The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-05-21
The Board of Trade Urges
the City's Right to the
South Cove Grant.
A BOOM FOR THE SMITH TRACT.
Mr.. Dear and Others Want to See
a New Park Made Of 1t.

Persons interested in the Smith prop
erty, which has been suggested as site
for park, had their innings last night at
the meeting of the Board of Trade. Last
Saturday, at the hearing at the Court
House, the Currie property had the most
friends, but since then there has been
gathering of the clans by the Smith peo-
Pile. and determined effort to have the
property sold to the county for park is
being made.
When President Gordon called the
meeting to order last night there were
present Secretary Doane, Philip Martin.
David w. Lawrence, ex-President Walker,
of the Board of Education; George r.
Hitler, one of the new charter Finance
Commissioners; Superintendent Poland,
of the city schools; John Reed, wealthy
florist; Charles c. Van Anglen, of L. G.
Brown & Van Anglen; George l.. Record,
City Treasurer Patrick H. Ungent, James
Flemming, and others.
ROUTINE BUSINESS.
A communication from Senator Ed
wards contain ed copies of the legislation
the Board were to talk about and state
ment that he requir ed no advice from any
one as to how he should do his duty. Two
of the bills We're Nos. 66 and 167. A res
olution was adopted that the Board join
the New York and Chicago Boards of
Trade and ask that merchant be placed
on the Interstate Commerce Committee,
and that good man be selected for the
geodetic survey.
M. L. Newbold, L. P. Hansen and
Livingston Clifford were elected members,
and it was decided to have Jersey City
statistics published in Elstner & Co.'S
illustrated biography free of cost. The
constitution was amended by the Board
SO that a depository for the funds may be
selected. A resolution to incorporate the
Board in q manner that will best sub
serve the interests of Jersey City was
adopted.
HENDERSON STREET AND JERSEY AVENUE
Ex-Commissioner Carr informed the
members that he had waited on the presi-
dent of the Central Railroad of New Jer-
sey. as the Board had desired, and that
official had appointed time of meeting
with the company's engineer. He failed
to keep the appointment.
II next saw Vice President Maxwell,
who said the company holds the deeds to
that part of the disputed lands south of
the gap at Henderson street and Jersey
avenue. The matter is now in the courts
and Mr.. Maxwell said the company would
not give up their claim until the courts
order them to do SO. He admitted that
when the company filled in at Henderson
street, it may have trespassed, and If it
proves to be so, it will get off at once
Mr.. Maxwell said the company did not
want to encroach on the city's streets"
JOSEPH A. DEAR's MOTION.
Mr.. Dear moved that the authorities be
requested to assert the city's rights in re-
gard to Henderson street and Jersey ave-
nue.. This brought Counsellor Flemming
to his feet
II don't know that the city has the
right" he said, ITO recognize Henderson
street between Sussex and Bergen streets.
1t is we'll to thoroughly understand the
question before you direct action. think
the railroad company has gobbled up
some of my land near the basin. When
Mr.. Mcpherson was in the State Senate
he passed an act which gave the city a
grant of the basin for $1,000 The Board
of Aldermen passed resolution to pay
O'Neil vetoed it. Able lawyers have ad-
vised the city, however, that the grant is
Concerning Henderson street, don't
know who filled it in; think it is only
dump, and do not think it has ever been
accepted by the city. 1t is not wise at
this time to regard 1t as street because OF
the suit pending between the city and
railroad company, which will be tried, l
believe, this term of court
II know the filling in at this street is
most outrageous thing, and that the Cen
tral road has put a road right through the
grant of 500 feet of land and the water
way granted to us as public thorough
fare"
RAILROADS AT WAR.
''The Lehigh Valley and Central Rail
road companies have also had a tussel
over it. The Central crowded the Lehigh
company east, and now it claims the
right to fill in $50 feet further west. The
case 70 the Supreme Court on the ground
that the Riparian Commissioners had no
right to make grant of the property to
any one, and that same action applies to
the so-caIled Mcpherson basin. BY recog-
nizing these proceedings we may destroy
our rights, for if the grant Is good the
basin may be dug out"
JACOB RINGLE's OPINION
Mr. Ringle said he believed the city has
no right to the disputed land because the