The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-26
BY BRIDGE OR GRADE
West Side Railways Pro-
position for Crossing
Danforth Avenue.
CHRONIC KICKERS OBJECT
Property Owners Want the I'M
proyements the Road Will
Bring to That Section.

Wnen the street ana water Noilhii9-
sioners journeyed to Greenville on Thurs
day morning, accompanied by Counsellor
William d. Edwards, the representative
of the West Side Connecting Railroad
to listen to the remonstrances of Green
Vile citizens to the proposed grade cross
ing of the railroad at Danforth avenue,
near the Newark Bay shore, they met
Reuben Simpson, John Morrell, CHRISTIAN
Bhdner and Michael Schultz, ST., self
appointed spokesman for the remonstrat-
ing property owners. AS nothing was
accomplished at that meeting Counselor
Edwards suggested that he be allowed TO
make a proposition to the demonstrating
property owners at a conference, to which
only he, the ~self-appointed spokesman
and the representatives of the press De
admitted. The suggestion was accepted
and Mr.. Edwards was promised that only
those named should attend. The confer
ence was held at half-past two O'CLOCK
Saturday afternoon at Bambef Hail,
Greenville, but the attendance was much
larger than Mr.. Edwards anticipated
there being over a dozen citizens present.
Among them were Reuben Simpson, John
Morrell, Stephen l.. Harvey, William
Zimmerman, Christian Blidner, JONI
Mulcahy, Mr.. Rurade, Thomas Cogan
and Counsellor Isaac G~oldenhorn, VINO
took upon himself without invitation, the
task of conducting the demonstrating
property owners case. Whether the cltl-
zens attended at the request of Mr.. Slmp-
son or Mr.. Morrell did not appear, but
they took a decidedly active part and
afterwards gave Mr.. Edwards ~unexpect-
ed assistance.
MR.. EDWARDS PROPOSITION.
When the conference was called to or
der Mr.. Edwards said
"Sinee our last conference I have found
that the railroad can cross at grade at
Danforth avenue without asking the per
mission of any of the property owners
But it is not the policy of the railroad
to do business that way" Mr.. Edwards
then read the law of 1891, which provides
that if a railroad wishes to cross a street
at grade it can do so without securing the
permission of the property owners, pro
viding 1t can prove that the SAID street
had not been used by pedestrians or
wagons within a period of two years
prior to the time of the company's declara
ton of intention to cross.
IT differ with you Mr.. Edwards re-
Piled John Morrell. 'Danforth avenue,
where you wish TO cross has been USED
by pedestrians and wagons steadily and
is a mucn used t~nOrOuSnIaTe
Although Mr.. Morrell has frequently
visited the point in question he seemed
to forget that Danforth avenue runs
westerly in a straight line and the road
which shoots off from the foot of the
hill is not a continuation of Danforth
avenue to its proper terminus. Hence,
when Mr. Edwards called his attention
to the error he became confused in no
small degree.
The road you have reference to-" said
Mr.. Edwards, docs not go direct to the
point in dispute. At Danforth avenue
proper we have had a man watching for
six months. and we can prove that dur
ing that time not one pedestrian OF wagon
has crossed It. We come to you not IN
drawal of your objections. When the
LAND was purchased for the road an extra
strip, costing us $12, 000, was bought for the
express purpose of giving you a right
of way for a sewer. We are willing. to
sign at any time an. agreement giving
you this right Of way. Now, what more
leges without being requested to do so
by any of you, and they did not even cost
you the trouble of calling a mass meet
Ing. We desire to treat the citizens fairly.
The L~iiliendahls and Detwillers, who own
all the property in the immediate vicinity
of the crossing at Danforth avenue, want
that factories can be erected and the
property placed at a marketable value.
1t is simply a question with you gentle
men whether the factories locate here or
MR.. SIMPSONS GENERAL PRINCI-
Piles.
ION general principles we object to a
grade crossing" replied Mr.. Simpson.
FJust now, we admit, crossing at grade
wouldn't harm, but the time will come
when the crossing will become a nuisance
you be willing to make an agreement
that If it is ound necessary for the
district to raise the tracks twenty years
from date you will elevate them?"
itsWn will - raD1iad Mr. Edwards "DrO-
viding you pay back to US the amount
we have expended for your sewer privi-
Legs" s,,,nson an, M Norrsu sbs rod
between them privileges of the floor, while
the other citizens, with the exception of
Lawyer G~oldenhorn. remained quiet;
we admit" said Mr.. Simpson, that
it is not necessary for the railroad to
cross at an elevation at the present time.
Won't you agree to elevate when it be-
Mo- replied Mr.. Edwards, because
every man who runs for office in Green
Vile will make the elevation of the tracks
enable you to cross the canal with a
bridge. By e~levating the tracks We will
make this impossible. 1t is to your ad-
vantage to cross at grade"
will you be willing" interposed Mr..
Morrell, "to build a sewer 1,200 feet long
to the Acanal?"4 rs zas8 "a
because it Win cost Us SIS, 500 or $4,000
1t would be cheaper to elevate. We ean1
elevate the tracks at a cost of but 81, 0eQ.ii
f5 We'll then, we can afford to keep the. |
street." replied Mr.. Morrell.
WILL BUILD "A SEWER -
Mr.. Edwards then agreed to give the
property, owners a sewer under the tracks
from the easterly point of the same to
the canal and to sign an agreement to
build a. sewer under the tracks at every
street south of Danforth avenue as soon
as the property owners on those. streets
had built one thousand feet of sewer
leading up to-any one of these points.
This liberal offer was quickly accepted
by ell the property owners present, with
the exception of Mr.. Simpson and Mr.;
Morrell. They insisted that the railroad
should build for them a sewer beginning
at the easterly end of the marsh land
at Danforth avenue and running under
the tracks to dhe canal, and as they Were
unwilling to agree to any other proposi-
ton than this, the conference adjourned
without accomplishing any result.
Tonight the matter will be brought up
at the meeting Of the Street and Water
Board, when the Commissioners will
take final action upon Mr.. Edwards APP
plication to cross the street at grade.
Mr.. Simpson and Mr.. Morrell will be on
hand to offer objections.
pUPT.T0 "TRIP 0TPOJu ALTON Il