The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-25

sYNoPSIS OF THE BERGEN TROLLY BILL.
Several important public highways in
his State are called county roads and
Ire under the control of boards of chosen
eeholders. In most cases they have
q improved by costly telford pave
n ~ are eagerly sought after by
lley Nmpanies as routes for street
silrnads. Most of these highways were
not laid out wide enough originally to
accommodate vehicles and trolleys.
Many of them can now be widened at
moderate expense. Assembly bill No.
1876 gives boards of chosen freeholders
power TO widen such avenues at the ex-
psnse of trolley companies seeking fran
ehises thereon.
The first section of the bill provides a
method of obtaining the land necessary
to widen such highways in case it can
hot be obtained by agreement. The
method prescribed is better than that
sprovided in the general road law of this
State and in most city charters because
\ the report of the commissioners appoint
4 ed to condemn is not final, but must be
presented to the circuit court, and after
notice to parties interested may be con-
firmed or referred back to the same
commissioners other commissioners to
- appointed by the court, until report
Fshall be made which the court is willing
to confirm.
The second section provides that if the
freeholders desire to widen. straighten
or otherwise improve county road in
order to accommodate a street railroad
they must (after filing map in the
county clerks office showing the pro-
posed improvement of the highway
proceed with ordinances instead of res
buttons, the same to be published in
two or more newspapers in the county.
PROPOSITIONS may then be received in re-
Spouse to public notice from persons or
corporations willing to construct a street
railroad on the highway so widened or
improved. The board of freeholders
may accept any proposition that is salts
factory or reject all propositions and adj
vertise for others.
Any arrangement or agreement here
tofore made between municipalities and
street railroad companies as to terms on
which franchise may be granted, such
al rates of fare, and the amount of per
centage of receipts to be paid annually
for the franchise, Roadway of cars, trans
fers. etc., may be made under the pro-
Visions of this bill, and in addition to
those advantages. the freeholders may
obtain the money needed to widen
and improve important public high
WAYS in consideration or part CON
sideration of franchise to construct
street railroads thereon and without
sneurring debt or increasing taxation
This section provides that as soon
q a proposition is accepted bond
Il carry it out must be given by the
Marty making the same, to be approved
& Ia form, amount and sufficiency of
suretv by a Justice of the supreme court.
The second section as amended by the
committee provides that the consent of
ma owners of majority of lineal feet
along the highway in each municipality
n which it is proposed to construct a.
erect railroad must be Obtained before
street railroad can be built thereon.
The third section provides that the
corsent of the governing body of each
ss,s,,nieipality in the county, whether it
= ! township committee, borough coun-
II or other governing body, must be OBJ
ss,Tetf before astreet railroad is construct
al thereon.
ghis bill makes no substantial change
=. the law relating to the granting of
5s.-.snchisee to street railroad companies
cent that the boards Of freeholders
srsv under the bill obtain the means to