The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-16
NEWARK'S TRADE CRIPPLED
v,yUFA CTURERS AND OTHERS FIGHT
Tyg A GIGANTfC MONOPOLY.

Gay between Newnrk "nd new horh S'tS'
u ,v,ll posshly be matter for surprise to
- rersons in New York to learn that the
liz nublic highways between this metropolis
"a city OF 10000 inhabitants. eight miles
,,,ant are toll roads but the inhabitants OF
y,,ark have long been keenly nlivo 10 the fact.
rom time to time they have made feeble strug-
- against tic corporate monopoly that con-
sola those roads but although II was demon
,,,o,ed that the onerous burden was steadily
,b,otline trade in their city. they were so far
larklng in concert OF action and in determine
don Of purpose that the toll road company was
,,rays victorious. and at length they subsidized
into apsthetc submission. That condition con-
,nued until about ten weeks ago. Then somc-
thing happened that reawakened popular in
tsrest in the subject and brought TO the front as
the organizer and head OF the reiormatory
movement Mr.. W. A. IRE. editor oil the Newark
Sr,day CAL. and the effect Of his vigorous at
tack upon the monopoly was shown In the re-
cent election. wherein opposition TO the toll
roads was made popular ISSUE and every can
didate elected was pledged to IT,
The event that gave the start to this move
mont was the action OF the Newark Pbugh
Company. in removing its works totonkers
NY The extensive establishment beicnging
to that corporation was burned. 1t was popu-
Iarlv supnosed that they. owning the ground on
which their shops had STOOL having their bust
ness interests in Newark and employing there
200 skilled mechanics. would at once rebuild
But they did not. and the city suffered the re-
nova to Yonkers OF a number Of the most in
dus,rous meu who had been in the Plough
Companys employ. The officers Of the COM
pany said that they were not willing longer to
subject themselves to the oxtortionate tolls Inn
posed by the proprietors OF the plank roads.
After this had been made public Il was remem-
bered that the toll roads had driven the Singer
Company to West Elizabeth. and that other inn
portant manufacturing interests had been turn
ed away in like manner.
Then Mr. IRE and few other public spirited
men. Senator Kirk. the Hon. p. Jones. Senator
Francis. Col Joy. and John McGregor among
them. began the fight for the abolition OF the
tolls.
That the situation may be generally under
stood. It may be well to set forth concisely what
the roads are over which the dispute is waged
what the alleged extortion practised Is. and the
color ri authority under which II IL maintained.
There are two roads. the Newark Plank Road
and the Newark Turnpike. leading through
Hudson City. The former was eight and three
eghths miles. and the latter nine miles long
But the municipalities at the ends OF the roads
have grown over the roads and taken charge OF
successive parts OF them. SO that now there arc
actually less than four miles OF the plank road.
But the tolls are as high ~ ever. The turnpike
j. out Of repair, and so is the plank road. But
bad as the plank road is. II is the shortest and
best way. and by far the greater number OF
teams pass over II. II Is estimated that at least
800 teams day pass over this road which. av-
eraging the tolls. would give 10 the corporation
owning 4 yearly income OF oyer $4,000. OF
which fully 1901 900 is paid by Newark manu-
fadurers. The tolls are collected at the two
bridges. over the Passaic and the Hackensack,
and are as follows:
beasts IS cents, do three beasts, t5 cents do four
beast. 30 cents DO six beasts 90 cents every extra
horc or horsc on the head loccnts horses mules and
he's eseS esntS ever tracT load wesSHs eag ton 81
/! I'VE tons. 81 tons. IS tons. 81 eight tons
- nine tons &C. ten tons 81.
