The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-03-03
TEE GROUND INSPECTED
What the Lehigh Valley
is Doing over in
the Cove.
A GREAT RAILROAD YARD
Speculations as to How the Com
pany Intends TO Progress
Its Work---Mr. Barnes
Statement.

y,
have puzzled everybody save those. in
the secret, still continue, and speculation
as to the ultimate purpose the wealthy
and powerful corporation has in view is
creating widespread interest
A few days ago THE JERSEY CITY NEWS
called attention to and described track
which the company had hastily laid
parallel with the canal and running along
its south bank and under the Jersey ave-
nue. and Henderson street bridges to the
steel works opposite Warren street. At
the same time The NEWS referred to other
operations by the company. indicating its
intention to cross the canal at point just
below the junction of Pacific avenue and
Grand street, and to eventually run its
tracks across the latter important busy
tLroughfare.
TO thoroughly understand the position
of affairs on the other side of the canal,
and to form an opinion OF The company's
purposes, one should personally visit and
inspect the locality and see how vast are
The operations which FOR nearly two years
have been steadily and vigorously prose-
cuted.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad Company
has ninety mine years lease Of the Nor
ris Canal, and is the owner, or reputed
owner, of a large strip of territory south
of it, below Johnston avenue, between
the canal and the Central Railroad prop
erty.
A PLAGUE OF woRKMEN.
Nearly two years ago, at late hour of
one Saturday night, an immense number
Of workmen put in an appearance at the
lower end of Johnston avenue, and, under
direction of an engineer and numerous
driving bosses, the pavement and curbing
OF that thoroughfare were rapidly torn up
from the bridge of the National Storage
Ia TN Ia I1a nj
the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which run
ming on the meadow, from point on the
Central Railroad at Nelson street east
ward, were about four feet below the
Johnston avenne grade, The work was
continued all OF the next Sunday, and on
the = flowing Monday morning, when
CONN., Jsioner Tumulty arrived, he found
the grade of the avenue had been cut
down to conform to the road bed of the
tracks and the torn up portion had been
repaired and recurbed.
The job was done and there was no help
for the city in the matter.
The company had purchased the we'll
known Van Horn property, just east of
the National Storage Co. r.. r., and soon
after the altering of Johnston avenue
grade. the old homestead rs removed
Irom4the Hill on which it ha stood for so
long to a point near the river and con-
verted into railroad 6, iirs ssghat
has since developed into the Lehigh Val
ley Railroad yard.
The greater portion of the hill was cut
down, and the earth was used in filling
acres of meadow between the tracks and
the canal. Immense quantities of ashes
and other material were used for the
same purpose, until large extent of
meadow territory was ready for railroad
purposes.
THE SCENE TODAY.
Their work was commenced in laying
tracks northward, and today tracks,
sidIngs and turnouts, all substantially
constructed and supplied with patent
switches, cover the filled-in portion, all
running to and stopping at the canal tow
path and pointing northward.
Directly opposite, on the north side of
the canal, at the junction of Pacific ave-
nue. and Grand street, the company is
building a large freiget depot on piles,
which will have frontage on Grand
street OF about % feet, and on Pacific
avenue of about 200 feet.
These operations point conclusively to
theintention of the company to cross the
canal with their tracks on grade to the
new depot on the north side of the canal
if not beyond.
is GRAND STREET IN PERILs
Conversing yesterday with a citizen
who has watched with interest all the
company's operations in the locality, he
said:-" From the appearance of matters
and what have been able to gather l am
entirely satisfied that the navigation of
the canal is to cease, and that the COM
pany intend to run their tracks across,
not merely to the new depot, but beyond,
over Grand street and over the Meadows,
to the Point Of Rocks, there to form
connection with the junction Railway"
Another citizen gave it as his opinion
that the company merely intend to cross
the canal and Grand street by a trestle
road and to establish monster coal
depot on the north side of that thorough
fare, but the laying of the tracks to the
canul on the south side on the street
grade seems to preclude the possibility of
running cars for so short distance on so
steep an ascent as would be necessary in
that case
What the intentions Of the company
are will doubtless be soon developed. 1t
looks as though the attempt will be made
to cross Grand street on the grade.
In pursuing the operations northward
from its twelve tracks to the canal the
company has extended its improvements
eastward to the river.
A vast territory has been substantially
filed in, and the new and extensive
freight yard running to the Hudson river
is covered with network of first-class
tracks provided with the most modern
patent switches, turnoutS and all the APP
pliances of a well regulated road, together
with many freight and store houses and
offices.
VII tuc fifCE llOut, DCbN cCA uLt1 Sdltl
and the Central Railroad yards workmen
are constructing docks, and all over the
area the improvements are being pushed
for all they are worth.
THE CONDITIONAL GRANT.
1t will be remembered that contro-
versy existed between Jersey City and the
Central Railroad Company relative to
section of land known as the conditional
grant, south of the canal. AS a shrewd
move to hem in that section, the Central
Railroad constructed a temporary track
from its main line to the south side of the
Henderson street bridge, and stationed
freight cars all over it; and they still re-
main there.
A few days ago the city's right to the
property in question was confirmed by
the Court. and Immediately afterward for
some reason not yet clearly shown, the
Lehigh Valley Railroad Company made
an important movement.
From tine tracks before referred to as
terminating on the canal bank the tow
path was speedily converted into road
bed on which has been laid single track
eastward and under Jersey avenue and
Henderson street bridges to the Thomp-
son street works, which property has
been purchased by the railroad
company The. new track which
is provided with loop at
aach bridge cannot be intended for any