The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-17
ANDERSON Objects.
A Young Lawyer Asks Mayor
Hoos to Stop the Transit
Improvement on
Grove Street.
WANTS TIE COMPANY TO PAY
There Are Doubts Whether That
Can Be Required Under the
Original Franchise.

Joseph Anderson, a lawyer, having an
office in the Weldon building, is much
worried about the proposition OF the
North Hudson County Railroad to sub
stitute electricity for horse power on It's
Grove street line, running between this
city and Hoboken.
This morning he sent the following pro-
test to the Mayor
Jersey City. N. j., December Is, 1897.
Hon. Edward Hoos. Mayor OF Jersey CITY,
Dear Sir-It is stated in the public press
that applications for grants OF franenises
electric surface railroads in Jersey CITY,
are pending, or will be shortly presehlsu
North Hudson County Railroad Company
and the Consolidated Traction mpan
These companies have now privileges
greater than those granted to the com
panieS of other cities for similar service
In railroad lines. The city of Newark de-
rives more than $100, 600 annually from It's
electric street railways. being hve per
cent. on the gross receipts of the corpora
tions owning street railways.
Enclosed l send you copies Of a protest
which was approved by the Merchants,
Protective Association of Jersey City and
the Board of Trade of Jersey City at the
time when the application for the fran
chise for the use OF electricity was pre-
viously made by the North Hudson Coun-
ty Railroad Company. These companies
should be willing to pay five per cent. of
the gross receipts of their lines in Jersey
such payment. If 1 may be permitted,
suggest that this matter is of sufficient
importance to warrant a special message
from you, as Executive of1cer OF Jersey
City,. to the Board of Street and Water
Commissioners, recommending that all
corporations be required to pay i've per
by corporations applying for the fran,
chises. l think in so doing you would
be taking exactly the same position that
has been taken by the authorities OF other
cities of similar size to Jersey City, and
would be the means of establishing a
principle of compensation which should
have been established long before any use
of electricity as a motive power had been
allowed in Jersey City. There are many
other arguments that can be made in
day tbs OF srd the r elty fec ef ing street Ere PER rai f !
lines and should you desire them, can be
easily furnished.
The enclosed protest was used as above
stated when the railroad company applied
for the grant of q franchise some three
years ago, and this form is sent to you
to show what was done at that time and
to demonstrate the principle insisted upon
by the citizens of Jersey City.
Trusting that this will receive your i'm
mediate attention, | remain,
JOSEPH ANDERSON.
Just where Mr.. Anderson's great anxiety
finds foundation no one knows. He does
not own property along the street.
1t was reported at the office of the
Street and Water Board today that on
January s, when there is to be a public
hearing, a majority of the property own
ers along the street will be found favoring
the adoption of electricity as a motive
power. The property owners at first be-
lieved a double track system was contem-
plated. Having learned that a single
track with cut outs is to be operated, they
have little or no objection to make.
The Street and Water Commissioners
favor taxing the company, but they fear
its original franchise will bar any move
ment in that direction the same as it did
in the case of the Traction Company. The
latter mpa pays the city 5 per cent.
of its gross receipts on all the new lines
it operates.