The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-24
CITY'S DILEMMA.
Admits Responsibility for
Ravine Road Sewer But
Can't Remedy 1t.
MORE LEGISLATION NEEDED
City Authorities Won't Appeal the
Decision of Vice Chancellor
Pitney-Digs All
Round.

The decision of vice-Chancellor Pitney,
exclusively printed IN last nights News"
relating to the Ravine Road sewer case,
did not surprise the legal authorities OF
the city. While they have all admitted
that IN a measure Jersey City was re-
sponsible, ana from her should come the
relief for the nuisance, yet they are un-
able to find any statutes which clearly
give them authority to issue bonds for
the cost of the work. In fact. Jersey
city IS between the devil and the deep
sea. On the one hand there is the Vice
Ckanceitor's decree telling them that they
must abate the nuisance, and on the other
the absence of any enactment giving them
power to do 50.
The municipal authorities this morning
decided not to appeal the case, for that
would not help matterssat all, but rather
tsild to conplicate them.
VIVA viii you dor" asked a News
representatives of one of the officials.
wei, there is one thing only to be
done, and that is to procure legislation,
You see the law which created the Har-
rison-Butts-Connolly Commission did not
give authority to raise money to carry
out the plans. and until we get that we
can't &c ahead"
but MI. Charles L. Corbin pointed
out several statutes which in his opinion
conferred power on the city to condemn
and construct" ventured the News re-
porter.
1t is true he pointed to one giving US
right to raise money, another giving US
permission to condemn . and a third to
build; but some Of US nave doubts about
the legality of this patchwork authority"
9Th city could proceed with the con-
s~truction through the Morris and Essex
yard to tide water, could it not?"
Here again there may be trouble. The
railroad company is willing to give US
permission to go through its yards
provided the city VIII vacate Thirteenth
street, but you know as well as I do if
the city were to attempt such a course it
would stir up a hornets nest, and there
would be anything but charitable things
sad about US By some who view any
negotiation with a railroad company with
profound suspicion"
From this gentleman's opinion 1t seems
that nothing can be done to mitigate the
lsu sance until the legislature passes an
act and Jersey City can borrow 100000
to build q new eve from Hudson City
to the Hudson River.
in giving his decree yesterday the Vice
1t1AtfSElANt WIS dchC4 ~ Sd1 S'3lA1CllAtI5
about the position of the Delaware and
Laekawanna Railroad Company. one of
the defendants in the case, since that
al refused to take any part in the
grai becaGSe of an appeal which It
has taken from a decree in a similar
suit. The Court said
Jersey City should see that the rail-
road company did not interfere with the
stream. ] won't enter any decree Of pro
cen1eSso against the company at this time
because the company has not been heard. y
Mr.. Pitney then proceeded to give coun-
sci some information about ancient water
course sewers and similar thrilling and
fascinating topics. and showed conclu-
siveiF why Showhank Greek didn't run
across the meadows west and up the hill
10 Hudson City instead Of following it's
present course. AS for the ~stoppage Of
fhe creek by a wicked railroad ompan
he said the cities of Jersey City and Hoo
boxer have clearly a remedy against the
this dig. emphasized and p~unctuated with
strokes Of the gavel:-
I am astonished at the helplessness of
the authorities of Jersey City in this mat
ter
This was greatly relished by Hoboken's
counsel and the railroads counsel, the lat
ter Of whom was about to say something
when down came the gavel, followed by
the Courts words:-
= don't feel inclined to enter a decree
against you, but the English authorities
are ali the other way"
Then Judge Blair tried to explain Jer-
sey Cfty's position, but again came the re-
ply
IF you can show me eight months from
now that you are not to blame and can
do nothing I will modify my views