The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-09-26
OPPOSE GRADE CROSSING
Board of Trade Men Talk
Against the Communipaw
Avenue Plan.
MR.. CoRcoRAH'S GREAT PLAN
The Mayor It Is Said Will
Veto the Or
dinance.

Mayor Hoos this afternoon gave a hear
ing to the Board of Trade Committee
which had instructions from the main
body to oppose the approval of the ordi-
nance allowing the Lehigh Valley Rail-
road Company to cross Communipaw av-
enue at grade. The Mayor invited the
gentlemen into his public office. There
were esent.--Frank O. Cole, Andrew j.
Corooran, Myron Furst, James e. Banks
George Snyder, Gustav Blau, S. L. Har-
yey, D: M Oliver, DR. Mortimer Lamp
son, Counsellor William d. Edwards
Counsellor w. H. speer and Freebooter
Zumbusch-
Mr.. 2umbusch was present to argue in
favor Of the ordinance. w. III. Speer
was a private counsel engaged to tank
against the ordinance. OF all those
present DIR. Mortimer Lampson was the
only one who has anything possessing
even suspicion of property interest in
the locality Of the proposed crossing.
Frank O. Cole was chairman of the pro-
testing committee.
Andrew ]. Corcoran was the most Wig
orous speaker of the afternoon. From
elaborate notes he delivered quite an es-
say. For the benefit of the Mayor he re-
viewed what he and a few others had
done 70 get the Erie Railroad grade cross
fngs abolished.
He spoke Of the frequent. deaths on the
Erie crossings, and pictured the suffering
and unnapplneSS grade crossings are re-
sponsible for He finally got down to
the subject of Communipaw avenue, and
said that it would be an Injustice to the
city should the Mayor approve the ordin-
ance.
Should this ordinance become opera
tive, he declared, the blood of those
who are killed on the crossing will be up
on the heads of Commissioners Nolan,
Hauck Smith and Boltwood. The first
death on this crossing will be the signal
for the whole horseshoe to turn out and
with banners flying attend the funeral Of
the first victim. More victims will follow,
but we will make a demonstration at the
first to show that when We said we We're
opposed to grade crossing we meant it.
u never saw a man change heart so
quickly as has Mr.. Boltwood Why, it
was only a short time ago he was de-
nouncing grade crossings and declaring
when it was said water would be under
the tracks of the Erie il streets had to
be depressed, I would rather see water
under the tracks than blood on top of
them. He has changed his tune now and
the change naturally strikes people queer
ly,
Mr.. Corcoran concluded with the an
nouncenent that he had consulted counsel
had no right to vote in the Board while
he retains the post OF Colonel. Gustav
Blau, an architect, was introduced as a
man who would point out a way whereby
no grade crossing at CommunipaW avenue
would be necessary.
After reading several columns of ex-
tracts from newspapers, Mr.. Blair adj
vanced the proposition that all the COM
pany will have to do IS to make it's en-
tire line easterly and cross Phillip street
and all the Central Railroad tracks over
head circle about South Cove a few times
and finally reach the water front.
There were others beside the Mayor
who did not exactly grasp his plan. James
E. Banks also spoke. The Mayor viii
veto the ordinance, ii is said