The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-05-04
FOR WHARvES.
Edward F. Cragin Asks the
Riparian Board to Sell
Land In New York Bay.
OFFERS ONLY $4,000
After a Prolonged Discussion
Board Seemed Inclined to
Accept Proposal.

From eleven O'Clock in the morning
| until five o'clock in the afternoon, yester-
day, with a short intermission for lunch,
the Riparian Commissioners sat in the
rooms in the Fuller Building and con-
sidered matters of interest to the State.
1t was one of the most important meet
| ngs which the Board has held in some
time. The matter of most Importance to
this vicinity was the proposition of Ed
ward F.. Cragin to purchase from the
State strip of land under water in the
New York Bay. lying between Ellis and
Bedloe's Islands, which he proposes to
fill in, improve and erect thereon wharves
and warehouses. There is no doubt that
the contemplated Improvement would be
great benefit to this State and especially
this city. This was generally recognized,
but the main opposition to the scheme was
that the price, s15OOOO, which Mr.. Cragin
proposed to pay for the land was alto
gether Inadequate
The Board considered the matter yes er-
day in executive session, and when the
doors were opened the secretary an
nounced what had been done. Mr.. Cragin
was present, accompanied by breezy,
energetic man with monumental nerve,
who answered to the name of lie hoy
Thornton, and posed as the counsel OF
Mr.. Cragin. The Governor, who presided
over the meeting, stated that at the last
meeting of the Board Mr.. Cragin's propo-
eition had been referred to the engineer
of the Board to report on the lines OF
the proposed grant, and to George L.
Record, the counsel of the Board, to ex-
anime the legal status of the case. These
two gentlemen had made their reports,
and at the direction of the Governor
Secretary Payne, who is also engineer OF
the Board, read the reports.
Mr. Payne's report as engineer did not
change materially the lines proposed by
Mr.. Cragin, except that the south line
was changed so as to leave channel 6J0
feet wide between Bedloe's Island and the
grant Mr.. Records report set forth that
the matter of the form of the lease was
still in the hands of Attorney General
Grey. The Attorney General, he said,
stated that the law of 1895 makes it obi
gatory on the part of the Riparian COM
missioners to consult with the Harbor
Line Board before establishing any hnes
about or disposing of the shoals in the
bay In view of this report the Secretary
said the Riparian Board had resolved to
defer all further action upon the propo-
sition until such a consultation had been
held with the Harbor Line Board. The
Attorney General did not construe this
law, Governor Voorhees, explained, to
mean that the permission of the Harbor
Line Board was necessary to the granting
of the lease or that that body could veto
the Riparian Commissioners action. Until
such consultation could be had with the
Harbor Line Board, the Governor further
said. the Riparian Commissioners would
+aka no further action in the matter.
Al this a shade of disappointment
snread over the face of Mr. Leroy.
Thornton who jealousy guarded map
and bundle Of paper he carried and had
evidently come prepared to make
sneech. He suggested that the Board
listen to Mr.. Cragin tell of the work he
had already done on the Improvement.
eve have no doubt that Mr.. Cragin IS
an energetic man. mildly remarked the
Governor. "but if he wants to tell the
newspapers what he has done won't he
please do so some other time, the Board
is busy now
Mr.. Cragin grinned at this and Mr..
Thornton went into his she'll for about
three minutes The Governor then asked
Mr. Barcalow of the legal department of
the Central Railroad of New Jersey, said
that he did not know whether he wanted
to object or not He had formal protest
| from his department and would like to
place it on file with the knowledge OF
withdrawing it if his company decided to
| do so. Such permission was granted ana
Mr.. Barealow filed his objection. This
q
| grants already made by the Board in
cluded the right to deep water ana the
Commissioners could not make another
| grant in front of those already made
| This is a point the Board has never con-
ceded. Mr.. M. j. Currfe, for himself,
the Point Breeze Ferry Company and the
estate of William Currie, also made
objection on about the same ground
| Although the proposed Cragin grant did
not directly affect any of the grants he
represented, he feared the precedent IL
would establish which might permit some
| future Board to make grant in front OF
| those he appeared for. Commissioner
Fisk explained that the question raised
| by Mr. Currie and the Central Railroad
was disputed one and could only be set
| tied by the courts. If Mr.. Currie'S claim
| was correct the courts would not let the
Commits interfere with his rights,
but the State should not be deprived of
the revenue which would accrue from the
sale and lease of the land under water.
1t was the general opinion yesterday that
Mr.. Cragins proposition will be accept
| ed He and his counsel left the Commits
sioners room very we'll pleased with the
| situation.
CHURCH BELLS FOR H0BoKEN.