The rates are the same rs those charged
many years ago. when seven miles OF plank
road we're Kept IN order. There are two bridges
fassaic. is free. Seven or eight years ago a
hard fight was made TO have the bridges botn
purchased by Hudson and Essex Counties and
was got through the House. but In the Senate II
was. through the influence OF the corporation
that owns the bridges. RACED so that only the
purchase OF the Pnssatc bridge; that at Bridge
street Newark, was. allowed. The price paid
Tor Il was $4,000 IS I,9id that as soon AZ the
tenuent Of the company. drove at a gallon 20 the
bridge over the Hnckensack River 70 put M tn,
Toll on that one bridge 70 what had previously
tolls amount 10 about the same on the two roads
The current tolls yield profits which. are pri
vately ADMITTED by stockholders OF the com
pany 10 amount 10 fifty per cent. OF their CAPT
tai every year. and shares are seldom sold. Tho
wealth OF the corporation that owns both roads
has enabled II 10 defeat every effort made
through the Legislature 70 procure any anne.
Iteration OF existing conditions. commits
sion. appointed last wear TO appraise the value
Of the toll franchiss-which has still eleven
Years 70 run-on the plank road. placed It al
100000 n valuation that was regarded as 80
excessive that The voters OF Hudson County re;
the Newark and New York Railroad. which has
two very long iron bridges and a number oil
small ones. built when iron was seven times its
present price and labor was much more expen-
svr than I now Is. cost only 1905 600 or there
abouis. The road for. which 100000 is asked
Is thus described by Newark newspaper;
ore ale on laid with nlanKs which. through wear
an decay re.emhle ihe corduroy resds Of primitive
INTENDED relief 10 the rough and rckettv planks hui
nnru lp And corrugated by wheels and Alternatei,
81 stormy disturb the panSs which bob up and
ssT w sassf me wsiSa, o. pss;hz WAGONS snd ppr
tween tie qnagnlre and the unstable platform the choice
s Sr S ss as ar. ssss 70 s1a
on o At every few ieet Of the only available track N
wagons, which appear to have .he undispgisd rsii d
nj, ye a n s hs eli. IRE an aaIinona prohieu9n TO-
private carriage 70 nothing OF the wear and
sagsei BY tie destructive thoroushfare.
While Newark's industries have been groan.
pirate monopoly Of her Highways. she has ex.
pended. since 1865. 81 .675.5l0.57 In the con
hu9ctlon OF iorty-siN miles Of fne avenues
RACING IN All directions eNcept the right one
namely, toward New York. small par
Of that sum would have sufflced TO build
. eoqd road. with safe bridges. mile
.nd tAree;elghths shorter than either o.
We existing highways. to Jersey City
but here the monopoly interposed a pre-
vsnuVe claim that, by the terms OF their fran.
nhlse. they held an exclusive right for the con.
etrnctlon Of all bridges and maintenance
thefeoi across the Passaic and Hackensack
RIVERS between their original bridges and the
mouths Of those rivers. They had permitted
the erection Of thirteen bridges by private cor
porAlohs' out they would not allow the con
hrqcuon OF free highway bridge for the pub
Tue corporation owning the two roads be-
tween New York and Newark is the Pennsyva
ma Railroad Company In 1870 il obtained the
passage OF an act freeing IL from the old-timt
limitations OF toll. allowing 1t TO demand what
yNeI deemed proper, Irrespective OF the
eleu o. me road. and relieving II from all re
spohslh,iy forkeepiug the roadway in gooC
tspalr. Since then all the provisions of tbs
,sn6H.hal grant and Of the supplemental one o
eArded 'N -''N S '
,iae Newark manufacturers express their de
Hbssn.naiion 10 force the question Of abolition O
Sleol roads 20 nm issue al An early day. TIL,
0IoWers, who send over 200 barrels Of bee
nhnusAY over the plank road 10 Jersey City
opohtn, and New York, say that their tol
Whlges amount 10 65 cents every trip on th'
seeW Jersey side Of the Hudson only. and this
sii,nough the road Is often. in winter and spring
almost impossible The express companies
o'nu daiy 81 loaded wagons over the road. an(
some man utacturers aver that they use the eN