The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-12-05
GRHHNVILLE AROUSED
Some Residents Willing to
Take Up Arms and
Fight.
FOR DISPUTED BROWN PLACE.
Others Counsel Law and Order and
an Appeal to the Courts
A Suit Probable.

"A NUMBER OIL clGlZeuS Lueb dI Ddiuocr
Hall, Linden avenue. last night and for
mally protested against the seizure of
Brown place by the Lehigh Valley Com
pany.
Brown place is street that exists only
on paper and is used for the purpose of
forming an outlet for the main sewer in
Greenville 1t extends from Garfield
avenue to the New York Bay and the
sewer runs through it. Recently the
Lehigh Valley Company concluded that
it was necessary to cross this street, and
the company proceeded to do so without
any questions being asked. Reuben
Simpson saw the condition of affairs, and
he requested the police to assist in pre-
venting the theft of the street. The
police rendered the aid asked for.
Reuben Simpson presided at the meet
ing last night, and he said: 1--WE are here
to take action in regard to tine conduct OF
the Street and Water Commissioners in
permitting the Lehigh Valley Company
to steal our streets. 1 learn through the
Commissioners have given the railroad
company permission TO throw an arch
over this street which must not be less
than eleven feet above the sewer. The
sewer requires three or four feet of COW
enng. and when that is made there will
be put about seven feet clearance beneath
the arch. This would be outrageous for
it would practically close The street.
WHAT THE COMPANY WANTS.
81 have been told that the Lehigh Valley
wanted to buy this street outright and
close it by solid embankment. This
street cost the taxpayers $4,000 so that it
might be used for sewer purposes and
since we have paid for the property we
ought to have the unotstructed use of 1t.
1t is hard to have our officials, whom we
pay to protect US, working in the interest
of grasping corporation. 1t is too bad
we cannot trust our officials. We must
do something to prevent this steal and for
my part feel like fight"
Henry Lembeck agreed with Mr.. Simp-
son in what he had said, and he added
that four weeks ago an attorney for the
railroad company had asked him If any
objection would be made to the purchase
of the street. Mr.. Lembeck said:
II told him that the citizens had paid
for that street and / did not think that
they would part with it. don't believe
the resolution of the Street and Water
Commissioners Is sufficient to enable the
company to close the street, and do be.
lieve the Commissioners should have
adopted an ordinance instead. asked
George Bouton, the Clerk of the Board, IL
the railroad company had made any prop
OSltlOn TO Close brOWn place ana ne Salu
he could not answer the question.
WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT.
sit is not The bridge at a proper eleva-
tion that we want, 1t is our water front
thst we do not wish to have cut off, and
move that committee be appointed to
raise funds to fight the Company with"
j. J. Detwiller declared that he be-
lived in fighting the railroad. EVERY
one," he said, knows the advantage of
water front, and unless this Is pre-
served we will be unable to
receive even a load of lumber.
Jersey City has labored under this diff
Guilty and we all know the result. Ex-
cepting Chapel avenue we have no water
front but Brown Place for stretch of
two miles, and it would be shame for
corporation to cut off this outlet"
Michael Schul e. Sr.. thought it strange
that citizens should be compelled to go
the acts of their officials. sit
is a downright shame" he said
Indignantly when referring to the Street
and Water. commissioners; land would
like to have the Committee OF the Whole
appointed 10 oppose thesteal."
George Schmolze was fiery. He sald:-
1--WE can't get our rights In the Courts.
There is no use going there. We must do
the fighting ourselves. Let dozen OF us
go to Brown place and take the law into
our own hands and prevent the stealing
of this street.
READY TO SHOULDER A MUsKET.
II for one am willing to do SO and
shoulder a musket TO protect my rights.
don't believe in the courts any more
than do in our officials"
Mr.. Semitic said he did not believe in
muskets, and Mr.. Lembeck declared that
muskets were not In the fight The peo-
pie should go to the courts.
II. j Kyle said 1t seemed to him that a
co poration intended to take property,
and that Its actions were menaces and
threats. ''If officials have not done
right" said he, ''or will not do right, the
proper place and way to fight the cor
poratiOn is in the courts. The time may
soon arrive, however, when tine people of
this city Will do what was done
in the early history of California and pro-
tect themselves. / believe that il the
Courts won't do right, we should take up
arms"
Mr.. Shmolze at this poin exclaimed:--
I'VE have no show in the Courts; they
are bought"
"Oh, don't think that" said Mr.. Lem
beck.
After further debate. Chairman Simp-
son appointed as committee to raise
finances, Messrs Schultze, Lembeck.
Morrell, Detw1ller, Simpson Harvey and
Grosklaus. The committee was author
lied to draw on the fund in the treasury
also, and the money will be spent in fight
ing the Lehigh Valley company In the
courts.
The Committee of the Whole will wait
on the Board of Street and Water Com
missioners Monday and eRdeavor to OBJ
tain Justice from them. II this fails. the
cOurfs will he aDDealeQ to-