New-York tribune., 1896-01-21
A UNION-ST. "NO!"
.pPOOKIYN'S FIRST CITIZEN" OPPOSES
THE PROPOSED TROLLEY LINE.

rot,T INTEREST EXCITED IN THE LETTER FROM
T. sTRANAHAN-OTHER TESTIMONY AD-
DICED TO SHOW THAT AN ELECTRIC
ROAD IN THE POPULAR DRIVEWAY
TO PROSPECT PARK WOULD
GREATLY DEPRECIATE REAL
ESTATE VALUES
An adjourned hearing )f the Supreme Court
Commission appointed to hear the application of
tbe Nassau Electric Railway to run line in
Inion-st was held last night in the County Court
House Joseph A. Burr. the recently appointed
CORPORATION Counsel, was chairman OF the Com
mission. and Commissioners Joseph c. Hendrix
and George H. Southard heard the testimony.
IA Allen represented the railroad company, and
Iosah A. Marion the citizens of Brooklyn who
favored the granting of the application
Jessa Johnson. representing the opposition.
created the surprise Of the evening. This was
thc introduction of an affidavit from ]. s. 7.
stranahan "Brooklyn's first citizen" giving
history and description of the park, and potent
reasons for his objections to the granting of the
aonlication of the Nassau Railroad Company
As this was the first public utterance when
has come from Mr. Stranahan for more than
wear. il was hailed as sign of returning
strength and consequent interest once more IN
affairs affecting the welfare of the city. Ine
affidavit in full is as follows:
Being advised that you have been appointed by
the Supreme Court as Commissioners under me me
Constitution hear the parties interested ana re-
port to the Court whether doube-track ralroau;
operated by eeGrey shSpq Is Hamtonsve and
Nnth-aee respectfully state and present onec
tons to such rarSa n% msKe IN rnon
ef eG." where have lived at Union and Clinton sts
interested in Prospect Park for the construction
and maintenance OF which / was a commissolui M @
stTuction down to iss2 The benefits Of Prospect @
Park the city and citizens OF Br1oxiyn
10 one | believe. questions the necessity OF main
tanning and possessing that park at ITS 5es ~ he he
card the maintenance OF proper approaches 10 tne
park as essential the MAINTENANCE OF the fark @
ami TO its continued usefulness me fain arsc1s
both to those who visit it in carriages ana d .nIss
W. 9ttract or retain in brooklyn those who desired
to visit it in either OF these Ways Miovment Of
tbosn who visit il as pedesirians-the walks, the
lawns the meadows and the lakes oe1ns % auapevu ar
Irae drives are. also an essential feature Of the
Park. The main entrance ior carr1aEes Tb, entrance
and annroach has been largely ornamented Dy
the fountain the soldiers monument ct anu Hsu and
aadge 70 NewYork City In the Park at that en-,
trance are re two % main nW of the exterior lines tie
PARK 10 the right and the other % near or IN tne 1o
vicinity OF the smiar Plaza diagonay opposite
Such main entrance. From that Plaza or Cifc'e,
iv Forf Hamilton-ave. and Ocean Parkway Is d
Syo rornamentai driveway 10 the ocean and the
Concourse from that Plaza or circle Sy Srect and
Fo5 approach to the short driveway now beng
aeaured Between Owls Head and Fort aTa uo
the only carriage drive ways there 6eng man and
others dverging there5ro' oad ana around the lake
T. VAS part OF the plan and intent undea wn,n md
prospect Park was constructed 10 carriaee driving
Trom This Plaza constructed the fas'thhe hx the
PaTkT@y for Similar and has re-
NAMED under the control OF the 1,'Itonave and
am Informed and believe, Fort Hamll.o Ha,roi of The
me shore Drive both under the co"'io' u '''
Park Hbaner $50 was passed act by which
spacaT Commission appointed to wioeh park TO
St between Gowanus Canal % ana ,en feet to each
Sa of said street and also TO build prdse o was
the Gowsnus Canal 9 g. Of ahe laws Of i and By
s5a of the laws of $780, and BY Chap,eI 81 IsSs
the laws Of l ~ IN Gehnaea reanton to and Ber
Sen %as Place and another Commission was as said
10 carry out the was @onn made to extend
canai to Columbia and was proviHec SnSd be
fen on 'nad Mde The acts constituting both
such Commissions proydeRR ReSian ief pavement Mich
Tn ndn papvement and Gudet pavement or sv
pavement being wiin1a ,me those "e pavemens re-
rded a as the best pavements in use tor ia, sncb
purposes n1aSs ne an9 carried out Unon-st was wild
ened and Bergen-st. became par. oi bniIt' and a
bridge across then considered Of the best
carriage driving was sna aI1 10 OF Prospect
SrS or Ninth-ave and wooden paveiihen ha canal
laid the portion OF In0nh5f ;nfopmed and believe
ana bave always understood. such ro ~
Union.stf f ssid act. and as informed and De-
rieve in the main. at the expense Ii ;nnrovement
and aoqtne heeame and continued be. and no% I Is.
one the main and nf rarrage passing
PEI and has continued TO be, very large anu hratn ~ a
been used not only by the rpsTsre peoPs living on what
~ tnown as the Heights coming To- 10 = nnaurment
Cntonst which naW aSo beas esS wi Wdened
that il is in effect continuation oh oS the New
ort and Brooklyn Bridge The means r,U Ui bv street
Ppospect Park from all parts rd oi fml @ In my judg-
railroads are reon adjacent Unionst now m has fh m
and ample facilities for TsaGh GoTbie track trolley road
streetd nd be put in Unions i would IN fbe my way Of
greatly esIFe o Prospect Park and in
that it would be Of very tte vse ould be Of
am of to shf frospect PARK unSn
6, used for double track 'iond double track trolley
street rsrSnn S up to raroad amp ter cru
not extend any urther n ht the switches and stands
o eas weTs woad aecaSy, on ray fSe in y "de
branch of Plazasda wond S1i greatly nture Pa7as
IN nv Judgment It would be gIes rsaroad operated
pect rn,,citv rarK III extended across the r'aA" 'N
Union-st to Dougas-st G r STRANAHAN.
r.uou,i,g this was a similar afnda'' .,o. .
pa,l commissioner squier. MIR. Johi,so"
introduced several witnesses to snow NV ,ha In
ca.ion Of property IN Marcy-ave an,.re s'n.
troduc,,on of the trolley in that 'ho', ,s elbow
tho intention being to show wha' W. ,,.,on.st
the INTRODUCTION of the trolley III on u.ar,
Among the witnesses we were ,.bomas M,1 W Kirkwan.
trolley expert: John Clark, i"o'''A'
The discussion narrowed down to to the rele-
between the opposing Lawyers lawyers, fearing will be
SsH on 9' Friday and Saturday evenings In
County Building.
,,,nruTTVE &CHEME.