The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-09

COMP any War.
Erie and North Hudson
Trolley Block Each
Other.
BOTH STOP WORK
Traffic on the Roads Will Be
Delayed Till An Agree
ment is Reached
BOTH STOP WORK

Work on the Erie Railroad elevation
was brought to a standstill about mid
night. The railroad company refused to
do any more work until the trolley COM
pany had done as demanded. All the
men knocked off work.
When the agreement between the two
corporations was made it was decided
to remove the rails on the north side OF
the track and work southwark. This
was dcne, and in manner satisfactory
to all concerned.
1t was note until this morning that
trouble came The trolley company in
stead of raising the trolley tracks in the
depression high enough to allow the Erie
Company to put in a frog SO that the
cars OF the Erie can be run over the
second track, instead of the extreme
southerly one. extended the trolley rails
SO that it is an utter impossibility to put
the frog in the position suggested. Ine
North Hudson Company insisted that its
tracks be laid first. so that trahe coulo
be- resumed, and the frog laid later. To
this the Erie Company refused to agree.
The officers feared that if the trolley
company got its tracks down the com
pany would have the right of way ana
would refuse to put in the frog. Tne rali-
road company then decided to block the
work of the trolley company until its
officials came to terms, by refusing 10
lower the southern tracks.
Agents of both companies were on hand
and quite a lively argument ensued. The
controversy lasted for nearly an hour
Street and Water Commissioners Nolan
and Sullivan were on hand to see that the
interests If the city were upheld.
The Nor il Hudson Company refused to
bulge an lch from the stand it had tax
en-. The Erie agents then ordered their
laborers to stop work. The men put down
their picks and shovels and sat about, un-
Ill three O'Clock this morning, when %
were put back at work.
Seeing that the stand taken by the rail-
road officials would affect the trolley in
terests the North Hudson Company or
dered its men home The trolley COM
pany would not shorten the rails, already
in position, nor would it raise them to
meet the second rack in the railroad.
The trolley company has not as. yet
resumed it's work Several of the fore
men in the employ of the company sat
about all morning watching the Erie Rail-
road men proceed with their labors.
The southern track used to transfer
freight and milk is held in position by
railroad ties and can be dropped to the
grade of the trolley company as soon as
an agreement is reached. A great crowd
of sighseers hangs about the elevation
expecting at any moment to see trouble
between the two companies. '1t is not
thought that work of any Importance Will
be done for several days. During that
time traffic will be delayed.
The railroad company cannot use the
southern tracks, as the abutment wall is
to be erected close to them and in con-
sequence the second track must be
brought into service There is not enough
space between the tracks and the line
of the railroad property to allow the erec-
ton of the wall 1t is said that both COM
panies held a conference late this after
noon. The outcome was not made public.