The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-05
Fighting AGAIN.
The Central and Lehigh
Valley Renew Their
Ancient Quarrel.
OYER JERSEY AVENUE BRIDGE
Lehigh Locomotives Rip Up the
Central's Planks and Send
Its Floats Out to Sea.

The old war between the Central and
the Lehigh Valley Railroad Compa nies
has broken out afresh, and lively times
are expected bef ore the present difficult
ties are adjusted.
On December 5, the Board OF Street and
Water Commissioners empowered the
Central Railroad Company TO lower the
bridge over the Morris Canal at Jersey
avenue. The temporary structure was
nearly completed last night at
six o'clock. A half hour al
ter the Central Railroad workmen
had finished work, force of Lehigh Val
lev men appeared on the scene and
destroyed the entire structure save the
piles, which were driven so nrmly tnae
their removal was impossible.
Superintendent Tumulty learned OF the
proceedings. and at once Dotlhed CHAIR
man Dugan, of the Committee on Streets.
That ofticial secured police protection.
and hurried to the seat ot trouble to pre-
serve order. Before he arrived, however,
the temporary bridge had been destroyed,
and the beams dragged down the
canal. The wreck was complete.
The Central Railroad Company has made
no effort as yet to proceed with the work
again, owing to the fact that car load OF
Lehigh Valley workmer are stationed on
the scene with instructions to destroy all
work done by the Central men. Ihe
trouble, ir is said, emanates from the tact
that the Central Railroad company mas
drawn out.of the Reading combination.
Lehigh Valley officials also maintain that
the Central company has Violated many
agreements made between the TWO COM
panies.
THE cENTRAL's LEGAL RIGHT.
The CenLral Railroad Company.
through its President, j. r. Maxwell,
petitioned the Street and Water Commits
sioners for the power to lower the bridge
over the canal, at Jersey avenue. Tne
company stated as its reasons Tor Sucn
move that it desired TO have the bridge at
grade in confederation of truckmen
eoing 70 and from the coal yard
WashUurn Brothers brick yard and other
mace, OF business from which heavy
shipments are made. The Board granted
the permission with the understanding
that bridge should be built, that in no
way would obs;ruct travel on the canal.
aud further, that under no circumstances
4 should railroad tracks be laid upon 1t.
The company accepted the terms OF the
resoluticn and have now filed an accept
ance With the Board.
a week or more ago work was begun
upon the temporary structure, which was
was in the course of construction. The
Central Railroad Company evidently ex-
pected trouble from its old enemy, and
accordingly chained its pile driver on the
siisss OF tue canal.
% SET THE FLOAT ADRIFT.
"A fiat boat loaded with planks was
sIowed up the canal aud tied near the
bridge The boat was frozen in. Last
night when the work of demolition was
begun the first act of the Lehigh Valley
r silroad was to send for an engine pro-
vided with a heavy chain The engine
soon appeared. The chain was fastened
around the foundation beams of the
bridge and the next instant Deams piles,
spikes and all were dragged and twisted
out of shape The wreck of the structure
was complete. The Lehigh Valley fore
man next paid his respects to the scow
which was frozen in the ice. Attach
ing the heavy chain TO the elects he
gave the signal to the engineer TO start.
For a half hour the men worked to free
The beat. and finally it gave way. 1t was
lowed down the canal, and at last .ac-
counts was floating around the bay.
Then the beams were towed down
the canal, and now al that
h plles. The Lehigh Valley Company
Is / possession and anysattempt by the
central Company to reconstruct the
bridge will probably result in pitched
battle between the workmeu. The police
have been Withdrawn from the scene.
Commissioner Dugan in speaking of the
matter said:-
a Our board has nothing to do with
Lie matter at all. AS Chairman of the
Com mittee on Streets / will preserve or
der. We granted permission TO the
Central Company to construct the bridge
at grade, and the companies must settle
their difficulties without any interference
from us."
: An official af the Police Department, In
Soeaking of the renewal of hostitities,
d that be looked upon last evenings
aceedings very much in the nature of
bluff to Influence the suits OF Attorney
ienersl to secure from the Chancellor
receiver for the roads in the
iading combination. Ii is expected
IL the roads will rush into chancery
i'd carry on a seemingly bitter warfare
A.r theIbridges SO that when theAttorney
Hleral asks for his receiver, on the
Sund that the roads have violated the
of the State in making comblna-
the roaas can point to this fight TO
i that there is no friendly combina-
4. netWsen them.