The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-13
THE MAYOR SURPRISED
While Inspecting the Loca-
tion of a Twelfth Street
Switch He Is Sur
rounded by Police.
ORDERED 10 STOP ERIE's WORK
Company Says 1t Is Vacating
Monmouth Street by Agree
ment-Permit to Issue
Monday.
ORDERED TO STOP ERIE's WORK

The police of the Second precinct gave
Mayor Hoos and President Boltwood OF
the Street and Water Board genuine
surprise party at half-past eight O'Clock
this morning. 1t took place at Monmouth
and Twelfth streets. Besides the city Off
cials mentioned, two sergeants and a
squad eof coppers, there were present
about one hundred italian laborers of the
Erie Railroad Company, and anywhere
from one to three hundred boys.
The Mayor and the PreSldent Oh the
Street and Water Board went TO the place
referred to inspect the proposed location
of a switch across Twelfth street to the
yard of the N. Y. Pottery Company. That
concern has at present spur track across
the street from the Erie Railroad tracks
at that point but because of the track
elevation plan It is necessary to move the
switch about forty feet west towards the
Hill, and to do SO it was necessary to ask
the permission of the Street and Water
Board. While the pottery officials and
were explaining the situation to the
Mayor up came patrol wagon filled with
police and followed by an army OF boys
"Bless me" exclaimed the Mayor, turn
ing to Mr.. Boltwood, what does all this
mean?"
Blessed if I know replied that equal
" astonished official, and then as If an
idea occurred to him, Surely it does not
take all that number to arrest u.s.
As the Sergeant approached him, the
that official only knew that he had been
ordered to stop the Erie Railroad Com
pany from stealing the streets.
s.But the Erie Company is vacating
Monmouth street, and Shifting its tracks
further to the west, precisely in accord
ance with the Track Elevation agreement
entered into by them with the city," said
Mr.. Boltwood
The Sergeant never heard of that, and
replied that he must obey orders. While
all this was going on the italian laborers
n f11n TRxxv 10 nd
TO the west of Monmouth street prepara-
tory to laying the new track which, with
two others, will form the new Erie yard
under the Hill, and to the west of the N.
]. Traction Railroad tracks. 1t was in
vain that the Eries engineer informed the
police that they were putting tracks on
their own ground, and there was nothing
TO do but stop.
Pulling out map of that section of the
track elevation scheme, the engineer
pointed out to the Mayor and Mr. Bolt
wood that the vacation of Monmouth
street by the company meant simply the
shifting of the track running along it at
said that it was evident the company We're
right, and ought not to be interfered
with With Mr.. Boltwood and a News
repre9entative His Honor left the
Later in the morning Captain Kelly, who
ordered out the reserves, came to the
City Hallza and held a CONSULTATION with the
Mayor; He said that he had not. been in
formed by the Street and Water Board
as to the rights of the company to build
track further west and he deemed 1t his
duty TO stop them until a permit signed
by the Board of Works was exhibited by
the company to him. This permit will be
given and the company on Monday will
be permitted to carry our its agreement
by yacating Monmouth street and remov-
ing its track to -he west
Street and Water Commissioner F.
Heintze last Wednesday stopped the Erie
people for trying to cross Monmouth
street at the pottery. He then stationed a
policeman at the crossing with orders to
ties ..s.,s. -.--t tfF77