The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-06-10

CENTRAL'S TRICK.
Erects a Board Fence on
Eacn Side of It's Track
at Randolph Avenue.
WATER BOARDS RESOLUTION
officials Say 1t Is to Board Between
the Rails; But Property Owners
Are Suspicious.

At the meeting of the Street and Wa
ter Board this morning the following
resolution was adopted
Whereas. Action has been taken by the
Central Railroad Company of New Jer-
sey which appears to infringe on the
rights of the city at the crossing of
Randolph avenue by the tracks of said
company;
Resolved, That lthe Chairman of the
Committee on Streets and Sewers of this
Board. in conjunction with the Corpora
ton Counsel, be empowered and directed
to take such necessary and immediate
action in the premises as will fully pro-
tect the interests of the city.
The infringement referred to is the
erection of board fences six feet high on
either siaoSg ze company's tracks at
the Randolph avenue crossing. The
fences effectually cut off all commune
cation between the residents of the
north and south side of the tracks. The
north side of the avenue is well built
up. There is foot path on the south
side.
Mr.. John Lane and Mr.. Frank l..
Clark. property owners, took advantage
of the laws of 1894 to secure the open
inag and paving of the avenue both sides @
roughly graded but the grade, at the
crossing was about two feet higher than
the tracks. On the south side the grade
was foot lower than the tracks.
When work was begun upon the i'm
provement the property owners We're de-
lighted, believing that valuations would
was great yesterday morning when they
discovered that the company had en-
closed its tracks at the crossing and
practically closed the street:
POLICE TAKE A HAND.
Chief Murphy was notified and police
men from the Fourth precinct were de-
terests of the properly owners. The
police made no effort to remove the
fence.
Chief Engineer Ruggles, who also acts
as Superintendent Of Streets. was no
titled and he hurried to the scene. He
Informed Chief Murphy that he was pow
erless to act inasmuch as the fences were
- THEY DO IT, HOWEVER.
Has the, company a right to close a
chef Rugges gsd chst asd Nothing further
and the police were accordingly with
Chairman Kaiser of the Committee on
close the street. having heard that the
company intended erecting on the land
which would necessarily have to hs
tions.
IF that is the scheme said the Com
missioner this morning, II Will stop 1t.
if there is law enough to reach it.
believe that the fences can be torn Town
and if they are not removed in rea-
sonable time, and I have the power ]
will tear them down. The railroads en-
joy too many privileges now, and I do
not propose seeing public improvements
frustrated in this manner
The opinion seems to prevail that the
company's principal objection is that the
Improvement of the street will establish
a grade crossing which will put the com
pany to the expense of erecting gates and
hiring a flagman. Just what course the
company proposes pursuing is causing
much speculation among the Randolph
avenue property owners.
THE COMPANY'S REASON.
Frank L. Clark lost no time in going
to the officials of the company yesterday.
He waited on Superintendent Peddie and
was told that the fences We're erected
for the purpose of allowing the company
to lay planks between the tracks and
make suitable driveway over the cross
ing. Mr.. Clark asked why it was neces-
sary to erect fences to do this work, but
received an evasive reply.
The property owners hope that the OBJ
iect of the fences is as Superintendent
Peddie says, but they are going to keep
ments just the same. Commissioner
Kaiser will act upon advice given him
by Corporation Counsel Blair.