The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-24

ERIE ELEVATION.
Mr.. VOORHEES, Says 1t Mnst
Be Promised Before the
ComDany's Bills
Can Pass.
LEGISLATURE INspEcTs THE GROUND
The Roads officers Entertain sena-
tors and Assemblymen With
Dinner and a Fast Run.
LEGISLATURE INSPECTS THE GRoUNI

The Committee on Railroads and Cam
ais Of the Legislature visited this city
Friday to view the line of the Erie Rail-
road from the tunnel to the section on
the Hudson River to ascertain whether it
is possible TO elevate the company's
tracks in that section. Several members
OF the Legislature accompanied the com
mittee. In the party were Senators voor-
hees, DAILY and Parry and Assemblymen
Lower, Alpaugh, Hopkins and Harvey,
OF the committee, and Messrs. Ruemp-
Ter, Fleming, Queen, Parslow, Mullin and
Hoos, Of Hudson; Gledhill, King. Robert
son and Bullock of P~assaic; Voorhees,, of
Bergen; Roll and Jones. of Union; Slove
and Hicks, CT Middlesex; Benedict and
Hogan, of Essex, and Francis and Sny-
der, of Monmouth; Commissioners Patter-
son, Kaiser. Brown and Harding, OF the
Jersey City Street and Water Board;
City Engineer Ruggles. of Jersey City;
Andrew j. Corcoran, w. A. Corcoran,
Jeremiah Casey, John Barr and Myron
Furst. of the Jersey City Board of Trade.
The party was met at the Erie station
by James s. Allen, counse Of the rail-
way; Superintendent Mcclure, Engineer
Baldwin and M. E. Staples, general agent
OF the Erie. They took a special train of
two observation cars and were taken
slowly over the line between the station
and the eastern end of the tunnel.
At each street crossing in Jersey City
the train stopped and the party examined
the situation. The engineer of the com
pany pointed out the engineering difficult
ties m the way of elevating the tracks
under the bill now before the Legislature.
The bill provides that the tracks must
be put up without interfering with the
present grade of any street or existing
railroad. The company's engineer showed
how it would be impossible to put up the
tracks without disturbing the present
grade of the New Jersey Junction Roads
which crosses the Erie tracks on an ele-
walton at the eastern end of the COM
The company's engineer also claimed
that it would be necessary to vacate Pro-
yost street and depress Henderson and
tracks under existing circumstance
Senator voorhees, was a close listener
to the explanations of the companys off,
Gals and took copious notes.
At Henderson and Provost streets the
engineers said that Water would be struck
az a depth OF three feet if an effort was
MADE to depresS those streets. and that
the number of tracks crossing those
streets would make elevation exceedingly
costly, and, besides. it would be very diff
cult to reach a working grade at these
crossings. 1t was admitted that depres-
sion was possible at Grove street and at
Jersey avenue.
When the train stopped at east end of
about him ana said that It seemed to aim
inaf the Whole problem was very simple
IL Jersey City and the railroad people
were inclined to be fair. He wanted ia
Know why Jersey. City could not vacate
oughfares. IKE Henderson Street and
Jersey avenue, to be crossed by the ele-
walton.
Mr.. Allen said that the jersey CITY a,,-
whereupoE one Of Jersey City,s officials
asclafed that they were, and said that
ffh ne c6 mad been no Willing all along to meet
Mt. Allen said that the company was
not only willing but anxious to elevate,
PVT that It would not be done under the
bill now before the Legislature.
Mr.. Voorhees, replied mat the Legisla-
ture did not intend to bear too heavily
upon the Erie if the company would agree
Why don't you pass those bills con
pany and !, ratifying the Lease Of the Green
len. "You admit that they are fair, then
why not put them through Monday
elevate as.' p replie saeM Mr.. 7 v ySa Wall aTfef Is 70 3
fair business proposition. If you will
sign an agreement with Jersey City to
bills" o
Mr.. Allen hotly replied that the com
pany would make no such agreement.
and II the company's bills did not pass
Monday they would be withdrawn.
IAN right" replied MI. Voorhees,. in
his cool, calm way. sIf you wait to ele-
vate until you arc compelled to. the State
may force you to do so. The elevation of
these tracks must be accomplished"
After this discussion the party boarded
the train again and were rushed through
to Nyack, where dinner was served. ana
Mr.. Allen and Messrs. Robertson, Queen.
Lower and Bullock and "Dick" Redding,
of Raven Rock. sang.
After the dinner the train was run ia
Suffern. where 1t was switched On to the
main track. where Superintendent Me-
CURE took the throttle and Senator Voor>
hees manned the bell rope of the engine,
Under these conditions the last sixteen
miles of the run were made in eighteen