The Jersey City news., 1892-02-12

the past eighteen months.
THE SOUTH COVE FIGHT.
The long contested right for every inch
of ground in the South Cove is revived,
the tricks resorted to, the wholesale grab
bing of land in which the police, were
compelled to interfere. are all clearly
brought out. The fight to reach the
water trout by the Lehigh Valley and the
methods adopted by the Central Railroad
Company are still fresh il the minds of
the public. After the acquisition of
small tracts Of ground in South Cove, the
Central Railroad managed to secure a
valuable front and terminal facilities
which were the envy of the competing
roads. Finally, the Lehigh Valley
people began to look about in search of
freight outlet. Mr.. Reon Barnes began
the steps to reach the water front with
the Lehigh Valley tracks.
At the time he began proceedings. 1ie-
high Valley trains were running in from
Meteuchen over the Pennsylvania tracks,
This was and is now done under mile
age lease. Mr.. Barnes lost no time IN
purchasing land near Meteuchen and
finally, without much difficulty. ne
reached the borders of Hudson County.
The Central Railroad officials saw what
progress he was making, and at once con-
centrated their forces, and put barriers,
which seemed almost insurmountable In
the path of the Lehigh Valley people.
Perhaps the first and greatest obstacle
the Lehigh Valley people had to contend
with was the claim set up by the heirs OF
the Currie estate. They objected strenu-
ously to the roads crossing their property
unless liberal compensation was made Tor
damages. No amicable settlement could
eb effected, and under condemnation pro-
ceedings the matter was carried into the
courts and for months contested. Inc
railway company finally won the fight.
WHERE THE B. & o. CAME IN.
The legal complications arose with
the Baltimore and Ohio officials, who
were at the same time vanly struggling
to reach the Hudson county shore front.
The b. g. o. difficulties were adjusted
and again the Lehigh Valley began It's
march. Reaching the western corner OF
Hudson county halt had to be called in
asmqch as the city on officials began 10
The Central Railway officials also
opened fire on the Lehigh Valley and for
O. time it will be remembered, 1t was
necessary to Keep the workmen Of both
companies under police surveillance.
Then the Lehigh Valley ceased its march
temporarily, but with view to striking
back at the Central made sharp move
which drove many drydock men from The
Norris canal basin to the Erie basin.
The move referred to was the driving
of spiles to the edge Of the channel OF the
gap" For time it was supposed that
the company lQL6uuGu W ClOoS tu0 RdpS
but the real object soon made itself ap-
parent when the immense freight shed
which adjoins the Central Railway stock
yards at Communipaw was erected.
Then began the grabbing of land in The
western corner of South Cove, and at
times it was found necessary to chain en-
tire trains to temporarily constructed
tracks. Ry such means the Lehigh Val
ley people reached property purchased by
them at Pacific avenue and Grand street.
Tracks were laid, a bridge constructed
across the Morris Canal and freight
house erected. The location of freight
station at this point was naturally the
source OF increased revenue.
CENTRAL's RETALIATION.
The Central at once hit upon a plan to
erect coal pockets for supplying retail
dealers at Henderson street and began
grabbing land and attempted to cross
Henderson street with their tracks so
as to reach the pockets.
The Street and Water Commissioners
put check upon this and kept the street
guarded by policemen. The city erected
fences and enclosed the city property,
preventing the railway company from
proceeding further without permission
from the proper source. The nght was
bitter one but the city family won.
In the meantime the Lehigh Vally offic-
ials had conceived a plan Tor reaching
the water front by means or a track
along the Morris Canal. Accordingly
tracks were laid, and today they remain
where placed, with telegraph poles stand
ing between.
THE ZINC WORKS STRUGGLE.
Following this move came the N emor-
able fight of the Central Railway to reach
the Zinc WORKS by crossing Comm uni
paw avenue, and the action of the Lehigh
Valley in undermining the CentraPs
tracks and laying their own on the edge
OF the canal and the summontng of the
police to prevent a riot aG night. The op-
posing companies carried the case into
court, the Central officials won the suit,
and concluded by purchasing the property
between the Bovnton Furnace Company
Works and Communipaw avenue, subse-
quently erecting a freight station and
constructing tracks on an elevation
which permits the crossing of Communi-
paw avenue. The company has reached
the Zinc Works, and will. in few weeks,
be operating q branch line from its
Newark and New York Branch to the
Zinc Works and the new depot.
Following this knock out for the Lehigh
agreement with the National Docks Rail-
way Company by which means they
would be permitted to reach property
owned by them on the north side of Pa
cific avenue. facing on Grand street.
| Work was at once begun to erect coal
Cluu6S Win CapdClty VI lHOuSduuS VI
tons. Scarcely had the company gotten
| it's work under wav when the Central
| Railroad petitioned the Street and Water
| Commissioners for PERMISSION to cross
| Henderson street SO as to reach its coal
| chutes. After several weeks of waiting
| the petition was granted, ana in lew
weeks the coal chutes of both companies
will be in operation. but there will be no
competition, as was at first supposed. ow-
| ing to the consolidation of the companies.
| In this manner the fight for ground in
| the South Cove continued until greater
| part of the property was secured and
covered with net work Of tracks by the
| Central Railroad.
LEHIGH VALLEYS WORK.
The work of the Lehieh Valley In
changing the grade of Garfield avenue
| and Avenue A so as to reach its water
front tr9cts on its own lines is of recent
occurrence. The sum of $4,000 is being
expended by the company in making the
changes just mentioned.
The fight with the Freeholders in secur-
ing the right to cross the line of the pro-
posed new County Road is still in court
The fight of the same company with the
Greenville property owners in securing
the right to cross Brown place is also o.
recent occurrence and Is still pending
While for the past two years the Cen
trail and Lehigh Valley Companies have
been fighting each other it is probable
that the money kings were even then
planning the project which now unites
the roads and brings the companies into
harmony.
The terminal facilities of the two COM
"a tr,n. 1rrx x1..l1 IL Il i