The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-08-14

GAN CROSS AT GRADE
Lehigh Valley Authorized
To Lay Four Tracks
on CommunipaW
Avenue.
HEISTzE AND HOLLYWOOD VOTE no
The Company Will, It is Said,
Locate Extensive Shops
in Lafayette.
HEINTzE AND HOLLYWOOD VOTE NO

III ldyottcs
The Street and Water Commissioners
at noon today, by vote Of three to two.
granted the Greenville, and Hudson
branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
permission to cross Communipaw avenue
at grade. The ordinance under which
the privilege is given is short one ana
allows the operation Of four sets Of tracks
at grade, with the understanding that
the sidewalks shall be kept in good order
always, that the driveway shall be safely
planked, that there shall be gates at the
crossing and guards stationed at either
side.
For more than year and half Reon
Barnes, the cornpany's agent. has been
trying TO secure the permission the Board
has now given him. At first there was
considerable opposition to the proposed
establishment Of new grade crossings. but
It would appear that many Of the repaon-
strators have been converted. The change
of heart IS due to the fact, IT is said.
that the company proposes establishing
shops in the Lafayette section, which VIII
give employment to a great many men,
The ordinance, after having slept IN
the Committee of the Whole for the last
three months, was brought out today by
Commissioner Kaiser, who in moving its
passage, said
This ordinance should pass, I beIieve.
because II will doubtless benefit Lafay-
cite financially and enhance property val
uations.
"As an amendment said Commission
er Boltwood, Il would move that the
ordinance remain on the table until such
time as majority of the property own
ers of Communipaw avenue and Suydam
avenue say they want this crossing
That would be a great thing TO do
interrupted Mr.. Kaiser. Il move that the
amendment be tabled
The amendment was tabled by strict
party vote.
1t is my firm belief and honest opin-
ion,'' said Commissioner Kaiser, that
in passing this ordinance we will be do
ing Lafayette great benefit. Every
man, woman and child in Lafayette
wants this railroad to cross Communi-
paw avenue, but / will admit that there
is difference of opinion as to how the
crossing should be made. Eminent engi-
neers have gone over this question care
fully and have said that the company
cannot reach its lines on proper grades
except by this grade crossing.
I'm opposed to the passage Of the
ordnance, said Commissioners BOltvfOod.
1T is wrong, in my estimation, to en-
courage grade crossings, and / will cer-
tainly vote against the ordinauce.
Il don't see how it Is. put in Mr.
Heintze, that the Mayor and all ctr
other authorities should have spent So
a track elevation bill to compel the Erie
to abolish it's death dealing crossings
and now step up and vote to authorise
a part of the city that is traVersed by
thousands. 1t will be a death trap. I
know and Mr.. Kaiser knows that every
man, woman and child is not in favor
of this crossing
Il repeat answered Mr.. Kaiser, that
every man, woman and child In Lafay-
ette is III favor Of It. They want to foster
Industries and extend welcome hand 70
any corporation which will bring money
into the city and give employment 10 our
why is not the. Erie Raiiroads compelled
to abolish its grade crossing in Pavona
avenue. That crossing cannot be ab0l-
ished, nor can This company operate its
lines in any decent manner without cross
ing Ccmmunipaw avenue at grade, We
should not array ourselves against any,
thing that is progressive
In my humble way, said President
Brown II have examined into this cub
ject. There was sCIne oppos luion 70 new
grade crossing. but we must remember
that by reason of being unable to cross
Communipaw avenue this company can
not operate its Ines satlsfaeTcraig. When
we see such gentlemen as Richard c.
Washburn and the owners of the Passasc
ing asking us TO grant this company the
right the ask for, DO not hesitate 10
e..
net be tarnlShed have made appeals IN
the rterests Of this company; men who
own property in taat neighhoTh0ods and
men VINO are interested IA the city am
the exteIisson CT this cOrnpanyss lines Will
increase this city's ratables We should
foster ministries an help the city TO oc-
cupy the restz5n she sFoesid as a mallu-
vote for the orsiEsassssa-
Before a vote was taken letters asking
I that the ordnance be granted were read
from Washhurn Brothers, Manning dS
Squires, James Stevens. George W.
Rogers. Andrew Mcknight, Louis A.
Washburn and Henry C. Wilcox. all prop
erty owners and business men of the
Lafayette section.
The ordinance was passed by the votes
| of Commissioners Brown, Kaiser and
Harding. Mayor WanSer has to act on
the ordinance before il becomes opera tive.
The privilege granted will allow the
company TO make dirsct connection with
Pacific avenue tracks and reach its yards
on the shore front. The company by
crossing the avenue at grade will oper-
ate its line on q tressle from the terminal
Of the present line south OF the Central
Railroad, over the main stem and New
ark and New York branch of the central-
The trestle will have an easy fan to Com-
mnnipaw avenue.
The main line Of the company viii skirt
the South Cove tract. now owned by the
/ city. by running along the Morris Canal
/ bank TO the river front where the COM
pany has extensive piers. Reon Barnes
was FIVE years IN getting the lire from
| Newark Bay through Greenville at Brown
1 place TO the Central Railroad 1t was
at first proposed to cross the Central Rail-
road at grade, but such dangerous
crossing would have been created that
that plan was abandoned and com1nuni-
| paw avenue selected as the point of cross
! ing 1t is reported that as soon as the
avenue is crossed the company will make
! an effort to lease the South Cove grant
1 lands and establish freight Yards and
/ shops there Il is also reported that the
| company has IN view a plan to establish
| a passenger station IN the South cove
and operate ferry of its own between
this city and New York,
It IS the consufnmation of this project
which, 1t Is expected viii to some ex-
| tent revolutsonize the freight and pas
senger traffic out of New York.
WEATHER INDICATIONS.