
Mr.. Hewitt, who was at first regarded as one OF
their NUMBER, but who has stated that he held the
bonds as agent OF another company. This synul-
cate has been unable to make any proft on their
; speculation. Proceedings have been taken to wlpe
out the first mortgage entirely. The only way
running the road. They have known Tor
some time of the existence of a claim OF $4,000 or
!
/ jersey was made first lien on the portion OF the
| road In iavor of myself. 1t was also accompanied
by an injunction restraining the Occuuants Of the
! road from using 1t until the claim paid Mr..
| Hewitt was also aware that in order to reach the
Jersey terry they must pass over two roads IN
which they had rights or interest, one OF which
is the Hudson Connecting Road at west End, OF
which l am President. Mortgage bonds on this
latter road have been issued for the purpose OF
building IT, The holders OF these bonds nave no
means OF obtaining their interest except rom the
income on the road. There can be no income OF
]
use 1t. 1t is my duty as President to
from those VINO II ren
syndicate or any parties VINO now propose to
/ run the Montclair road with any request Tor
that purpose, nor have mad any knowledge OF
their intention to run the road except mere ru-
NOR. 1t was necessary to change the track of the
date the Delaware and Lackawanna Railroad with
room for the new track which they are now build
and instructed them to go on ana make the change
last week. They only went to work this morning.
coming sne rom et tn. Hontcar road over the HUDSON
Connecting branch This was stopped by red
nag and the passengers on the tram got ont snd
came into New York. As the case now stands the
rails on the Hudson Connecting Road for distance
OF 800 feet are taken up and are likely 70 remain IN
that condition until some terms are made Ior the
use of the road with the Hudson Connecting Com
M Pratt says that because the Montclair Com
pany run their trains in violation OF an injunction
and wish to use the Hudson Connecting Road with
out negotiating for 1t we're not the chief reasons
ne had for ordering the track 70 be torn up. The
main reason was because he had agreed to accom-
modate the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
Railroad Company by making the change. He was
determined to go on with the work OF tearing up
the track now that he had commenced it.
Mr. Richard b. Ferris, whom the HERALD re-
porter found at his ONCE In Wall street. said that
MIR. Pratt's action was unjust and uncalled lOr,
and thought the citizens along the line Of the
Montclair Rail way could have things rlghted by
appealing to the proper authorities. The citizens
VINO had occasion to patrOnize the road were much
exercised about Mr.. Pratt's action
| Mr.. Jordan, Cashier OF the Third National Bank
said he had understood that the New Jersey Mid
land and the Montcair railways had furnished
most OF the means to buI the Hudson connecting
line, and thought they should be entitled to the
use OF It, He thought that the Chancellor OF New
Jersey, when appealed to, would compel Mr.. Pratt
to relay the track. The case Is one which the legal
authorities will most probably have to decide, and
many gentlemen who are interested seem to think
that Mr.. Pratt has taken very bold step and will
be driven to undo all that he has done so rashy.
As the case now stands all trains on the Montclair
Railroad are necessarily delayed several miles
from Jersey City, and passengers are seriously in
convenienced thereby.
A sPECK OF RAILROAD WAR IN JERSEY.