The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-10-20
MUCH NEEDED
IMPROVEMENT
Lackawanna Will Plan to Bridge
Elm and Morris Streets.

SIxty-Foot Span In Clear, With
Broad Sidewalks sSaw MfII''
Lane Also to be Brldged- Turn
Table and Engine House to be
Moyed-New Street Leading From
West Bound Platform-Chanee
in Whippany River Railroad
TerminaIEThe Much Needed Inn
prOvement Can be Made ait Slight
Cost to the City.
| A number of the members of the East
Side Association, at the suggestion
OF Mayor Quayle, gathered on We'd
nesday evening at the residence of
DR.. Henry N. Dodge, on Washington
avenue, to meet Superintendent Du-
Puy, Chief Engineer Mcfarland, and
Division Engineer Unruh, of the
Lackawanna in regard to the pro-
posed plans for abolishing the grade
crossing at the depot. In addition to
the railroad officials there were pres
ent the Mayor, Alderman Reed chair
man of the special committee; Alder
man Burke, also members City Sur
veyor Pierson and City Counsel Muir.
The draft of the plans as originally
presented to the Board of Aldermen by
Superintendent DuPuy was condemn
ed as impracticable. Mr.. Mcfarland
outlined plan which seemed so salts
factory that upon motion he was ask
ed to prepare same in detail and sub
nit as soon as possible
i The proposed plan, abolishes the
dangerous grade crossing at Morris
and Elm streets, also the "Saw Mill
lane crossing at the freight depot
This it is proposed to effect by raising
the track at Elm and Morris st. cross
ing s feet, depressing Morris St, about
} 8 feet, making the approaches on
each side with per cent grade,
which would leave the present grade
of the street undisturbed at Olyphant
Lane on the east side of the crossing
and at the large elm tree in front Of
: Smart's grocery store, Elm and Nor
ris streets The drainage would be
, arranged by connection with the
s sewer passing under the lumber yard
7 of the Dalrymple-H Hastings Co. By
t placing the bridge abutments at an
: angle with the line of Morris street
!. a clear opening of at least 60 feet will
3 be provided with broad sidewalks on
1 either side. Easy curves will mark
the approach to the bridge, so as to
avoid all sharp angles in the general
line of the roadway. On the West
side of the track the line of the abut-
ments would flare out so as to give
good width to the approach to the
bridge, under the track from Elm
| street.
} The bridge will be of sufficient
width for two tracks built of steel
on plate girders with iron plates SO
as to prevent the dripping of water
or oil to the street below There will
be platform ON either side of the
railroad, the tracks in front of the
station being separated by a fence
placed between the tracks in order to
prevent passengers crossing from one
platform to the other. Access to
both platforms will be obtained
through subway underneath the
tracks.
The plan for the station which
seems most feasible provides that its
present level remain unchanged, as
approach to the platform for the East
bound track will be by means of a
stairway of about 12 steps from the
station West bound passengers would
leave the station going through
the subway, the floor of which would
be at the same level as the station,
pass under both tracks to stairway
of about twelve steps leading to the
Westbound platform. The platforms
would be tagged and covered It is
also proposed to open roadway from
Morris street along the platform on
the East side of the railroad, by
which passengers arriving on West
bound trains can take carriages from
this platform direct without being
compelled to pass through the subway
to the present plaza. 1t has also been
proposed to build a bridge over the
tracks at "Saw Mill' lane, (the
present crossing at the freight house)
for passage way to the freight yard
which will probably be located on the
site occupied by the turntable and
engine house, it being the intention
to remove both to a point further
west.
1t is also proposed to change the
line of the present street leading to
the lumber yard of Messrs. @. W.
Ennis & Co., and Reeve g Burr's
mill by placing the entrance some.
what further east ON Morris street by
which slight increase of distance is
obtained, thus preventing any increase
of grade in that street by reason of
the depression of Morris street. Lead
ing from Morris street over the
II 7 q Il