The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-25
A talk VI2R " ANSHR
Erie Only Wants Jersey City
to Pay Part Of the
Cost.

mayor Wanser, President Richard Brown
OF the Street and Water Board and
senator voorhees, met President Thomas.
vice President Mccullough and ex-Mayor
Hewitt of the Erie Railroad in the com
pany's New York offices yesterday after
noon and discussed the elevation of the
tracks in this city. Counsellor Stetson,
PRESIDENT Clevelands law partner, and
j. Pierpont Morgan, were also to have
been present, but business detained
them.
On behalf of the city Mayor Wanser
made formal demand for the abolition
OF the grade crossings. The demand was
refused point blank unless the city would
agree to bear a part of the expense. per-
hapsS one-third. This proposition Mayor
Wanser said he would never entertain
The company's representatives argued
that tie proposition was a fair one and
cited the fact that New York city is
bearing one-third of the cost of the ele-
walton Of the tracks of the New York
Central and Hudson River Railroad.
The Erie Railroad does not pay a
dollar to Jersey City, answered the
Mayor with emphasis, "and until it does
pay the same taxes as individuals I will
the expense. I will even oppose the State
assisting in any such plan as this 1t
is an unfair proposition and one that is
mot made in good faith. The city will
do all that is fair We will vacate one
or two streets and give all the assistance
possible in aiding the work, but no
money, while I am Mayor, will go to the
company 30 help it elevate tracks which
sooner or later will have to go up"
ti.l,, 4
bility of plan to elevate the tracks
without changing the entire tunnel. This
polnt was met by the Mayor, who had
with him map showing the, grade at
which the trestle could be built without
changing the tunnel in any particular
From Provost street to the west end
of the trainshed there would have to
be, solid filling, the same as in the Penn.
sylvania Railroad from Warren street
down. Provost street would not be
closed, in fact. a clearance of II feet can
would be clearance of Is feet; at Grove
street, 13 feet; Erie street, 13 feet; Jer-
sey avenue, 1S feet; Cole. street, 10 feet;
streets that would have to be closed
are Brunswick and Division, and at these
point sufficient clearance could be had to
make a foot path.
The conference lasted two hours but
no consusion was arrived at.
When the company's representatives
said they would not elevate the tracks,
announcing that he would oppose their
reorganization bill with all his powers
''Our bill for reorganization embraces
plan for the elevation of the tracks,
said one of the railroad men.
"Give Jersey City a written agreement
that the tracks will be raised in that
city and l will support your measure"
replied Mr.. Voorhees,.
Then a revelation was made by one
of the representatives. He said that al
though it was proposed under reorgan-
ization to raise money for the elevation
of tracks, it must be remembered that
there were other cities along the line
where there were grade. crossings.
Mayor Wansr followed up this state
ment and finally came to the conclusion
that the company has al no time enter
tained any idea of elevating its tracks in
this city, but rather contemplated giving
other cities on its line relief first.
To discuss the subject further was use
less, and Senator Voorhees, left declar-
ing he would get track elevation or the
company would not get reorganization
The fight from this time on will be
at Trenton, and it promises to be a
lively one.
Senators VOORHEES, and Daily will be the
champions of track elevation.
Mayor Wanser went to Trenton this
morning in order to keep a close watch
on the railroads movements He be-
lieves there Is a fighting chance of secur-
ing the passage OF a bill making the
abolition of grade crossings mandatory