New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-15
ECEMBER Is, 1896. TWELVE PAGES.
THE RAILROAD WAR GOES on.
THE STATEN ISLAND TROLLEY COMPANY
CONTINUE THEIR BATTLE. WHILE
ARRESTS ARE MADE AND

The fgh. between the Staten Island Electric Rail-
road on the one hand and tho Staten Island Mid
land Railroad and the Board Of Trustees or the
Village OF New ighton. Staten Island which was
begun early on sunday morning. over the Hight OF
the flrst-named company to take possession and
lay rs trolley tracks in Castc;on-avc.. New
Brighton. continued yesterday with urabated
interest and with frequent arrests
ON the previous night the Staten Island Electric
Company put big gang OF mon and rushed the
work at the utmost speed Over thre" hundred
Italians piled pick and shovel Ivy the hickering
glare OF camp fires Of railroad ties and trolley head
lights Another gang of men was busily engaged
planting trolley poles and still another stringing
wires from the Richmond Turnpike branch 20 feed
power TO the car which tho company proposes run
ming the line at the earliest possible moment
BY daylight the company had made good progress.
and fully two thousand feet Of rails had been laid.
spiked down and filed IN.
The men were guarded by a special force Of men
who were armed with axe-handlcs TO resent the
rumored invasion by the Midland forces. Yestcr-
day about sixty five men. under Constablc John
Redmond. took their places. ana with the squad OF
police. under Sergeant Of Police Edward Fulton.
hand all day.
Iiostilities yesterday began a, $50 o'clock. when
Charles T. Hart. railroad constructor employed
by tho Midland company appeared with squad
Of Italians. prepared to rip mp the newly laid rails
The Electric company. to foresta trouble. had Mr..
Hart. as we'll as the Italians arrested. They were
arraigned before Justice cuylsr Van Ncchten IN
the Village Hal. majority Of the Board Of Trus
tees was found. who denounced the arrest rs ah
outrage. Mr.. Hart prod,c ed = paper signed by the
four Midland supporters In the Board authorizing
him TO rip W TN" tracks. President W. q. Rock
well. or the Midland, was also I'm the room. and he
was arrested. lie declared he had nothing to do
with Mr. Har.'s action ana II directed b.
charge, X need bo. Things were finally adjusted by
The men being released on their own rocognizances
for trial to-day.
Later I'm the day squad OF the Electric COM
panys employees was taken into custody for open
Ing a street without permit. hut the men were
Charles +. Hart James Hart ard = \. Hart were
arrested while tearing up the rails with gang or
Italians. All three were bailed.
Sheriff John J.. Daley called upon IN the
afternoon by the Staten lslard Electric Company
and the squad Of watchmeh was augmented by a
force under his direction. Meanwhile the railroad
construction went on mcrrily. ard the gang OF men
was Increased TO all that could work comfortably
OH the job.
The Midland officials and lawyers attempted to
secure an injunction forbdding the work
meeting OF the Board o. Trustees Will probably
be- held this evening. and promises some exciting
developments Their" t. serious question a. 20 IN"
right of the company to the franchise. and as III"
Midland holds 4 majority OF the Board. u - likely
that court proceedings VIII be ordered - b" begun
The action of President James Kerr in giving the
franchise to the staten Island Electric officials
much commented Yesterday and his right
do questioned. His friends declare that he
found the franchise IN the yag" SAT" I'm an en-
elope addressed TO the Electric company. and that
he gave il 10 them as such. and he had that right
They do not deny however. that he was fully aware
OF the contents OF the package.