The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-08-02
PLANK ROAD
MUDDLE
Spencer Weart and Essex's
Counsel Try to Straighten
Things Out.
''PROGRESS SATISFACTORY"
Mr.. Mum Says, There Are
Legal Problems to Be Sol
we'd Mr.. Holiness Views


Spencer S. Weart, counsel for the
North Jersey Street Railway, said this
morning that he expected that the free
holders of Essex and Hudson would get
together before next Wednesday and
come to some agreement for the opera
tion and maintenance of the Plank road.
IIe said that he was in Newark yester-
day and had conference with Mr..
Mum, counsel for the Essex Freehold
ers. He saw no reason, he said, why
the trolley company and the counties
could not settle the matter in satis-
factory manner before long.
There were some local questions. all
more difficult, which had to be settled
before definite agreement could be ar
rived at but these were not insurmount-
able and the matter, he thought, would
soon be settled
WILL BE ARRANGED.
What the trolley company would do
Tuesday night when the agreement un-
der which tie present status is maintain
ed expires, he said he could not say, but
he was confident that some satisfacto--.
arrangement would be made.
At the conference between Mr. Weart
and Mr.. Mum, in Newark yesterday.
there Were discussed some details of an
agreement that is being prepared for
settling the Plank road matter. At the
conference the points in question was
discussed. but they are not ready to be
given out now.
SATISFACTORY PROGRESS
Satisfactory progress is being made
on an agreement, considering the obsta-
cles in the way" Mr. Mum said, Sin
spite Of all the talk from Jersey City
about Essex County causing delay. There
are difficult legal problems to be solved
before an agreement is completed, but
the obstacles are not insuperable. and
the trolley company and the counties Will
probably settle the matter satisfactorily
in good time
IF it takes a week or five weeks to
overcome legal difficulties, the time will
be taken. for it is important for all par
ties concerned that when a final agree
ment is reached it shall be such that the
question will not trouble the counties or
the company again. There are other
parties whose interests have to be con-
SlQefeu DSlOIe an 0SEttHlenl tttn tC
closed. but it viii be closed when all the
legal difficulties are overcome.
DIRECTOR HOLINESS VIEWS.
Director Michael B. Holmes of the
Hudson County Board of Freeholders
does not entertain any rosy views about
a settlement of the Plank read difficulty
Personally, he doesn't care whether the
road is closed or open and emphatically
said that If Essex County did not show
any disposition to settle the question on
the lines laid down by Vice Chancellor
Stevenson, he would urge that Hudson
should at once drop any further negotia-
tions about it.
"Our Board" he added, decided to
leave the adjustment of the matter with
our counsel, Mr.. John Griffin, because
we have every confidence in his Judgment
and ability. | think myself that Essex
County is trying to shirk her response
bility in the road. That county uses it
to such a large extent that it solely af-
fects them and not us. Personally |
think it would be q good thing to close
the road. The traffic from Hudson to Es-
sex, so small as it is. could go via the
turnpike. If Essex viii meet the. situation
fairly and squarely she will find that
Hudson will do all it can to effect a
settlement of the trouble.