The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-05-05
ATLANTIC'S SAND FIGHT.
Riparian Commissioners Hold
Another Important
Meeting.

The Riparian Commissioner held an
adjourned meeting yesterday afternoon in
it's rooms in the Fuller Building. 1t was
said at the meeting held Thursday that
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
desired to object to the Board granting
the Cragin proposition and an opportunity
to do SO was afforded that company yes.
terday. Mr.. James Vredenburgh, counse
for the company, appeared before the
Commissioners and said that the company
did not wish to be heard in opposition
to the Cragin scheme until after the Conn
missioners had held their consultation
with the Harbor Line Board and had
definitely determined upon lines to be
granted Mr.. Cragin. The Board decided
to grant the request.
A large delegation from Atlantic City
appeared before the Commissioners and
asked for grants for various improve
ments which are being made at that popu-
lar resort. Most of these improvements
are being made on both sides of the inlet
known as "The Thoroughfare'' and MAIN
ly consist in dredging the sand from the
shallow inlet and using it for filling In the
marsh lands bordering on its shores The
owners of the land have taken it for
granted that they owned the land under
water as well as the upland and have
been taking thousands of tons of sand
from the inlet which was really the
property of the State of New Jersey. The
Commissioners only discovered recently
what was going on and immediately
served notice upon the offenders that un-
less they secured riparian rights and per.
mission to dig the sand from the Board
they would be proceeded against legally.
This appears to have the desired result
and several of the offenders appeared be-
fore the Board with petitions for grants.
Judge Thompson, representing the
Chelsea Improvement Company. asked for
a grant for the land under water from
Boston avenue to Philadelphia avenue.
The Ventor Dredging Company asked for
a grant for land under water along the
shore opposite to the grant asked for by
the Chelsea Company. This concern also
asked for permission to dredge out the
sand in front of its property. To this
Judge Thompson in behalf of the Chelsea
Company objected strenuously. He said
that if the Dredging Company were per-
mitted to take out the sand in front of
his company's land the latter would cave
in and be lost. This seems to be a fight
for sand" remarked the Governor and the
representatives of both companies unhesi-
tatingly said it was.
After considerable wrangling between
the representatives of both companies the
Board decided to grant each permission
to dredge to the centre line of the inlet
pending the consideration of their appli-
cation for riparian grants.
City Counsel Godfrey of Atlantic City,
asked the Board for advice. The city
IS securing land along the Ocean front for
a public park and much of the land is to
be donated. Mr.. Godfrey wanted to know
whether it would be better for the muni-
eipality to let the present owners of the
land secure the riparian rights or wait un-
til the city has acquired title and theE
take the rights in the name of the
municipality. The Board politely refused
to commit itself upon the subject.
Flavel MCGEE for the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad Company
asked for the necessary riparian right to
build a new bridge across the Hacken-
sack River, for the use of its Boonton
branch. The new bridge will be a. short
distance north of the present bridge and
about seventy feet long.