Bridgeton pioneer., 1893-07-13
AGAINST THE TRoLLEY.
An Attempf. Which II Successful,
WOuEd Prevent the Trolley
From Entering the Third
Ward.

hampton served on WAiler n. bacon,
Secretary OF the South jersey Traction
Company, an order TO show cause why
the company should lay tracks upon
the Broad street or Commerce street
bridges. The rule was endorsed,
Estate, Francis M. Lewis, Prosecutor,
VS.. The South Jersey Traction Com
pany, ct. ais. The order was issued
out OF the Supreme Court, and signed
by Justice Alfred Reed.
The order is also restrainer against
the Company antil the 18Th inst.
when the matter is to be argued la
Camden before Judge Reed. Col.
VIM. E. Potter appears for the prose-
cution.
A PIONEER reporter called upon
Francis M. Lewis at his jewelry store,
and asked for information concerning
the matter. Mr.. Lewis said the prose-
cutfon was backed by some three or
four residents of Broad street, and his
name figures as the prosecutor, be-
cause somebody had to make the aff-
davit and he was chosen. The allega-
tion was the Board of Freeholders had
no legal right to grant the company
the use of the bridges, as they did.
Mr.. Lewis then said that there would
be 5000 pounds of iron upon the bridge,
and the structure was not of sufficient
strength to bear it, and have the
bridge open at the draw.
The reporter asked Mr.. Lewis if the
prosecutors were anxious to keep the
trolley entirely out of the Third ward.
He hastily replied no. He said the
prosecutors had no fault to find with
the trolley going over the Commerce
street bridge and claimed that the pc
tition did not have anything to say
about the latter bridge. AS q matter
of fact, the rule does restrain the CON-
pany from laying tracks on either
bridge.
After questioning Mr.. Lewis some-
what, that gentleman said that the
prosecution was not brought with the
idea of protecting the bridges, or keep
ing the trolley out of the Third ward.
The sole object was to prevent the
tracks being laid out Broad street, In
front of the property of the half dozen
interested. If the company want to
run out Commerce street, or any thor
oughfare excepting Broad, I'VE have
no objection"
Mr.. Lewis said that while 1t was true
that Bread street was a very wide
street. still he understood that the
poles were to be placed out in the
roadway which would make very
bad looking thoroughfare. Mr.. Lewis
said further that the company should
build it's own bridge If it wanted to go
across the river. The reporter asked
him if the company should build its
own bridge, would there be any objec-
tion to the trolley running up Broad
street. "Of course there would" re-
piled Mr.. Lewis, sthat is what we are
fighting for and all we are waging the
battle for"
This matter is something that inter-
ests every property holder and resi-
dent Of the Third ward. If the rule
should prevail and the Company be
restrained from laying tracks upon
the bridges, then all that part of the
city on the West side of the river would
be without the use of the trolley, and the
hackmen could move over there and
do the business. The road could not
extend to the South Jersey Institute,
to the Fair grounds, nor could 1t be
extended to the Tumbling Dam, and
all because half dozen residents who
say to the masses, who cannot afford
private conveniences, walk, for you
shall not have rapid transit and five
cent fares on this side of the river.
All the other wards will have accom-.
modations, but the Third ward, CON-
prising one third of the city cannot
have the road because three or four
people think that the trolley would be
an ''eye-sore'' to them individually.
The Traction Company will not
force their road where it is not wanted.
If the majority of the Third ward peo-
pie should say they did not want the
trolley, there would not be an attemp.
to lay rails west of the river. But the
people of the ward do want rapid
transit. The residents of Atlantic
street have signed the consent for
the Company to pass their property.
So have the property holders of Cot
tage avenue and the lower end of Fay
cite street.
The company does not want to use
Broad street simply for spite work.
1t does not desire to use it because IL
wants to keep the trolley off some
other favored street Broad street ia
the centre of the Third ward. l takes
one directly to the Court House. l