The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-06-24
The Street and Water Board
Bound to be Wrong About
Railroad Avenue
JUNCTION RAILWAY BLOCKED.
The CompanY's Compliance With
Mayor Wanser's Requirements
Cody Ignored.


sustaining Mayor Wanser's veto of the
proposed vacation of Railroad avenue.
The session lasted until midnight, and
was an exciting one.
An adjourned meeting of the Board
was held las night for the sole purpose
of consider ing Mayor Wanser's veto.
The members OF the board did not put
in an appearance until fifteen minutes
before nine o'clock. At this time there
were in the lobby beside number of
property owners who live in the vicinity.
Counsellor Asa w. Dickinson, ex-Ma yor
Charles Corbin, Mr.. Garret Van Horn.
ex-Assem blyman Byrne, DR.. l.. j. Cor
don, Engineer Slater of the petitioning
company, Engineer Ruggles and Assist
ant Prosecutor Joe" Noonan.
The property owners who were present
TO demonstrate We're headed by Henry
Byrne, and il there ever was an excited
body of citizens before the board, they
were. They acknowledged from the start
that they did not understand what the
railroad company intended doing. and
gave this as their resaon for objecting.
At nine O'clock the members of the board
filed into the meeting room, and when
President Madden had called the meeting
to order Commissioner Dugan moved
that the proposition of the petitioners be
read. This course was pursued.
SLATER'S COURSE OF SPROUTS.
Then Corporation Counsel Edwards
put Engineer Slater through a severe
cross-examination In order to find ont
just what the company proposed to give
the city iii return. The company desired
strip of land rs feet long aud 40 feet
wide in Railroad avenue. Railroad ave-
nue. WAS TO be closed, but in consideration
of this privilege the company proposed
raising, paving and curbing Wayne street
in such a manner thatit would serve the
same purposes as has Railroad avenue
as an outlet from the Hill. The
company did not want any part
of Prior street, a street of which but
little is known. 1t proposed TO open aud
grade Fremont street, bridge Mercer
street, so that in future, In case the city
desired to open, grade and pave it
bridg e of such pattern as would net
make 1t al obstruction was to be con-.
structed. Railroad avenus was to be
slightly improved. The work as laiu
out was to cost about $4,000. And in
addition to all this COUNSEL Charles
Corbin stated that he would agree to open
Prior street il the property owners de-
sired it.
A few OF the property owners con-
peusation for the vacation of Railroad
avenue, but others did not.
Wayne street at The present time Is many
inches below the established grade, and,
in fact, so low that high tides flood it.
Tue company proposed filling in the
rtreet at every point save at the point OF
crossing which was to be lowered, per-
haps one foot. But the main position of
the street was to be raised TO prevent any
possibility OF its being flooded, ami at
the point where bhe street was 10 be
lowered receiving basins were to he con-
structed in such manner that surface
water would be carried off at once. The
street was TO ba paved from the east 81 do
of Merseles to Fremont street distance
Of 500 feet.
Mercer street bridge was to be similar to
tho one over Wayne street. Mercer street
is dedicated street, but it has never
been opened. Where the National Docks
Railway trestle crosses Mercer street it is
blocked by the ufestie, but the present
petitioners proposed to span the street,
and with clearance way of more than
the space authorized by law, Tine only
reason, Corporatioa Counsel Edwards
maintained. che unsightly trestle which
now stands on Mercer street was ever
allowed to be put up, was because the
Street Commissioner of those days did
not do his duty. All these facts were
brought out before the property owners
were heard.
Henry Byrne was the firsJ oojector, and
he livened the hearing up in short order
''Iu regard" said he, s'to this matter.
we desire that it be laid over for a time
until we can examine into it. To tax
about building receiving basins IN wayne
street, is sheer nonsense. AS l under
stand it, the street is to be lowered, and
even now high tides flow over the street"
Corporation Counsel Edwards at this
point explained again that Wayne street
was TO be rrised, not lowered.
In speaking OF the Street Commission
er of past years not doing his duty, and
not allowing the big trestle which now
disfigures Mercer street, to be erected,
can say that be could not do anything
when the company pnt it up three O'Clock
one Sunday morning. 1t seems to me
that there is nothing but railroad people
in this board. In the lobby and every
where. Again the company agrees to open
Fremont street. Why, the Mills have
been wanting to open it for five years,
and will do it now and make 25-foot
street,
j. H. Herbert protested forcibly, and
asked that Mayor Wanser's veto be sus-
tanned.
President Hall, of the Manhattan
Laundry Company, who owns fifty feet
on Railroad avenue and titty feet on
Wayne street, reconstructed because OF
the IDcOupouleHCe tuS ciOSluk u JIG
avenue would cause him. and also the
damage it would do his properly.
Up to this time the meeting had been
orderly and The salient features OF the
Company's proposition were being dis
cussed, Counsellor Dickenscn was given
all opportunity to speak.
s'YoU, SIR" SAID MR.. BYRNES.
He said that he had detailed a man to
stand at the point of the proposed vaca-
tion on Railroad avenue to keep tally
of how many people passed daily and
number Of trucks aud wagons tnat used
the street. In all he said there was one
truck, five vegetable wagons and four
teen pedestrians.
"Allow me to tell you that you ie.'
yelled Henry Bvrnes. II will bet $100 to
81 that hundred pass up and down
every morning and night. There is no
use of this company coming here and
lying aud telling what isn't so. We are
not afraid OF anyone. and it there is to be
any trouble we are ready for it.
II think Mr. Dickinson should be given
some protection" interrupted Commits
sioner Dugan.
sWayne street is not opened or paved
or sldewaIked, and Railroad avenue is,
continued Byrnes. "Over fifty wagons
day pass up and down. don't pro-
pose being imposed upon, aud IL this
matter goes through the courts it will be
appealed"
Cheers greeted Mr.. Byrne's remarks.
81 haven't the melancholy distinction
of being q property owner or tax payer
here" said Joseph Noonan, "butsso much
public Indignation has been inj cted into
this matter that wish TO SPEAK.
He cross quesssoned Engineer Slater,