The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-22

Due consideration of the reasons upon
which the expensive changes projected
are supported is pertinent part OF
the subject. 1t is the belief of
the Erie direction that these rea-
sons are based on erroneous infor-
nation. and that careful consideration
I of the actual facts will demonstrate to
any nnDrejudiced mind that they are not
a sufficient basis for tho action proposed
The reasons suggested by the advocates
OF this measure are as follows
First, the danger to life and limb of the grade
crossings in Jersey City.
Second the detentions to travel occasioned
upon the streets crossed
And third. the depreciation of neghboring
property through these causes:-
6.00O feet sewer at IS ...s........ $4,000 90
Engineering superintendent and
incidentals .......s..... T5,00O 90
Total. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Sl,90l,o00 90
OTHER BIG EXPENSES.
There are other very large expenses
necessarily consequent upon any such
proposed changes" said Mr.. Parker.
AFTER the tracks are elevated there will
be required TO do the business hat the
yard will accommodate more switching
service. It Will also decrease the capacity
of the yard
.If we assume that the switching SER
vice will be increased SO per cent, which
would seem very conservative estimate.
IL would entail a yearly expenditure of
$4,000 or 6 per cent. on capital of
81. 450, ,000
.'If we should be obliged to seek an
other location for yard, it will cost not
less than one or more million OF dollars.
This estimate does not include any ex-
penses to be incurred in lowering the
streets. This expense is largely ques-
properties, which is very ditficult
20 Eestimate. Nor Is there anything al
lowed for the DELAYS to the public while
the streets are being lowered, or to the
shippers of freight ana the railroad COM
pany during the time the tracks are be-
ing raised.
A SMALL DEATH ROLL.
Taking up these reasons Seriotin. Mr..
Parker said that the elevation advocates
were led 10 very extr avagant
assertions, regarding the Number OF
killings at crossings, the number
beiug 81 instead OF rs for six years, and
considering the number of trains passing
--64S in twelve hours-the list was won-
aerfullysmuIl. Erie's counselthenreviewed
the circumstances attendant upon these
killings, in which the dead ended their
lives through carelessuess. iutoxic-
ton or suicide, sixteen being eni-
ployes. some goi g under gates, while
some persons warned by fagman" and
| two passengers who jumped on or off the
train while in m otion.
The analysis of 76 accidents reported as
having occurred upon crossings shows
that the allegation of there being 4S3 per-
sous hurs by reason of these crossings is,
TO say the least. absurd. but the state
ment has been analyzed with the follow
ing resultS:-
Employees injured 10 Jersey City, not on cross
ings, 173; employees injured iu Bergen yard, in .
cluding Penhorne, 146; employees injured but
not in any yard nor crossings. 81; employ es
injured in Jersey City crossings, 49,; out of The
There were injured, not in Jersey City, but in
Bergen Yard, persons not employees, numbering.
| twenty three. There were passengers injured,
in in Jersey City and Bergen, g eight lsias
There were persons, not employees, injured in
| jersey City, not on crossings, So. All these
should be deducted from the 483, for their in
juries were in no wise connected with the cross
\ ngs There remain, persons not employees, in
| jured in Jersey City, on crossings, a..
PROPERTY VALUES INCREASED,
Taxing up the next point, the iA wyer
submitted a table which he claimed
| showed still further exaggeration. as a
result of inquiry, of the Erie elevation
peoples counsel. In regard to
! the depreciation of property Mr..
arker said that this is a
subject where evidence is necessarily very
uncertain. so many causes affecting
| every case. He suggested that auyone
"
fore the Erie was built, and the same
prices and value at the present time, and
sal IT,
Let them know the great rise in the value of
property which has come from the building and
operation of this railroad, Is 1t just?
for the eeoul1us eom@unity Whose proapsrty
| has been occasioned bv railroad, to complain
| that il it had been built some other way their
tnat true? Suppose the elevation
is carried out Suppose there be
constructed on the ea or 100 feet width to
earth, impossible except at these
Streets shutting out the view except from
the second stories of houses on either
side. making huge wall dividing one
portion of the city from the other. Do reason
able men think that this would improve the
price OF property neighboring TO the sides of
carried out in other cities and it has been
found that the building of such
wall of Sc paration between portions Of the city
has by no means conduced to an increase of
value. but rather to the contrary. At best, the
thing is very unsightly, and unsightliness is
well known objection to approximation.
ERIE CANNOT DO IT.
He concluded by saying:
"The Directors OF the Erie
Railroad cannot at this time enter
authorities Of Jersey city have
ing in view the elevation Of its
tracks or the change of It's grade. They
have not the means, and therefore not
the right to undertake any such exDendi-
ture They are: not to blame for the
grade upon which they now operate and
cross the streets of Jersey City. 1t is the
almost universal grade of American rail
roads. The municipality of Jersey City,
IL 1t wrs a mistake. participated in it.
And, further. the company says that it
cannot see in the facts developed by the
investigation had any necessity or call
for such change. II greater protection
for persons using the streets is necessary.
that it Will give. But the duty of its
Directors to those for whom they are
Trustees forbids any consent to the
proposition or request made by the Board
OF Street aud Water Commissioners look
ing TO the elevation OF the tracks
MR. CoRBIN REPLIES
Counsellor w. II. Corbin, representing
the petitioners, made bitter nJtack upon
the company, saying that he believed the
company would fiud feasible plan for
the elevation ii the city would pay
for the work. Mr.. Barbin stated
the plahs OF the company were drawn,
not with the intention Of showing how
1.-The work could be done. He stated,
| further, Thar it wys ridiculous to imagine
| the work would cost Si.000.000
HUMANITY'S INTERESTS.
He condemneti the statement of the
company In speaking so lightly Of the
Hives Of its employees as though it wRs an
lunpersEood thing that these men were
hired to be killed.