The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-02-14

LA@1N@%e "a A%SA1~Ar
TRHNros, Feb. 49, Gator sat all alone
by himself when he visited the Assembly
Chamber the other day, to work his Wash
ington street bridge hobby. The members
had heard it stated on his authority, that
the Citizens Committee Of One Hundred or
more had hired Pinkerton's detectives to
shadow each Assemblyman with a view to
prevent himlfrom being ssseen". by anybody
opposed to the bridge or of exposing him If
he were seen. They all knew that it was
an idle and foolish boast of the vapid Ex-
statesman but it was none the less re-
Election upon their integrity to say it even
lift were false; and SO they kept away from
him. Nevertheless Gator learned to his
great qualification, that his bil-or Mr..
Hudspeth's- to be reported back to the
House for action next Monday evening. In
nay letter from this place two weeks age,
noted the fact that there is nothing like
unaninity of sentiment among even the
Hudson AssembIymen in favor of the
bridge. The division grows wider and
more marked each day. cannot learn, at
least from local Assembly, who are not
disposed to favor it. They are opposed to
an interference with the great industrial
interests at the Gap that may force them
elsewhere, and favor the tunnel bill that
Maj. Peloubet is pushing for all it is worth;
or they want the Gap kept free from OBJ
structions for the ship canal scheme
source of wealth and greatness to Jersey
City in the near future, they believe-that
Mr.. Tumilty Is up to his ears and up to
everybody elses ears. FOO, in advocating
n an interview had with Assemblyman
Seymour the other day, ! ies ss.,sd that he
too is disposed to look upon the bridge
scheme as an ultimate detriment to the
growth of the city.
s'Your editorial published last Sunday
morning upon the ship canal scheme" he
said "was written without full knowledge
OF all the facts. The Gap is not closed to
navigation, nor can be. 1t is held under a
always be kept open as a public waterway
believe ship canal is the only enterprise
that promises greatness and wealth to Jer-
sey City. Just beyond the Gap lies the gift
of twenty acres made by the State to the city.
1t is at the foot of Henderson street, and
on either side of it. Close the Gap forever,
as you practically will with bridge, and
the land will not be worth $500 an acre.
Open canal up to it and beyond it, and it
will be worth, for waterfront purposes, a
roHnd million. 1t counts for little if Mill
Greek is. as your editorial says, closed at the
northern end. Itwould be better, of course,
to have it open at both ends but if the
canal runs halfway around the semi-circle,
it will be big help to the city. Practically
with all our wealth of water front we have
none now, but here is chance for the con-
struction of an artificial basin that will give
us great harbor advantages, and lead to the
establishment of storehouses and docks on
property from which the city can reap
some benefit"
In their arguments before the Committee
the other evening, Messrs. Gitchrist and
McCarter presented the view that the city
would lose rather than profit by the bridge,
with vivid clearness, and as the addresses
were heard by many of the Assemblymen,
they will carry considerable weight. Some
of the members are disposed to support
both the tunnel and the bridge bills, that
the city authorities may themselves make
their choice batween the two schemes. Tie
Tunnel bill and the Ship Canal bill will be
considered in the Committees having them
in charge next Monday evening.