The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-06-14
CRACIN'S GRANT.
Harbor Board Hears Appli-
cation to Fix the
Lines.
Mr.. RECORD EXPLAINS
Army Engineers Ask Some
Pointed Questions About
the Scheme.

"A NUMBER or JerSeymen 1ourneyd over
to the United States Army Building, on
Whitehall street, New York. this morn
ing to attend a hearing which the Harbor
Line Board granted ON the application
for the consent of the Board to the grant
OF Mr.. Edwin f. Gragin by the New
Jersey Riparian Commissioners of land
between Bedlows and Ellis Island for
purpose of creating an island. In the
party was Willard Fisk vice chairman;
George l.. Record counsel, and John
Payne, secretary of the Riparian; James
b. Vredenburgh, representing the Penn
sylvania Railroad; Charles Thompson, P.
Sanford Ross, Edlow w. Harrison,
engineer for Mr. Cragin and Mungo ].
Currie. Mr.. Cragin with his counsel,
John D. Herman and Amasa Thornton,
and John Barcalow representing the Cen
trail Railroad Company of New Jersey
were also present.
Colonel Henry F. Roberts, chairman, of
the Board opened the proceedings by
stating that the object of the meeting
was to consider the application of the
Riparian Commissioners of New Jersey
to have fixed the lines of an island to be
made between Bedlow's and Ellis Islands,
Jersey shore as to reach depth of six
teen feet. The secretary was then direct
ed to read the formal application and
when he had concluded Colonel Roberts
did not state explicitly whether the
Riparian Commissioners recommended
the grant. Mr.. Record explained that
law passed in 1891 gave the Commissioners
control of lands under water between
these islands. The passage of the law
was evidently secured by some one who
had this project in view. Mr.. Cragin
asked for the grant under this law, but
the same law provided that before fixing
the lines of any such grant the Commits
s:oners must consult the Harbor Line
Board. Acting under that law and by the
advise of the Attorney General OF the
State the Commissioners have appeared
before the Harbor Line Board. They
have directed their engineer to prepare
map showing the lines of the proposed
grant. That brought the Commissioners
up to the point when they must consult
with the Harbor Line Board. Up to that
point it might be said the Commissioners
approved the lines. The Commissioners,
Mr.. Record continued were not welded TO
any particular lines for the island, but
believed those prepared by their
engineer the least Objectionable. The
only concern of the Commissioners in the
matter he declared was to get revenue for
the State.
sHow does this Island interfere
with access to the property be-
hind it?' asked Colonel Roberts. The
map which the Commissioners have
furnished omits the pier line. established
by the United States Government, but
puts down line adopted by the Commis-
sioners in 1893.
1.-THE Riparian Commissioners" Mr.
Record began always established lines
in the interest of New Jersey. Outside of
that, we leave the matter to your board
and let the grantees agree with you. We
contend that we can sell land to the middle
of the Hudson River, the State boundary
line. But how far out the grantee can
build is a matter for your board to de-
cide''
What is the commissions view Of this
proposed islands eonectinon with the
main land?' asked Colonel Roberts.
1--WE have no idea on the subject at all.
replied Mr.. Record 'That is no concern
of ours. In a general way in fixing lines
we have left access to all grants we have
made to inshore owners The only in
shore owners behind the proposed island
is the Central Railroad of New Jersey,
and it is understood they do not object
do I understand that you propose to
sell the land without regard to rights of
those behind?' asked Colonel Gillespie,
another member of the Board.
Mr.. Record replied that the Board acted
under the law of 1891 and if anyone
thought his rights were effected he could
appeal to the courts
The Board then called upon Mr.. Cragin
to state his case and John d. Kiernan,
his counsel, responded. He first called the
attention of the Board to the fact that
the Riparian Commissioners in dealing
with the matter had acted within the law
of 1891, which he read. Then he spoke of
the manner in which Mr.. Cragin proposed
to improvement the grant by building
wharves and warehouses. That he said,
would greatly increase the terminal facili-
ties of New York harbor, which are now
cramped and together with the high port
charges was driving commerce away from
New York harbor.
COIonel MaTSnall, anotner memDer OF the
Board, asked why they wanted to make
an island in front of other people when
they had ten miles of shore front.
Mr.. Herman replied that all the shore
front was now owned by railroads and
could not be obtained for any such pur-
poses. Mr.. Cragin spoke of the improve
ments which he proposed to make on the
grant and disclosed that it was to be no
monopoly but that all railroads would be
treated alike.
why can't you build the island behind
the present lines?" asked Colonel Giles
pie. An individual named Amasa Thorn-
ton, who posed as counsel for Mr.. Cragin.
said there was not room enough there for
that.
The Glorious" Reward of Letters
My advice to struggling fellow scrib-
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BILE you to disregard superiors. equals,
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mands of the public, 1t is possible, with
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cultivating the camp of log-rollers, by
dint of Shaving day and night for years,
to fame infinitely less widespread than
prize-fghter's, and pecuniary position
which you might, with far less trouble,
have been born to.-Israel ZangWnl in