The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-09
ABS0AUTENY Pure

" valuable properties of the Erie. West
shore; D., L. & w. R..R., representing
millions and millions of Capitalized
wealth, all came in for a close inspec-
ton. and the Hoboken Ferry Company's
property, for which four and a half mill
hons Of dollars was recently paid, was
Suddenly the tug slowed up at a little
gap in the long line of piers and slips.
1t was a small opening just north of
the pennsylvania ferry slips and would
server.
What's this little placer" asked the
Attorney General.
Sir replied Mr.. Edwards. with mock
dignity, this is Jersey City's only dock
Morgan street dock, gentlemen" Much
laughter.)
The Commission were interested in the
little curiosity, the chief characteristic
of which is that the difficulty Of get
ting In is only equalled by the difficulty
of getting out.
You don't mean to say that that is
all the water front which Jersey City
possesses" asked General Rushing in as.
constituent.
Absolutely all" was the reply, "and
she is very lucky to possess. even that
Leaving this miracle in the way of pub
lie docks, the tug steamed past the mag
nificent property of the Pennsylvania
Railroad and turned into the gap, to in
spect the Sugar House property and
other places surrounding the basin. The
Commissioners were clearly amazed al
the number of docks and waterways along
Jersey city's shore down to this point,
and the Attorney Genera said
why, this beats Venice. 1t is in
credible the number of these water
streets, If / might use the term"
Yes, and streets which, although in
Jersey City, yet don't belong to it," added
Mr.. Black.
And the houses on which don't pay
taxes to the city," chimed in ex-Sherifi
Reynolds, who, as Railroad COMMISSIONS,
FOR manY wears. knows the S1Jhia0f M
taxation from A to Y.
How much taxes does that property
pay locally?' asked the Attorney General
pointing to the Sugar House.
About SIS. 600 to $50, 600 a year" replied
Mr. Edwards. land pays $751; 600 for water
| rents
we pay $50, 900 water rents to the city. :
said Engineer M. L. Gardiner, who wasn't
going to see the P. r. r. left.
After a careful inspection Of the
gap" property the tug steamed to the
Central Railroad Company's wharf, where
Counsellor De Forrest asked Mr.. Ed
wards to drop him off.
Wen drop you off in the middle OF
the stream, if you please daughter
mo, thank you,' said Mr.. De Forrest
as he stepped on the gang plank. The
Attorney General and Mr.. w. II. Vre-
denburgh also got off at that point to
catch trains. Then the Trenton went
giving an opportunity to one of the funny
men in the pilot house to spring the
worn chestnut about Miss Liberty hav-
ing only one Jersey to her back, and
| even Elizabeth had a share of it. APP
preaching Black Tom, the party had an
opportunity of seeing the great ware
houses of the National Docks Storage
Company, which bid fair to outriyal
Brooklyn and in the future bring en-
| ormous traffic to Jersey City. These were
closely inspected, and when the Commits
sioners learned that the ground on which
the big structures stand was all made
ground and reclaimed by the company
from the sea, the officials at its head
were much complimented for their ex-
traordinary enterprise.
Il hin that's about all we can show
you," said Mr.. Edwards, as the nose
of the tug vas swinging around for the
journey home.
you v shown us a great deal, and
/ can say for myself / am astonished al
the magnitude of the property ON Jersey
City's water front" replied General Rus
ling.
Adams Express pier was reached a few
minutes past four. and when every one
had safely walked the plank Commits
sioner Charles C. Black raised his hal
and proposed a vote of thanks to Mr..
Edwards for giving the Commission such
a valuable object lesson. The vote was
passed with cheers.