The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-02

QUIMBY AGIN' IT.
Our Old Man Of the Sea
Jumps on the Neck
of Erie Track
Elevation.
LET THE SLAUGHTER GO OF
Property Owners Object to to Every
Feature of the Proposed Plans
-Pavonia Grievances.
LET THE SLAUGHTER GO OF

The first public hearing on the plans
the Erie Railroad Company proposes fol-
lowing in the elevation of its tracks, as
fully told in 1.-The News" was given in
the Assembly Chamber of the New City
Hall by the Street and Water Commis-
sioners yesterday afternoon. There
were present, in addition to the Street
and Water Commissioners, Mayor Wan
ser and his secretary. John Nevin. The
Mayor declined a seat on the platform
and remained outside the railing with the
interested property owners. In the audi
ence, which consisted of about three hum
dred persons, We're A. j Corcoran, Presi-
dent of the Board of Trade and of the
Erie Track Elevation Society; John
Casey, John Edelstein, Judge McGrath,
Henry Lembeck, ex-SheFin Cronin, Rob-
ert Corcoran, Jacob Weart, William A.
Lewis, R. N. Jarvis, William Midlige, DR..
Quimby, William II. Peckham, ex-Judge
Dayton Charles Hill. John D. Carscallen,
ex-Alderman Dohrmann, William Muir
ray, Benjamin Van Keuren, Edward
Hoos, ex-Judge John Kenny, William
Burns and William Dougherty.
AS soon as President Brown announc-
ed that he was ready to hear from citi-
zens for or against the approval of the
plans now before the city. John Edelstein
took the floor.
81 am opposed" he said, s'to the plans
as they are laid out at present. My first
objection is to the proposed depression
of Grove street. four feet. That street is
already depressed two feet and If four
feet more are added vow will go down
to such an extent below the grade of the
street as to destroy all the property In
that vicinity. I own property there and
do not want 1t destroyed for the benefit
of a corporation. I am also opposed 10
the city giving the railroad the extensive
concessions it asks. The idea of filling In
Pavonia avenue to a height OF eighteen
feet is ridiculous. You know, we all
know that such plan to get over the
cornpany's tracks In that thoroughfare
| will destroy every parcel of land there
for any purpose whatever. Then we come
to the outrageous suggestion to close
Provost street, which is not necessary
and which would entail untold loss to
Individuals in the interest of the railroad
company. If the Erie Railroad wants to
elevate its tracks let 1t do SO the same
as the Pennsylvania Railroad did. Then
the trestle will be an ornament rather
than a disgrace to the city. The COM
pany can readily arrange Its yards so as
not to endanger life or limb. While we
are at it let us force the company to do
something that will benefit. not inJure
u.s."
COUNSELOR William A. Lewis represent
ing Robert N. Jarvis, said MY client
has extensive interests on Thirteenth
~ Oh frodf which Will
be disastrously affected If the proposed
plans of the railroad are carried out.
am not prepared to discuss the plans from
an engineering point of view today, but
VIII be later if the Board Will give US
another opportunity to point out the OBJ
jectionable features of the plans. The
proposed vacation of Provost street will
compel our client 10 go j 600 feet out of
his way with every truck going to and
from his place of business. By the plan
Henderson street is depressed six feet.
Trucks consequently go down into this
canal, up the other side, only to strike an
Is feet elevation in Pavonia avenue. Those
changes would cause untold nuisances
and put Mr.. Jarvis to great deal of I'M
necessary expense"
Jacob, Weart, also representing Mr..
Jarvis, said:-"Mr. Jarvis located In this
city when 1T was practically a wilderness.
He has built up a big plant and gives
employment to hundreds OF men. He is
o land owner and as such is entitled to
some consideration. When the plans OF
a corporation conflict with the interests
of an individual, certainly the individual
should be given the preference. The
changes of grade as proposed and clos
ing of streets will put what property Mr..
Jarvis owns in a pocket and will cut off
the access he has to the ferry now. All
we ask is a further hearing, and If it is
granted we will be better prepared ITO lay
our case before you. IT seems to US only
reasonable that the plans can be modified
SO as to inflict no injury upon anyone.
the plans Of the company and It is only
reasonable to suppose that they have
been prepared in the interests of the
entail the least expenditure on It,"
At this juncture President Brown inter-
rupted the debate and announced that he
would grant all the publfc hearings that
everyone. he continued, xthat this Board
We are in no way committed to them..
and we called this meeting in order to-
hear ara from q the people sntsEestsa The
road officials, but no one member has
said that he would approve the plans.
Me l naye - oec1eed yr tss g employ an engnseT
he may be able to eliminate what ap-
pears now to be Objectionable features. #
carried out in such = way that a major
be dissatisfied ones, but We viii endeavor m
the greatest grievances. '-s s.
Patrick Connolly 81 entered most EN-.
phatic protest = I, have labored for q