The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-01-30
BIG IMPROVEMENTS
Citizens Discuss Schemes
for Better Streets
Through the City.
TWO ASSOCIATIONS TO ANALGAMATE
Railroad Companies Pilloried for
Measures obstructive to the
Public Welfare.

4ASS ANA1SA
sociation met last night in st. Lucy's
Hall, at Grove and Sixteenth streets,
and did two particularly sensible things.
The first was to appoint Charles c.
Kelly, Of Dickinson, Thomso & Mac
Masters office, counsel to the associa-
ton; and the second, directing the Sec
rotary to communicate with the Seere-
tary of the Thirteenth Street Improve
ment Association with a view of bring
ing about the consolidation Of the two
associations for the general benefit of
all property north of the Erie Railroad
tracks.
The meeting was called to order by
| President Patrick Connolly. There were
about one hundred property owners pres
emit, all of whom are interested in the
opening of Seventeenth street to the
Hill. In stating the object of the meet
ing, which was more to further the
plan of opening up communication with
the Hill. by opening and grading Seven
teenth street, President Connolly said
that a rough estimate of the cost of the
work was IS, $3.50, which would lay every
lot on Seventeenth street, between Hen
derson and Grove streets. liable to an
assessment of $40, and from Grove street
10 I1OUOhGH dFGuuG Ou Tie Kill ~ pos
or perhaps a little more. The question
of opening and grading Seventeenth
street was agitated nearly two years
ago. One year and four months ago,
when it looked as though the improve
ment would go through with bells on"
the West Shore Railroad Company OBJ
tanned an injunction which has efectu-
ally tied up the whole matter. Messrs.
Schultz, Carr and Cronin were appointed
condemnation commissioners. and they
awarded Proctor Brothers, a New Hamp
shire firm which had bought lots on the
street, 81, 400 damages.
PROJECTORS THE CATS PAW.
It apraars that when the Seventeenth
street lots were sold to Proctor Bro
theirs, it was with the understanding
that they would agree to the opening
of the street to the Hill. 1t has recently
been found thatSsthe West Shore Rail
road Company made it's fight over the
shoulders of Proctor Brothers.
1.-The city" said President Connolly,
owns a strip of and twelve feet wide
which separates the property owned by
Proctor Brothers. Now. if those people
/ propose aiding a scheme to stop the m
| provement of the city l consider that 1t
is the duty of the city to fence in the
| property owned by it. Such a course
| would divide the Proctor property and
would, l believe, bring the owners to
terms in short order. The whole dlln.
Guilty lies in the fact that the West
| Shore Railroad Company fears that the
| grading of the street will necessitate
a change of grade Of its road. It VIII,
stand that. No. flagman or gateman will
be necessary, and there appears to be no
| good reason why this work should be
tied up.
IF we hope to ever see our property
advance in value we must get this street
Cry OFFICERS TO BLAME.
Michael T.. Connolly, who hhs spent
| time and money in ,furthering the Seven
tenth street Improvement, said
1T is more than a year since this
work was tied up in the courts by a
| railroad. Our Corporation Counsel has
done nothing. He may be overworked.
tell him to go ahead and get the courts
to settle this case; but while he remains
Inactive we are not advancing. Our prop
artv rcmasne II the same cd rut. This
whole end of tie city is in the shade
so lar as pubic imp oyemenls are con-
cerned. The west side of the city has
outlet sewers. and ] can tell you the
Hill drainage is better than that of old
Jersey City. We must organize the same
as people do in other parts of the city
and demand public improvements. If
we don't we won't get them.
PRAISING HOBOKEN STREETS.
In parts of Hoboken, which, a year
ago were MY accessible by sail boat;
blocks of houses. 1t. is all because the
property owners have demanded recog-
nition. We pay taxes as well as the
| certainly entitled to some notice. Our
only hope Is, to employ counsel and di-
rect him to look after our interests, and
see to it that some action is taken by
the courts.
1.-THE West Shore Railroad is fighting
this Improvement tooth and nail, and l
ficials that that company is now operat-
ing four tracks IN Monmouth street.
| PEELED to remove its tracks, as it owns
100 feet west of its tracks, so that in
case the city acts it will be able to move
over a little and continue business as
BIG FUTURE FOR THE MEADOWS.
inf gh q Site IS ub 5o hefe. a I sag say f f4af Il the se city
officials viii aid us in getting Seven
teenth street opened to the Hill that
ow lots will be covered with factories
n manufacturing enterprises. We
want to get all the property owners up
| this way to unite and work in harmony.
Nothing can be accomplished by a few
property owners pulling one way and
others another: We want counsel, and
man."
He named Mr.. Charles e. Kelly, and
| he SlCStlOi ! NCQ. xhIs \ L oi
was present. He was called upon to
speak.
AFFECTS THIRTEENTH STREET.
Il am glad" he said, that the mem
bers of this association, whose object it
is to open Seventeenth street, are doing
something. If you get Seventeenth
street through we are sure to win in our
Thirteenth street. Failure means ruin
to us all. In 1891 we started to get Thir-
tenth street opened and graded to the
Hill, and We are now in a fair way to
get the improvement through"
Mr.. Coroeran recited the difficulties he
and his followers had encountered in re-
lation to Thirteenth street. He told of
| mislaid agreements, illegal petitions, etc,
which kept them working for nearly a
year, without making a bit of Roadway.
THANKS TO MR.. M'LAUGHLIN.
w did not accomplish anything until
Mr.. Dennis Mclaughlin interested him
self in our behalf. The members of our
| association are not discouraged, and we
propose fighting as long as there is a
ghost of q show to get the street opened
WHAT THE STREET WILL COST.
1--WE estimate the cost at $50, 900, but
Street and Water Commissioner Cone
says the necessary viaduct from Coles
street to the Hill can be erected for
about $40. 900. That sum of money does
not represent one twentieth part of the
benefit tie opening of the street to the
T Hill would be to property north of the
Erie Railroad tracks"
Captain Kelly was present, and he sug-
rested that the Thirteenth and Seven.