New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-23
ro,,LGATES IN BROOKLYN.
,cs OF THE PAST TO BE FOUND ON
JA.fAICA-AVE

MANY Of the million more people in
~ r., are aware tina. two tollgates are main
Div, .,,.hir the city limits? II seems a
'a anomaly :hat in the second city of the
-. state and the fourth city OF the Union
I .,-y,vals of the past should be allowed to
wv with the end OF the nineteenth century
TO- Ave years distant The fact Is that one
N~.,a.r,ble street IN Brooklyn is really the
eV" ~,-,,, NJ a private corporation, which enjoys
pr, srcises exclusive rights in il.
nj. street In question is now known ia
,ovc and II lies in the Twenty-sixth
wo-d This war6. formerly the town Of New
49,. became a part of the city about ten years
-. .rd thus the anomalous condition of things
thereby a private highway is permitted to re-
.,r within the boundaries Of a great city has
h.cr in existence long enough for ii 20 cease 10
=. novelty Doubtless a large percentage Of the
,non,s Of Brooklyn have never visited that part
:, +he ci,v and thus have had no means OF gain
,,o knowlcdge on the subject; and ii IS safe to
cav tina. those who had a vague idea ot the ex-
,s..nce Of ,o!Gates there years ago generally
.unnose that they had been wiped out by the
march Of Improvement.
nis true that some attempts have been made
hv The city to buy out the rights Of the company
and abolish these relics Of bysone time, but
without success thus far Another attempt is
.ov under way, and II Is hoped that It will bring
about the desired result.
RIGHTS OF LONG STANDING.
The rights Of the Jamaica and rocklyn Plank
Pad Comoany are ancient. They go back 10 the
early years 81 The century. On March H. 1909,
the Brooklyn, Jamaica and Fatbush Turnpike
Company was incorporated and it's rights COW
cred not only Jamaica-aNe, but what is now
known as East NewYork-ave, Or Lincoln Road.
IN the former town Of Fla.bush There was no
other highway leading to the eastward from that
par, OF the present city Of Brooklyn and the fran
chise was an important one. In accordance with
the custom Of those days tollhouses were estab-
lished at intervals and in return for the tolls
collected from ali travellers the road was main
,ained in good condition by the company
BY 1882 the Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad
Company had been organized. and in that year
1t purchased all the rights and property OF the
turnpike company. In 1850 the Jamaica and
Brooklyn Plank Road Company was incorpo-
rated, and In the following year the turnpike
company and railroad company were conveyed
10 ii. The plank road company continued to
exist until short time ago. when 1t was &C
quired by the Brooklyn, Queens County and Sub
urban Railroad Company. which is virtually
Part Of the Brooklyn Heights system. The Sub
urban Company controls a number Of trolley rail-
roads In the eastern part Of Brooklyn. as well
as the line running along Jamaica-ave. to ia
ma!ca
Ii is interesting to note. by-the-way. that 1t
was on this last-named line that electricity was
first used in the neighborhood of Brooklyn. The
line then ran from East New-York to Jamaica
and many people travelled TO that part of the
city 10 see the curious arrangement whereby
streetcar was propelled by means Of little wheel
running along a wire. 1t was thus that the word
trolley" found place in the vocabulary Of
Brooklynites where it is now one OF the most
familiar words In everyday use. In the old days
OF the horsecars a ride over the Jamaica Plank
Road wa, dreary enough. especially on a hot
summer day. The cars went at a snairs pace
along a dusty road. with nothing cheerful or
inspiring IN the surroundings.
SEVERAL. LAWS PASSED.
few wears after New-Lots became a part OF
Brooklyn the first effor- was made to bring the
old plank road into harmony with the general
street system of the city by extending the au-
thority OF the city over it, In 1892 an act Of the
LEGISLATURE was passed to enable the city to
ocouire the Ownership and control Of the road,
turnpike or highway formerly known as the
Jamaica and Brooklyn Plank Road. located In
the Twenty-sixth Ward OF the city Of Brooklyn.
and for the improvement thereof" In the fol-
lowing wear this act was amended. and under
the amended law proceedings for the condemna-
ton Of the company's rights were instituted.
Considerable progress had been made and the
commission appointed to acquire the property
had been at work for some time. when one OF
the commissioners died. and the matter was
brought to a standst
After that II was for variety OF reasons
deemed best to make new start. Accordingly
the passage Of another act having the same OBJ
tect in view was procured from the Legislature
OF 1895. and both the previous acts were re-
pealed. BY this act the old plank road Will be-
come "a public street" OF the city. provided
however. that said condemnation and taking
shall be subject to such, rights and privileges OF
the railroad company now operating railroad OF
such highway, road or turnpike as are no"
secured to II by law and relate to the operation
and maintenance Of said railroad In accord
ance with this act and with the general statute
negotiations we're entered into between the CHI!
and the company, but they were unable 10 CONF
N terms. This result was anticipated Dy inc c"'
authorities. and resort was then had 10 'he |o'"
mon Council, which authorized Commemorative
proceedings TO be Instituted
The papers in the case are no" or'"s ia"
Nd BY Richard b. Greenwood. jr.. one OF the as
sirants Of Corporation Counsel Mcdonald VINO
thoroughly familiar with the case in all us oe
tails and had charge Of Che PROCEEDINGS 'aAe'
Under the previous laws which nave peer NE"
toned. and It Ii expected that an app'cA.'o' I
the Supreme Court for the appointment Vi 'o','
m,ssioners TO condemn the property VIII DC "'"o
early next month
There 10 one vital point OF difference pe,".e
the city and the company. for the ia''e' 49,
Z fee In the street, while the contcntio" VI ="
representatives OF the city Is that the co'"P~"
never had anything but an easement
amount Of compensation to which the COMPANY
entitled will largely depend on the way II" WHO
this question Is settled. .., -, IN