The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-20
TRAP" ROCK TRAPS.
Did the FreehOlders Lay
Them, or Are the Snake
Hill Experts Wrong?


ceedings brought by the city against the
Board of Freeholders. in the matter Of
the purchase Of the Thurber and Smith
tracts on Snake HDl. was continued this
morning in Chancery Chambers before
Master In Chapcery Cassidy.
Colonel Grimes was recalled and testi-
fed that from his experience in connec-
ton with the county institutions he con-
sidered that the lands of Thurber
and Smith were needed by the
county. In fact he considered them an
absolute necessity. He hal a larger de-
mand for the trap rock than he could
supply. That material would be most
suitable for building asylums and other
county buildings. The Hackensack had
depth Of 52 feet there which made it
convenient for mooring vessels. The
railroad facilities were also most con-
venient He did not think it either wise
or safe to quarry on the ground now be-
longing 70 the county. The cemetery
was rapidly filing up and more land
would soon be required for burial pur-
poses. The county is growing rapidly
and in the near future additions will be
required to all the county buildings.
Being cross-examined by Mr.. Edwards,
Colonel Grimes said that about eight
thousand yards OF stone annually had
been duarried on an average during the
past i've years. and that an average of
ten feet a year of the face of the quarry
had been taken away. The sales during
the last two years had not amounted 20
$3.50 year. The rock is worth S110 to
Sl.2O a cubic yard delivered on board. He
thought about fifteen acres of ground
would be necessary for the lunatic asy-
lum, while at present there were but two
acres at the disposal of the Asylum.
Owing to lack OF facilities for getting out
the stone the witness said he had lost the
sale OF rock and stone. He thought that
IL he had those facilities he could sell
100000 cubic yards of rock each year.
THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.
Contractor Patrick j. Condor was
called by Corporation Counsel Edwards.
He said that he was acquainted with trap
rock. In his opinion the presence of trap
rock on property would affect the value
OF the property according TO the demand
there might be 1or the rock He said he
considered that about p 600 yards of trap
rock could be sold from the Smith-Thur-
Der track, providing that there was a de-
mand for trap rock and it was sold at
about fifty cents a yard. Quarries of
trap rock differ and ii could not be told
by outside appearances before poor
vein OF rock would be struck. The
demand for trap rock has noJ increased
during the past year because they are
using granite altogether IN New York
anu are use IL
in Jersey City, consequ emily the market
for trap rock is declining On cross ex-
animation by Judge McGrath Mr.. Condor
said in reply to question as TO whether
he knew the value of trap rock at Snake
Hill, that he did not but he knew plenty
of men who would give Sc thousand for
taking out blocks at the Union Hill
quarries who would not give two cents
for that at Snake Hill.
This answer precipitated wrangle be-
tween Mr.. Edwards aud Judge McGrath.
The judge insisted upon having the lat
ter part OF the question stricken out, ana
Mr.. Edwards insisted upon having it re-
tanned Each had his side of the ques-
tion placed upon the record, and tnen
Judge McGrath asked Mr.. Condor 10 give
him the names Of any men who had re-
fused to pay Two cents for the Snake
Hill rock, and Mr.. Condor replied that
he could not.
NOT WORTH s5.
John NJ. Shannon, who was at one time
partner Of the previous witness, testified
that he was a wholesale dealer In trap
rock, as was his father before him His
father was for many years the largest
dealer in trap rock in the country. In wit
ness opinion the Smitn-Thurber tract for
trap rock was not worth IS, as there was
no market to warrant any one In putting
up a crusher.
at lacks all the essentials which 90 TO
make the quarry valuable" said he. II
Is poor rock for making paving stones,
because it is too hard to cut. Trap rock
blocks are rapidly growing out of favor
and the market is Stealing decreasing.
There is no great demand just now for
trap rock property"
Judge McGrath asked the witness if he
did not erect a crusher in the county last
year and he answered that he did
There must have been some demand
then, was there not?" asked Mr.. MeGrafh
''Yes, but it was local demand" said
Mr.. Shannon, and he went on 10 state
what that local demand WAS when he was
interrupted by Judge McGrath Then
there was mother wrangle. Judge Nc
Grath insisting that the explanation was
not responsive and should not 90 on the
records. Mr.. Edwards insisted that it
should and won the day. Mr.. Shannon
then said that the local demand was the
contract he and Mr.. Condor had TO con-
struct piers for the elevated railroads.
Judge McGrath then proc eeded to ex-
anime Mr.. Shannon concerning an enter
prise which he once embarked in, which
involved the employment of convict labor
at Snake Hill. Mr.. Condor signed the
application, which went into the Board
of Ereeholders in the matter, and Mr. Nc
GIath asked hlm who was interested with
him in the project.
Mr.. Shannon refused to answer unless
compelled by the Courts
Mr.. Edwards objected because IL was
irrelevant and not subject to the case.
Judge McGrath insisted, and asked the
master TO compel the witness to answer.
Mr. Cassidy, however, said that be did
not consider he had the power.
: Mr.. Shannon said that his refusal was
not due to any desire TO shield any one, as
the whole transaction was honest and
above board.
After considerable skirmishing Judge
McGraw asked Mr.. Shannon if there was
not Il demand then for that class Of Stoue
Mr.. shannon replied tthat he had found
out that there was not sufficient demand
10 warrant him in carrying out the prop
osition he had made TO me Board, so he
withdrew IL at the next meeting Of the
Board.
But you had heard in the meantime
that the Director was going to veto the
hadn't your' asked Judge
MeGrath.
NO sir" replied Mr. shannon with
emphasis.
Mr. Shannon further said that trap rock
has more generally decreased |
than increased during the past fifteen |
years.
WORTHLESS FOR QUARRY PURPOSES
Mr. George Recora testified thai he was |
acquainted with the proper J in question,
aud had experience in buying wafer front |
and other property. He Investigated the |
property at Snake HUI, and had some |
talk with Mr.. Thurber about the pur- |
chase Of the land. and Mr.. Thnrher |
offered his property TO him for $500. |
Tnis was about Dece fnber l.