The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-09-29

LHHIGH VALLEY PETITION
Many Hundred Citizens
Favor the Communipaw
Avenue Crossing.
FRANK O. COLES STRADDLE
Reon Barnes Punches Holes in
Architect Blau's Viaduct
plans-No Action Yet.
FRANK O. COLES STRADDLE

The time of the Street Inc Water Com
m~issioners was taken up today listening
to arguments concerning the proposed
crossing of C-oMmunipaw avenue at grade
by the Greenville and Hudson Branch of
the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The sub
5ect was introduced by the company's
agent, Mr.. Reon Barnes. He submitted
for the perusa1 of the Commissioners the
following petition
.tThe undersigned, your petitioners, re-
spectfully show that the Lehigh Valley
Railroad Company, by auxiliary compan-
les, has constructed and nearly completed
Its elevated line of railway from Newark
Bay to its terminal in Jersey City, and
has petitioned the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners for permission TO
cross C~ommunipaw avenue at grade with
its tracks.
We think there are many reasons why
this privilege should be accorded TO the
company. among others the following
"1st-The Railroad Company has, with
out cost to the city, crossed overhead
every street. avenue, steam and street
railroad and t-horoughfare from Newark
Bay to Communipaw avenue.
"2d-During such construction the Rail-
road Company has, at the instance of
the city, made many valuable and ex-
pensive street corrections and improve
ments. acquiring all necessary lands, and
dedicated such TO the public use as ave-
nues and streets. first having graded,
paved, curbed and severed the same;
all of which improvements were made
wholly at the eompany's cost and ex-
pense
s3d-The Railroad Company has greatly
improved the entire neighborhood through
which it passes and has afforded to our
citizens greatly increased and desirable
facilities giving employment to a large
number of men.
4th-We are informed and believe that,
at the time of making of these street cor
~rections and improvements and the ele-
walton Of the entire line, it was under
stood that in consideration of such track
elevation the city would grant permission
10 cross Communipaw avenue at grade,
the natural grade Of Communipaw avenue
being abnormally high relative TO the
surrounding territory.
"5th-The company has made every rea-
sonable and proper effort and has sue
ceeded in satisfying the owners of all
the land on both sides of Communipaw
avenue at the point in question who
might reasonably be deemed to be in
Juriously affected by sueh crossing.
shit has been clearly shown that
upon the proposed ordinance becoming a
law the present use of C-ommunipaw ave-
aiue by the cars of this company now
passing over the National Docks tracks on
C~ommunipaw avenue will be diminished
by at least seventy-fve per cent (5 per
cent?. and. therefore. the possibility of
casualty will be decreased in like per-
centage. And, further. 1t has been
shown by the Civil Engineers of your own
selection that no other feasible method
exists whereby the Railroad Company can
get from its property on the west to its
ermina property on the east of Com
munipaw avenue without crossing said
avenue at grade.
7th-By. permitting this road to cross
C~ornmunlpaw avenue at grade the vast
area Of unoccupied lands lying immediate
~ east and west of CommunipaW avenue
becomes Immediately available as sites for
manufacturing and commercial purposes,
the use of which lands will largely tend
TO bring into our community a great
number of people who will become de-
sirable citizens. =
sth-None of these beneficial results
could possibly accrue should the road be
required to further elevate its tracks as
the majority OF the lands referred to are
already much below grade n will REQUIRE
6iling.
9th-Such additional elevation would
effectually Isolate these lands from any
possible railroad connection and service.
Therefore we, residents. taxpayers,
voters and users of the public thorough
fares of this city do most earnestly urge
that the petition Of the GreenviIle and
Hudson Railway Company receive your
most favorable consideration, and that
the ordinance now before you granting
70 said railway company the right to cross
C~ommunipaw avenue at grade with its
passed and approved, to the end that II
become a law as soon as may be, and
your petitioners will yer pray, etc.
The petition was signed by 1889 resi-
dents and owners of property In the La
fayette section exclusively. The number
q signers is more than one-half the num-
Der OF residents and property owners.
whose interests might ba construed TO be
affected BIZ the crossing.
After the reading of the petition Frank
@ Cole IN a short speech said he knew
the railroad had to reach its terminal
yards, but ne regretted, he said, tina in
order to do so C~omrnunipaw avenue you'd
have 70 ce crossed at grade.
He opposed the crossing. he skid. not
because II was the Lchigh valiay Rail-