The Sunday morning news., 1891-12-06
TRADING With LBHIGH.
How the City Came Out on
the Thompson Lane
Transaction.
PROMISES STILL UNFULFILLED.
Side Streets We're Opened but Ocean
Avenue. The Main Artery Of
Greenville, Is Closed
to Traffic.
PROMISES STILL UNFULFILLED.

Railroad Company petitioned the Street
and Water Commissioners to make the
following street changes in 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-tnird street; to va
cate Garfield avenue from the easterly
line of Thompson lane to the westerly
line of Avenue D, tc vacate Ocean avenue
from Fifty-second street to Fifty-third
street: to extend and open Avenue d
from its present terminus at THOMPSON
lane, easterly in direct line to Avenue
ID: to open Avenue from Its present
terminus at FifJy-third street northward-
lv to the north line of Fifty-third street,
and to 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. u and Fifty-third street,and to grade
and pave with Belgian blocks Avenue Z,
from Fifty second street and Fifty-third
street. from Avenue G to Thompson lane
at its own cost, provided it was allowed
to use the paving blocks in 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 urler such
specifications as the Commissioners
might prescribe.
WHAT THE CITY WAS TO GET.
It also agreed to give to the city for
street purposes a side street or lane which
will never be of any value as thorough
fare 1t is the north half of the block be-
tween Fifty-second and Fifty-third
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 and
President William Sewell of the New
York Bay Railroad, agreeing to dedicate
to the public for street purposes the por-
tions of land owned by them required for
the proposed openings and extensions.
The Street and Water Commissioners
referred the petition to the Committee on
Streets, who reported favorably 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
tnusands of dollars was vacated.
OCEAN AVENUE CLOSED.
While it is true that the railroad opened
|
Greenville'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 if the railroad had done as it pro M
ised.
not been graded. The sewer which the
company promised to put In Is still
among the things TO be.
The only part of the contract that has
been thus far carried cut by the company
is that part relating to the paving of
Avenue 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 a nd then on
to Bayonne. Ocean avenue having been
closed they now have to take rounda-
about course through Fifty-third street.
If it had not been for this Fifty-third street
would never have been paved. AS it is
the change is 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-
modate the city.
Fitty-third street has been opened from
Avenue e easterly to Thompson lane.
but like Avenue d. it has not been
graded.
VERY PRIMITIVE ROADS.
Mud, ponds and ruts are found IN
abundance on these so-called thorough
fares. A truck or any other vehicle
could not be driven through the streets
on accounto of the mud and ruts. There
is not even sidewalk for pedestrians
and anyone wishing TO reach Bayonne
must go by way of Firty-third street and
Avenue c.
Before the railroad commenced opera
nndo fpj mo u
long walk by going by way OF Thompson
lane. Now they are compelled to wade
through six or more inches OF mud or
make wide detour by way of Fifty
third street. To say the citizens are mad
would be putting 1t 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
Citizens' Association. "The Commls-
sioners have never sent a man to look to
our interests, and for one am willing to
shoulder musket aud il the railroad
still refused to recognize our rights why
then | would use force and make them.
Some men may say take it to the
COURTS But what good will that do?
best OF it and the only way to protect our
rights is to bring our muskets into
requisition and fight until we get what
belongs to us.
Where were our city officials? Why
didn't they watch these people and force
them to carry out their part of the con-
tract?
"Tne railroad will not make these i'm
proyements now. They have got what
they want, and we can whistle for our
new streets and improvements"
This matter is the sole topic of couver-
sation in the Greenville section, and the
meeting of the Citizens Association on
Tuesday evening promises to be lively.
The matter Will be thoroughly dis
cussed, and Greenville citizens 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 il is rumored tnat 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,
aud the citizens think that it would oe
we'll for the police to keep an eye on the
company. They will ask Captain Smith
to keep a policeman there.