The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-11
OLD LANDMARK TO GO.
The P. R. R. Will Take
Possession of the Allison
Dry Dock Cite.

The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
has in contemplation many changes that
will greatly increase it's docking facili-
ties in Jersey City. They will take eff
feet on March /, that is, the work on the
improvements will begin on that date.
The plan provides for the destruction of
all the buildings at the foot of Morgan
street, which have been for years occu-
pied by the offices and shops of the Jer-
sey City Dry Dock Company and James
Coleman ship carpenter, and the re-
moval of the dry docks, which have been
landmark on the Jersey City Short
front for years.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
nearly ten years ago, purchased the land
at the foot of Morgan street and acquired
the riparian rights TO. the shore front.
1t did not, however, disturb the enter
prises that had been located there for
SO long. The Jersey City Dry Dock or
Allisons S dry dock, as it was at that time,
was permitted to stay where it was, the
property being leased from the railroad
company. The Pennsylvania Railroad
Company reserved the right, however, to
order the vacation of the shore front
property at any time when 1t should need
further room for docking purposes.
Several weeks ago the Jersey City Dry
Dock Company's officers were notified to
vacate by the first of March. About the
same Time the majority OIL STOCK III the
Dry Dock Company passed into the hands
of Frank Goky, the Hoboken dry dock
man. Mr.. Goky sold his dry dock prop
erty, near Thirteenth street, Hoboken, to
Tietjen and Lange. Then he looked about
for other property in Hoboken on which
to locate dry dock. His intention was
to move his newly acquired Jersey City
drySdocks to Hoboken. The Pennsylyania
Company will only give him until March
/ to move the docks. Mr.. Goky was
disappointed in his plans the large shore
front deals in Hoboken barring him out
from securing shore front property there.
He was obliged to look elsewhere for
dock room.
The large dry dock of the Jersey CITY
Dry Dock Company Is one of the largest
in the country, 1t haing carried as much
as 19, 0S9 tons at one time. The docks are
the most aluable property of the kind in
the vicinity of New York. Years ago, the
fleet river racer, the Mary Powell, which
was built there by Michael~Allison. who
founded the dry dock there over fifty
years ago. When what is now known
as the smaller dry dock, to distinguish
1t from the enormous dry dock that was
built later was at the foot of First street,
two blocks from where 1T Is now Gated,
it was used during the civil Var fer
the building of several OF the Monitors
that were of such service in the de-
struction of Confederate vessels. The
between New York and Rondout, was
built there.
The old dry dock is Jersey City lanh-
mark and has an interesting history fur
ther than what has been detaaed here.
Michael Allison founded the dry dock
business about 1S4S. His sons, r. F, Al
I lison and Samuel Allison, are largely ir-
terested in it today The business passed
into the hands Of the Jersey CITY Dry
burn. president of the Hudson County
National Bank, was elected president Of
the comDany. and held that office until
Frank Goky secured control of it. Mr..
Goky. it is said, has at last secured q
place for the dry docks, but when asked
this morning where It is he refused to
say.
The Pennsylvania Rnilroad having
| cleared away the docks aesd the buildings
on land. will build spur Of their road ;s
build large piers for docking purposes
Additional room has been needed for
some time. When the changes are effected
the Pennsylv ania Company will be IN pos
sess on Of the entire shore front from
Grand street to Sixth street.