The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-12-06
How the City Came Out on
the Thompson Lane
Transaction.
PROMISES STILL USFULFILLED.
Side Streets We're Opened but Ocean
Avenue. The Main Artery Of
Greenville, Is Closed
to Traffic.

Barnes, representing the Lehigh Valley
Railroad Company petitioned tine Street
and Water Commissioners to make the
following street changes 10 the Greenville
section In order to save the company the
expense Of building bridges across both
Garfield avenue and Old Bergen Road:
To vacate Thompson lane from the
northerly line of Fifty second street to the
southerly line of Fifty third street; to va
cate Garfield avenue from the easterly
| line of Thompson lane to the westerly
| line OF Avenue D, tc yacate Ocean avenue
| from Fifty-second street to Fifty-third
street: to extend and open Avenue ID
| from its present terminus at THOMPSON
| lane, easrerly in direct line to Avenue
| ID; to open Avenue G from Its present
| terminus ut Fifty-third street northward-
| ly 10 the north line of Fifty-third street,
and 60 open Fifty-third street from Ave
| nue. G eastwardly to Thompson lane.
| In consideration of these proposed
| changes the company agreed TO grade
| and sewer the proposed extension OF Ave-
| nue. ID and Fifty-third street.an 10 grade
| and pave with Belgian blocks Avenue @,
| from Fitty-second street and Fifty-third
| street, froni Avenue G to Thompson lane
| at its own cost, provided 1t was allowed
| to use the paving blocks ia use on that
| part of Ocean avenue which they wanted
| the city TO vacate- The company agreed
| to do the work under the direction of
| Chief Engineer Ruggles, and under such
| specifications as the Commissioners
| might prescribe.
WHAT THE CITY WAS TO GER.
| IL also agreed to give TO the city for
| street purposes side street or lane which
will never be of any value as a thorough
! fare. 1t is the north half of the block be-
rs
streets. and from the Morris Canal TO
| Thompson lane.
| Mr. Barnes petition was supplemented
! by another signed by the New Jersey
| Warehouse and Guarantee Company aud
| President William Sewell of the New
| York Bay Railroad, agreeing to dedicate
| to the public for street purposes the por-
/ lions of land owned by them required for
the proposed openings and extensions.
| The Street and Water Commissioners
referred the petition to the COMMITTEES on
| Streets, who reported Iayorably upon
| the matter. and permission was given to
| the Lehigh Valley Railroad TO make the
| changes
| These changes did not cost the Lehigh
| Valley Railroad more than few hundred
dollars, while the city was in no way
/ benefited. Property said to be worth
thusands of dollars was vacated.
OCEAN AVENUE CLOSED.
| While it Is true that the railroad opened
a few side streets, the fact remains, that
| Greenviile's most important thorough
| fare. Ocean avenue, is forever closed to
| traffic and the citizens are beginning to
/ kick. They say that they would be salts
| fed IL the railroad had done as it pro M
| ised.
| Avenue d has been opened. but it has
| not been graded. The sewer which the
| company promised to put In Is still
among the things TO be.
| The onlypa of the contract that has
| been thus far carried cut by the company
| is that part relating to the paving OF
| Avenue q and Fifty-third street, which
| was pushed By President Thurston. of the
| Jersey City and Bergen Railroad. The
| Bryonne cars formerly passed through
| Ocean avenue into Avenue q and then on
| TO Baynnne. Ocean avenue having been
| closed they now have to take rounda-
| about course through Fifty.third street.
| If il had NOT been for this Fifty-third street
would never have been paved. As it is
| the change is a very expensive one for the
| Horse Car Company, as lead horses now
| have to be used up the hill. while former
| ly none were required. President Thurs
ton did not grumble, however. He said
he was willing to do anything TO accom-
MEDIATE the. city.
| Fitty-third street has been opened from
Avenue K easterly to Thompson lane,
hut like Avenue D. it has not been
| graded.
VERY PRIMITIVE ROADS.
| Mud, ponds aud RUS are found in
abundance ON these so,called thorough
| fares. A truck or any other vehicle
could not be driven through the streets
on accountof the mud and ruts. There
is not even a sidewalk for pedestrians
and anyone wishing TO reach Bayonne
must go by way Of Firty third street and
Avenue G..
Before the railroad commenced opera
tions pedestrians could save time and
long walk by going by way OF Thompson
lane. Now they are compelled to wade
through six or more inches OF mud or
make a wide detour by way of Fifty
third street. To say the citizens are mad
would be putting it mildly and when the
members of the Sixth District Citizens
Association call upon the Street and
Water Commissioners tomorrow the
Commissioners may hear some unpleas-
ant truths.
/ 1T is downright shame that the rail-
road was allowed to make these
changes said Mr. Schmolxe OF the
Citizens Association. The Commas
sioners have never sent man to look to
our interests, aud for one am willing to
shoulder musket and IL the railroad
still refused to recognize our rights why
then would use forte and make them.
Some men may say take it to the
courts. But what good will chat do'
The railroad people always get the
AS~1Ft
rights Is to bring our muskets into
requsition and fight until we get what
belongs to us.
"Where were our city offlcialsf Why
didn't they watch these people and force
them to carry out their part Of the con-
jtracts
Tine railroad viii not make these inn
prnvements now. They have got what
they want, and we can whistle for our
new streets aud improvements
This matter is the sole topic Of CONVEX
sation In the Greenviile section. and the
meeting of the Citizens Association on
Tuesday evening promises to be lively.
The matter VIII be thoroughly dis
cussed, and Greenyille citizt are all
asked TO be present and air their views.
1t Is intimated that some member will
be engaged to watch the railroad COM
pany. as II Is rumored that before many
days they will make an attempt to steal
Bergen avenue. Permission to cross the
same has not YET been given or asked for.
and the citizens think that il would be
we'll for the police to keep an eye on the
company. They will ask Captain Smith
to keep policeman there.