The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-13
TRACK ELEVATION.
Mayor Hoos Received an
Interesting Letter From
the Erie Road This
Morning
WORK BEGINS IN AUGUST
Railroad Company Hopes to Finish
the Improvement by June
1S99-The Plans.

There will doubtless be rejoicing in the
Pavonia section of this city this
evening when the residents read the toi-
lowing interesting document:-
To the Mayor and Aldermen of Jersey
City,
Gentlemen-You will please take notice
the undersigned, on the 18th day OF Au-
gust, commenced the work required TO pc
with you under date of April Is last, pro-
viding for the elimination of certain
crossings at grade in Jersey City. we
have also commenced the rearrangement
of our local freight yards and other work
which is a necessary preliminary 20 the
performance of the work covered py the
contract referred to, and the same VIII
be completed as soon as practlcaple.
The letter was signed by the Second
Vice-President of the Erie Railroad, w.
F. Merrill; E. B. Thomas, President of the
Long Dock Company, and c. W. Buch-
holz for the Penn Horn Creek Railroad.
No one could have been more surprised
than was Mayor Hoos when he learned
that the improvement which has been
sought so many years has at last been
started.
1T will doubtless be glad news for the
members of the Erie Track Elevation
people in all parts of the city will rejoice
and particularly those who live near the
death dealing grade crossing and who
have seen so many lives crushed out. Per-
haps the city is not getting all it should
but the elimination of the grade crossings
is a step in the right direction. The
agreement the company is to do the work
under was made by the former admin
it that I do not like, but I am happy
nevertheless that those crossings on which
so many lives have been sacrificed are to
CO.
The Mayor sent copy of the letter from
the several interested companies to the
Street and Water Commissioners and then
telephoned the glad news to Andrew J.
Corcoran, John Casey and other members
of the Erie Track Elevation Society, who
have been fighting for the Improvement
for years. There will probably be a re-
union of the Elevation Society to celebrate
it's victory.
No one connected with the city govern
ment had the slightest idea that work had
been commenced and in fact not a few of
them imagined the company was holding
off and would ultimately endeayor to
dodge the agreements The company, it
was ascertained this morning, has engag-
ed a large force of men and is preparing to
get as much of the preliminary work done
as possible before the cold weather sets
in.
Bridges for the several streets have
been built in the companys shops ana
are ready to be set in position as soon
as the necessary abutments and founda-
ton walls have been built.
The plans now on file with the Street
and Water Board provide for clear
ance of at least twelve feet at Mon
mouth and Coles streets, Jersey avenue,
Erie street, Grove street and Henderson
street All these streets are between the
a the foot of Pavonia avenue. over
each street there will be bridge, con-
will rest On stone foundations. There
may be iron supporting columns. Ii 1t is
found necessary to use them they will
be set on the curb line.
All the bridges will have solid floors so
as to prevent grease, coal and such things
from dropping into the street or on the
the company to use a trestle or solid fill
ing between streets. Just what plan is
to be adopted the company has not as yet
used the city makes itself liable for all
suits and actions for damages which may
arise therefrom.
The company agrees to remove the
tracks it has at present in Monmouth
street, north of Eleventh street. 1t will
provide a bridge at Monmouth street the
9ull width of the street, and give clear.
Ance that will permit the passage of
trucks.
In Monmouth street, north side, the
company reserves the right to lay tracks
at grade as far over as Tenth street. 1t
is distinctly specified, however, that such
tracks at grade are to be used only in
switching cars over to its repair shops in
Tenth street.
So as to give the clearances at the
several streets mentioned the company
extracts from the city the promise to
make many changes of grade and de-
pressions:. For instance, at Coles street
there will be a depression of ] foot 5
inches; Jersey avenue, feet; Erie street,
3 As feet; Grove street, and GA one hun
dredths feet, and Henderson street, 6-lO
feet.
city at. its own expense, and it is also
to settle all claims for damages and
demands of whatever character that may
arise. The city too is to vacate Paterson
or what is sometimes called Division
street, from Tenth to Twelfth streets,
thereby surrendering about 420 square
from Tenth to Eleventh streets, or about
$50 square feet. Provost street, from
Ninth to Eleventh street, about 1858 square
feet, and Tenth street from Provost street
142 feet west, and finally the north half
Of Tenth street, west of Brunswick
street, 200 feet
The company was not expected to com
mence any part of its work before No
vember l, and that start has already
been maze cOQV10ceS the OI1cldlS tndt Inc
grade crossings are to be disposed of
srith all the speed possible.
Under the agreement the work is to be
finished not later than June, 1899 unless
legal complications and cause unlocked
for delays.
Concerning the elimination of the grade
crossing in Pavonia avenue nothing is to
be done at present. The company dis
creetly had a provision inserted in the
agreement allowing Pavonia avenue to re-
main as it is until the company and city
q
dangerous tracks. The only proposition
that has so far been suggested is that the
grade of the avenue be SO changed as to
raise it fifteen feet and in that way raise
1t over the tracks. In such an event the
company is to do all the work between
the ferry and crossing, while the city at
tends to the northern end. The city would
get far the best of such an arrangement
as it is estimated the proposed change
property which the city would be
called upon to pay. The decision not to
disturb Pavonia avenue at this time will
doubtless prevent the institution of legal
proceeding by persons interested in that
neighb ffood. AS lessee of the Penn Horn
Creei Long Dock and New York and
Cree I'd Lake Railroads, the Erie asks
mar 5ncessions SO as 10 enable 1t to
bull open cut through the rocks
nea tunnel, about which there has
bee; much talk.
nue. &shburn street is to be changed
as tt location. The city too is to aban-
don Washburn street where it intersects
Hobeken avenue; :; Mcpherson place, from
the north line of Washburn street, and
Terry alley, from the south line of Ho-