The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-07-23
OTHERS Want II, TOO
The Pennsylvania Railroad
Not Alone in Seeking the
Currie Estate.
IT'S RAILROAD VALUE.
Competing Corporations Helping
the Curries to Prove That Their
Land is Worth Fabulous Sums
for Railroad Uses.

The Pennsylvania Railroad is not the
only corporation that has an eye on the
Currie estate, in Pamrapo. The fact that
another railroad company. Western
corporation, has been carrying on nego-
tiations for right of way through the
property to the water front. cropped out
this morning at the hearing of the Com
missioners appointed to condemn the
land for railroad purposes
Frederick Chamberlain, resident or
Elizabeth, let the cat out of the bag, but
he did it unwittingly, and when he dis
covered what he had done he kept his
mouth closed, refusing to give the name
of the Western railroad that seeks to have
terminus in Greenville.
AN UNNAMED RAILROAD.
Mr.. Chamberlain was called by the
counsel representing the Currie estate, to
give his estimate of the value of right OF
way through the Currie estate. He said
that the property was only valuable for
railroad purposes, and he gave it as his
opinion that right of way through the
property was worth frum $3.50, 900 to $780,
600. He admitted it would make beauti-
full park also, but it was better adapted
for railroad purposes; Mr.. Chamberlain
then let out that Western railroad was
going to run through the property in the
near future.
This statement interested Mr.. Vreden-
berg, who represents the Pennsylvania
Railroad.
'sYou say that another road is going
through the propertyS"
eyes, SIR"
'fWhat road is it2"
"Oh, Pm not at liberty to tell. The
gentlemen interested told me not to say
anything about it."
l saw Mr.. Chamberlain when he had
n ,r1ra1 trrx 49,
when he would be at liberty to give out
the name of the new road. He told me it
would be made public at the proper time
He said that negotiations have been go-'
ing on for some time, and are still pend
ing, and he had no doubt the company
would succeed in making satisfactory ar
ranpements with the Curries. He told me,
however, that Mr.. Babcock, who has an
Office at No. 70 Broadway, New York, rep
resents the railroad in question. de said
also that the road owns property along
the water front.
THE LEHIGH VALLEY. TOO.
While the examination of witnesses was
in progress Mr.. Barnes, who represents
the Lehigh Valley Railroad. dropped in
and took chair beside one of the Currie
b rothers. The two had a quiet chat for
a while and then Mr.. Barnes left. l asked
Mr.. Currie if Mr.. Barnes was interested
in the estate, and he told me that the
gotiate for right of way through the
estate. Mr.. Barnes was present at the
hearing to get Mr.. Currie's ear, and put
in a bid for right of way. The Lehtgh
Valley scheme cropped out in quiet way
without disturbing the examination OF
witnesses.
THE VALUE OF THE LAND.
The Currie representative produced
other witnesses at the examination today
to show the value of the land. Cornelius
Vreeland, the Greenyille surveyor and
engineer, was the first witness. He testi-
fed that the Currie property is best
adapted for railroad purposes, and that,
in his opinion, right of way across the
land is worth about $250,000 He also
thought the property adapted for park
purposes, because it has hills and dales
and a water front, and it commands q
view of the bays; but the railroad passing
through it would spoil it for park pur-
poses.
Reuben Simpson, the Greenville florist,
testified that lots from the bay to the
outside of the property were worth On an
average more than 5000. Property Is inn
proving in the neighborhood, and corner
lots have been sold for $4,000, Richard
| Rown, of Pamrapo avenue, said that IN
his opinion the lots in the Currie estate
were worth about S225 apiece. The COM
missioners then took recess.