The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-09-05
ELEVATE THE TRACKS.
NOW LET THE CITY AUTHORITIES AP-
PEAL TO THE RAILROAD.

PEAL TO THE RAILROAD.
IL May Lead to Something and May Not
whether it Does or Not, il Can do mo-
Harm-What Merchants Across the
Track Have TO Say About II.
Every reader of the SUNDAY TArrLER
who is in favor of the elevation of the
Pennsylvania Railroad tracks in this city
should go to Justice Joseph Warren's
Office, at No. 3S1 Grove street, step or
two from Newark avenue, and sign the
petition to the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company for the elevation of its trssks
in this city. This is especially the duty
of owners of property, that is beyond
question injuriously affected by the racing
of the company's trains at haif-minute
intervals across the main thoroughfares of
the city. The petitions already hold the
names of about 500 of our best known and
most influential towns people. But the list
can be doubled and trebled without any
trouble. On your way to business to-
morrow morning drop of your car at
Grove street and put your name to it.
But the signing of the petitions Is not
the only activity needed to induce the
company W PxOS0C04 AA0s - eAA way
well in its way. 1t cannot, however,
be made properly effective unless the city
authorities themselves take the matter in
hand. An official demand should be made
upon the Company for the much demanded
improvement. The Board of Works and
the Board of Aldermen and the Board of
Finance might help the people to
secure if they weuld. How would it
do for them to appoint joint committee
or il they please, separate and independent
committees-to wait on the officials of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and urge
obedience to the popular win in the matter
of the elevation of tracks They can speak
to the railroad people with an air OF au-
thori.y that no petition can carry with 1t.
The petition speaks for its signers. Such
a committee as the TATTLER suggests would
speak on behalf of the whole in periled and
Inconvenience community. Whatever
has been done by the railroad company for
this city mas been in response to the solicit
tasions Of regular authorized official COM
mittees. Such committee appointed now
might accomplish som ething. If it did not,
it could lose nothing at any rate by trying.
Let us know on what conditions the rail-
road company would be willing to proceed.
They might consent upon conditions the
city is willing to grant. If they can induce
the company to elevate the yards. too on
the Philade .phia depot plan, so much the
better. Then all the streets right up to
the water front almost, can be utilized.
There would at least be no occasion for the
vacation of Green street. There can be
none, whatever plan may be lit upon, for the
vacation of Washington street. TATTLER
reporter who inspected Washington street
with competent engineer, learned that
between tie leveling of the street grade
and the arch over which trains might be
run to the present surface depot, there
can be thirteen feet in the clear. The
highest top of the most improved Jersey
City and Bergen Railroad Company is
short of eleven feet. The cars could go
under such an arch with two feet to spare.
The total height of thirteen feet would
probably leave room for all the high-laden
trucks that would have to pass under it.
II the railroad company could be per-
suaded to elevate the tracks and the depot
platforms with it, the space in the clear
for the passage Of trucks would be even
larger.
Last Sunday morning We presented to
our readers the views, on the subject, or
the Newark avenue merchants. Within
the last day or two TATTLER reporters have
been instructed to learn the views of those
interested in the large industrial establish
ments north of the track. Most OF the
gentlemen who were sought were out OF
town. but the views of those who were
found are important.
Ex-Mayor Charles Il. O'Neil, proprietor
of large lumber business on Pavonia ave-
nue., said: "My opinion is that the tracks
of both railroads in this city should be ele-
waited on the same plan as the entrance to
the Broad street depot in Philadelphia.
That is, run the elevated tracks from the
Point Of Rocks to the river, which would
raise the track to the height of second
story, and then raise the part of the yard
that they use for passenger trains.
The matter has been argued and moot
ed for twenty years. Whether public opin-
ion can compel them to raise the tracks Is
more than can tell, but something must
be done to save life and limb.
Mr.. vandeobeek, of the firm of box manu-
facturers and lumber dealers, said: 81
think the tracks ought to be raised.
would suggest that the tracks for the pas
seneer trains be run upon an elevated track
with depot say sixteen feet above grade,
which would bring them about on a level
with the hill. Then would suggest that
the tracks be left on the ground Tor the
freight traffic. Whatever they do it would
be great Inconvenience to close up
Greene street, and doubt if they have the
right to close up that street.
MIR. ParneIl's Land Bill.
LONDON. Sept. MR., Parnell will pre-
side at banquet to be given numLer of
his colleagues at the Charing Cross Hotel
for mi n