The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-10-02
Erie TRACKS And WATER
City Officials in Consular
ton Over Two Impor-
tant Matters.
TRACK ELEVATION NEARLY SETTLED
But the Ideas of Price for the
Temporary Water Supply
Wide Apart.
TRACK ELEVATION NEARLY SETTLED

The Street Water and Finance
Commissioners, Corporation Counsel Blair
and City Attorney weart discussed pub
lie affairs with the Mayor in his private
office today.
The first subject taken up was the efe-
walton of the Erie Railroad tracks from
the tunnel to the trainshed at the foot
of Pavonia avenue. Last week the Mayor
was in consultation with President
Thomas of the Erie almost daily. The
Mayor, on behalf of the city, has made
several concessions in order to patch up
the difficulties which nave arisen lately
concerning the proposed elevation Presi-
dent Thomas wants a great deal more
than he did when the question was first
agitated and the Mayor is doing his best
to check his demands. Two days G a
hitch arose about the tracks which cross
Pavonia avenue. President Thomas in
sists thai these tracks cannot be elevated
inasmuch as too steep a grade would be
created to run trains with safety in to
the stock yards and elevator. The Mayor
being opposed to grade crossings, is en-
deavoring to have Pavonia avenue cleared
of tracks,. This is the one point over
which there is d~issension at this time.
The Mayor has arranged to vacate sew
eral streets for the accommodation of the
mpan but in. turn he wants other
streets depressed. paved and drainage
facilities provided. The Mayor has done
nothing, it is said, without having first
consulted the wishes of the people di-
rectly interested in the abolition of the
Fries grade crossings.
The eompany's plans were inspected
today and with a few alterations will
doubtless be accepted by the city.
The agreement which Is to be entered
into viii not be signed before two weeks.
Thu officials are all anxious to have the
work begun. but believe it will be TO the
best interests of the city to have every
thing thoroughly understood before
.sWe are getting along slowly" said
the Mayor after the conference. II am
interested in the elevation of the Erie's
Owned with success. The people own
ing property either side of the railroad
are willing to make almost any sacrlfice
ITO secure the abolition OF the grade cross,
ings. The company asks a great deal and
SO does the city. We have practically
reached an agreement now, and hepe
within the next three weeks to be able
to announce that the Erie folk have ac-5
cepted our terms and will start the work.
BY securing the elevation of the tracks,
] think We will have accomplished some
thing that will cause generals satisfac-
ton"
The city's law officers are to meet with
the company's lawyers next week and
draw up the necessary documents.
After track elevation the temporary
water supply subject was discussed. The
East Jersey Water Company stil de-
mands payment at the rate of SAB per
officials are holding out for a sweeping
reduction. When the company WIS
awarded the temporary supply contract
it was agreed that $4S per million gallons
should be paid If the company delivered
at least twenty million gallons a day.
In January last, when the water was
carrying capacity of the Newark main
was insufficient 10 give this city The
quantity pledged, the company at once
agreed 10 give the city its surplus flow
fleo of charge from January u to April
II. In April the supply picked up and mo-
tice was served upon the city that $40
per million salons would be charged un-
IL May 50. The city officials paid no at
teption to that notice, and the company,
unauthorized, continued the delivery of
water. About June the company claimed
that 1t was delivering an adequate sup
ply and once again made a demand for
payment, this time asking SAB per million
gallons.
No attention was paid to the company,s
demand, the officials claiming that having
failed 10 fulfill the original contract there
was nothing which bound the city to
make payment.
Counsel for the company has conferred
with the officials several times concern
ing payment, but no settlement of the
difficulty has ever been reached.
Mayor Wanser SAID today that he feels
the city is indebted to the company, but
he @ll not agree to the payment of S43
PEI. million gallons for the water deliv-
cred since May 30. The law officers say
the company has no legal claim upon the
city, but like the Mayor hold that some
payment should be made.
The Street and Water Commiss oaers on
beha-f CT the city. " Il, it is understood,
cfer me company s29 per million gallons.
be litlgat on. If the ompany sues TO
recover en- the basis OF S43 per million gall
Ions. the city will sue for damages due
to the eompany's failure to carry out its
contract. The offer may be made by the
Street and Water Commissioners at their
meeting on Tuesday.