The Jersey City news., 1898-09-27
ONE SIDED AFFAIR.
Opponents Of Communipaw
Avenue Crossing See
Mayor Hoos.
A VETO GUARANTEED
Engineering Problems Easily
Solved in the Medical
Mind---Pacific Ave
nue. Bridge.
A VETO GUARANTEED

The hearing Mayor Hoos gave the
Board of Trade committee ON the orol-
nance passed by the Street and water
Board. allowing the Lehigh Valley Rail-
road to cross Commu1ipaw avenue at
grade was not tame affair
Andrew J. Corcoran and George Snyder
distinguished themselves in a way. Mayor
Hoos. however, made the hit of the az
ternoon by declaring that he was elected
on platform which opposed grade cross
ings.
"That being the case. said His Honor,
4 win veto any and all grade crossing
ordinances which may reach me.
The Lehigh Valleys ordinance mas peeh
The hearing started promptly. at two
o'clock OF the twelve men VINO were
present, at least ten We're aware LII LA
nance no matter what was sara LOT y
against it. That did not prevent spreasas-, ss-
eagle speeches from being made nor aia s.a
it make His Honor any the less attentive
listener. Frank o. Cole, as chairman
of the august body from the i3eard OF
Trade, stated, with unusual and pleasing
committee On behalf of the committee
he asked the Mayor to veto lne out-
rageous and unjust ordinance
Mr.. Myron Furst was nrst introouceu''
lie &dlQ--
Il have spent a great deal of time on
grade crossing and track elevation work.
i worked hard with others TO get tne
Erie's death traps abolished. Ine lea lesin, .,
lature came to our assistance ana l ali
happy to say that the raising OF lhe
tracks is well under way greater
death-trap than this ordinance creates,
it would be difficult to PLAN II TINS
ordinance becomes operative, there VIII
be two great grade crossings on an I'M.
portant thoroughfare WITHIN luo ieet Oh
ia tt4f a ~
hood of this proposed crossing VIII be
ruined There will be constant delay 70
pedestrians and business eonveNances ana
houses in the neighborhood VIII become
untenanted because people VIII pc AFRAID
to cross the great network OF tracks
rCommunipaw avenue is the only street
open to the Bay which is Ana natural "a
kept OPEN no matter how much railroads
are inconvenienced or to what expense
they are put
Il firmly believe that If a competeniil;;
disinterested engineer is engaged II VIII
be possible to so reconstruct the Facing
avenue bridge that no compromise Will
have to enter into this crossing sublect.
The Canal is not used more than SIX
months in the year, and l think am
safe in saying that not more than hair
dozen boats pass Pacific avenue IN a cay
That being the case, ] think a draw
bridge could be operated safely and
speedily without causing anyone any ue-
lay to which objection could be made.
Regarding this question of giving the
company permission to cross Communl-
paw avenue at grade, l want it under
stood that / am unalterably opposed TO
Ii because it will be menace to life-
The Legislature, of which Mayor Hoos
was a member, passed a grade crossing
act The Mayor as an Assembiyman ray
ored the abolition of grade crossings. HIS
attitude then was what it will be now, L
hope
DR. Mortimer Lampson spoke next. He
said. | have discussed grade crossings
and this particular one with Mayor Hoos
lots of times. I feel am well posted on
the subject. Two years ago this same
proposition was before US. 1t has been
dished up in all phases. Mayor Wanser
had to deal with it, and, be it said to his
life long honor, he vetoed an ordinance
That old ordinance comes up to us now
revised bit, but it is the same hideous
old thing. This crossing will be great
menace TO life, and will be an injury 70
the city. | cannot see how our officials
can see it in any other light 1t IS claim
ed that Communipaw avenue is an unused
street. and that the crossing VIII not add
to the danger of using it. The street is
2l5 years old, and being the only outlet
to the bay. is used a great deal by men.
women and children. 1t has been said
that a majority of the people Of Lafayette
greatest number are opposed to 1t. This
matter was precipitated in the Street and
Water Board and was rushed through
without a hearing or without giving any
one opportunity to present remon-
STRANGE. The railroad company has never
shown proper disposition in this matter.
] believe an expert engineer can find a
way to avoid a grade crossing at Com
munipaw avenue All this talk about
what the company will make us do with
the Pacific avenue bridge is nonsense. All
we want is to have that bridge safe.
There need not be the injury to property
that is pictured
IF the grade crossing is followed. all
those who have taken a part in its pas
sage will have to share the responsibility
for the lives lost there. That lives will be
lost is an assured fact"
Andrew j. COrcoran was the next speak,
er. What he had to say was published
in the News" yesterday.
Architect Blau dwelt at length upon the
feasibility of the company changing the
course of its line. and instead of crossing
the Central Railroad at the Point of
Rocks, on the Morris Canal. keeping to
the east and making a crossing at Philip
street He admitted it would cost many
thousand dollars to make the change. The
crossing of Communipaw avenue at grade
will involve the crossing at Johnston ave-
ton of newspaper clippings to show that
all large cities are doing away with grade
1T viii look as if we are moving back
ward If we allow this crossing to go
through, was his final remark
James E. Banks said he had strong
prejudice against grade crossings.
81 can see no real excuse for this ac-
tion Of the Street and Water Board" he
continued 1.-The Mayor has been against
the granting of all unfair and unjust
franchises and ! feel confident that he
will put stop to this outrage He will
of course. lose tone with the Street and
Water Commissioners, but his action
against the ordinance will meet with the
approval of the whole people,. -.
Ex-Mayor Oliver, Of Bayonne, was next
heard.
ssthat this crossing does not interest the
whole city. Just why it has been made
a sectional matter ] cannot understand.
nor can / understand why a proposition
to barter should have entered into it. |
pany not compelling change of grade on
Pacific avenue to accommodate the peo-
pie if this crossing will be allowed. There
is a law pertaining to that bridge. and
neither the city nor company dare ignore
that law. We can make more trouble for
the company over that bridge than the
company can make for us.
aI am really ashamed to know that our
city has such representatives IN the
Street and Water Board. They are not
worthy to be called American citizers. sa n
They are disgrace to the city. They
talk about Communipaw avenue not be-
ing used Why one business house alone
sends 55 horses through that street every
day That company has demonstrates
against the crossing. but not particle
tion. 1t appears to me that the railroad
company wants to shut off that part of
Lafayette and claim It. Should this or
dfnance go through. there viii be three
coming to a pretty pass when railroads
enter our city and dictate at what grade
our streets Shall be and at what height
our bridges shall be built. What right
has the company to violate established
laws? Your duty Mr. Mayor Is 10
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