The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-10-15
Erie Officials Present an
Agreement for Track
Elevation That They
Want the Mayor
to Sign.
THERE ARE POINTS OF DIFFERENCE
Mayor Wanser Will Insist That
the Work Be Done With
Least Possible Cost
TO the City.

President Thomas, OF the Erie Rail-
road, has filed with Mayor Wanser a
draft Of the agreement ne wishes the
city to sign before anything IS done to-
leard eleyating the tracks between tiss
tunnel and the trainshed at the foot af
Pavonta avenue. While It is reasonably
certain, the officials ask that the COM
pany VIII elevate lis tracks, there are
still many important points now ii dis
pute which win have to be settled. II
was at frst reported thar the company
would build trestle similar to that Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. That plan
has been abandoned and the road bed
VIII be solid filing. with only openings
for the Streets The reason the Penn
sylvania Company built a trestie was be-
cause its road bed was in the driveway
Of Railroad avenue. The Erie Company
owns every foot of Its roadway and the
tracks 90 not occupy any part Of :
street. The solid filing although prac-
neatly separating two thiekiy populated
sections. win be less CT q nuisance, it is
CLAIMED, than trestle, inasmnch as the
noise made by the constant running Of
trains over trestle wiz not be expert
enced.
The agreement asks for the vacation
OF Division, Brunswick and Provost
streets The vacation Of thoss Streets
ls almost absolutely necessarv. and NIaro~
Wsnser approves of closing tsefa. Tba
company also asks for the vacation or
monmouth street. but the Navor wants
70 70 save tfat thoroughfare, If possible.
Inc Erie Companyss repair shops are
located at Monmouth street and Il Esas 4
AaH-aoZen or more tracks crossing 4hs
street al grade to reach them. President
: -f-- > Ak,.,k ~
pc feasible to reach the shops after eIe-
Eatlng the main line VIII be by having
the tree use of the street. Engiueers
have advised the Mayor that bv defra=-
70 keep il open and get a clearance Of Ten
1est under the elevated tracks To sc-
eempilsh this it VIII be necessary Tor
ele company to operate a haIf-dozen sets
of tracks running TO its shops - fra
grade of the street This the Mayor holds
VIII pc all right as the travel at that
Polnt IS light and no great amount Of
Danger weuld attend grade crossings OF
that character
Another point over which there Is
disagreement IS the disposition OF the
at grade, 10 reach the stock yards ard
elevator, The company insists that it IS
net feasJ bic to cross the avenue On a
tfestie, owing TO the steeD grads that
would be created. It suggests however
that it be permitted to de0ress the
tracks about two feet below the surface
" tAtS St14- QG4lsS THIS NQlll
be feasible to FIJI in and raise the drive
way Of the avenue 50 as to give a clear
ance Of IS feet to the company. This
you'd 40 away with the grade crossing
To raise the grade of the street would
be an expensive undertaking but the
company agrees. to bear its fair share of
the cost. 1t viii change the grade Of tbs
avenue from the centre line OF the arch,
which would have to be built over the
tracks. to the ferry ana do all the neces-
sary repairing and repaving. The city.
IN turn, would have to do tAe same kind
OF work from the centre line Of the arch
TO about twenty-five feet east Of Ieader-
son street. Engineers say the plan IS
feasible and would make a rise OF aboue
three feet 10 the hundred.
The only objection Of the officials to the
proposition is that the change Of grade
would damage considerable properts and
result in the city being made defendant
IN batch OF suits fer damages. Mayor
WSnser is anxious TO have the Erie
tracks elevated, but he wants the work
done. he says, without ans great ex-
pense being. thrown upon the city. The
agreement is to be carefully considered
by the Mayor and ether officials before 4
IS accepted or rejected. Lndsr the com
pany's plans for elavating its tracks the
work will cost about $1,eQ0eo0.