The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-19
'GEE'S PLEA
Argued For the D. L. & W.
r. R. Before the Street
and Water Board.
THE JERSEY AVENUE CROSSING
Mr.. A. J. Corcoran and others
Stoutly Opposed the COntem-
plated Grant.

The Association for the elevation of the
Erie Tracks had a large representation De
fore the Street and Water Board, this morn
ing to protest against the Delaware and
L-ackawanna Railroad laying tracks across
Jersey. avenue from Hoboken avenue to
Nineteenth street.
Commissioner Charles Somers in the abb
sence of President Madden presided
The attorney for the association based his
argument upon two grounds. Th board, be
said, had no power to grant any ordinance
for such a purpose. The members of the
board are the servants of the people and
ought not to Gator TO railroad corporations,
who cine in and ask for streets from the
city. If the board neglected its duty IN this
matter it is indictable.
Counsel dwelt upon the statement that the
company sought to establish a "chlcken
yard" there and a nuisance to the neighbor-
hood.
FLAvEL M'GEE'S PLEA. E-
Counsellor Flavel MCGEE, for the railroad
company. said the corporation was not lay
ing new tracks but was simply repairing
old tracks laid thirty years ago. Inc ON
pany was relaying its tracks when 1t was
stopped by the police. There We're W
courses open to the company. One was to go
to the Chancellor and procure an inJunctlon
restraining the police from interfering;
the other was to apply to the board
to call off the police. The hrst
course. if pursued, would mean
expense to the city and the company, while
the latter was the best course to be taken py
both sides. This question, counsel said. has
been tested before on the matter OF Ihlr-
teenth street and by the act OF 1879 the som
pany has a right to maintain tracks SILL IN
existence. The object of the company IS to
nroyiae a local freight yard in Jersey City
which will enable shippers to deliver freight
without the inconvenience of going to the
ferry and mourning the danger OF crossing
the terminal tracks of the main line. There
fore it would be a convenience Tor the
city if such a yard was estapiished.
The street is now a mudhele and would be
made a paved street when the Improvement
was made. As Jersey City was at the gate
way of the commerce of the continent, IL
could only prosper by extending facilities Tor
commerce. 1t was poor policy, he said, to
check these. Besides, the company would
employ many men at present ou0 Oh WolA
during the construction of the Improvement,
and these would be permanently retained.
AS a question of law, of policy, and absolute
right. the board ought to call off the pc
lice.
MR.. CoRCeRAN OBJECTED.
Mr.. A. J. Corcoran Tldlculed the pretence
that the street would be paved. The COM
pany, he said, had actually refused to give
them a sewer at that point. He did not be-
heve that n number OF men
would find employment III the
ward and the ~so-called improvement would
only be a nuisance. Mr.. Corcoran protested
on behalf of the neighboring citizens to any
further giving away Of public property TO
private corporations. The board must do It's
dutvsin the matter, and.that is to protect the
people and not the railroad company.
After further remarks the matter was re-
ferred to the Committee IN Streets and
Sewers.
MANAGER YOUNG QUESTIONED.
Then the Consolidated Traction Company
complaints were brought up and MI. David
Young was asked why such high speed was
maintained: why protective Tenders were
not placed on the cars, and why the COM
pany allowed Seventh street and Jersey
avenue to remain in its present ripped up
condition.
Mr.. Young replied that orders had been
given to the motormen that they should
go slow through the crowded streets and
only increase their speed when the road was
open and safe. As to the tenders, the COM
,pany was now considering the best form of
the appliance, and would adopt some ct an
early period. Finally as to Seventh street,
the work had been delayed by the frost, but
now he would push the improvement as
rapidly as possible. The board then adj
o,rvao E4"- v