The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-11-21
THE OLD
MIORRIS&ESSEX
Ancient History Recently Found
in Old Vault at Newark.

Vincent B. King Recalls bays of
Early Railroad Journeys from Nor
ristown-Strap Iron Rails. Wood
burner Engines and Sort o. Pick
up-the-traveIler-en route, Order of
the Day.
In overhauling the contents Of an
old stone vault in it's Newark sta
tion. the officials Of the Lackawanua
Railroad have came across a set of
interesting documents relating to
the early history Of the road Among
them is one which shows that it was
just sixty six years ago on the 10Th
Of this month November, that the
Morris and Essex Railroad latter
ward absorbed by the Lackawanna)w was
formally opened for traffic. At that
time there were only seventy miles
of railroad in the United States. Cars
were operated between Newark and
Orange and were pulled by horses.
The commuters of those days were
obliged to change at Newark to
the cars of the New Jersey Railroad
and Transportation Company, (low
a part of the Pennsylvania System)
in order to reach New York The
rail consisted of fat bar of iron Q %
inches wide by q of inch thick and
were laid on timbers running length
wise.
This recalls an interview which q
Chronicle reporter had with Vincent
B. King, one of the first Morristown
commuters, several years ago and
which is repubiished by request ms
follows:
June 10th. 1850
The Morris and Essex Railroad was
begun in 1886 and finished in 1888,
being among the first steam roads In
the country. The terminus at Morris
town was at the corner of Maple
rolling stock" consisted of few
passengers, q freight car and two
small slooomotives, of conrse wood
Afterwards the Speedwell was aided.
Trains were made mp Of one and
sometimes two cars.
A small building answered the
purpose of ticket Office and freight
shed which had on it . bell. This was
rung for an hOnr before the train
Bbux tOus oA0 WA0A UkAO bAAAO Wk8
nearly up, the conductor would
the street and beckon any tardy pAs-
senger he might see, to hurry.
The running time was not fast,
and the management was very ae-
commodating. Trains were stopped
for passengers almost any whore along
the line upon q handkerchief being
waved in front of the engine,
At the beginning of its existence
the road ran only from Morristown
to Newark. At the latter place il
connected with the old New Jersey
Railroad (now Pennsylvanla)atC Center
street, the CARS being continued
through the city of Newark with
horses and the passengers landed
at Cortlandt street. In 1847 the road
was extended to Dover, and the
station and depot moved to its present
site. In the year 1854 it was ex-
tended to Hackettstown, and in 1865
completed to Philipsburg the present
terminus.
In 1853 the New Jersey railroad
Company built bridge over the
PassaIc river near the Broad street
station, and the cars were continued
to Jersey City direct by special
engine.
During the panic of 1857 the Erie
Railroad Company were engaged in
building q tunnel through Bergen
Hill, but becoming involved and not
able to finish it. they called on Ed
win A. Stevens to assist them. He
agreed to advance the necessary funds
on condition that they should give
him q ri pht of Vav through the finn
nell for any cars or trains he might
wish to run. AS he then had no road
in sight the Erie people thought it
safe enough to grant the concessions
Mr.. Stevens having the Hoboken
ferry and Bergen tunnel at his dis
posaI, bought a controlling interest
in the Morris g. Essex. and built
road from Newark to Hoboken
through the tunnel to his ferry. This
he sold to the Morris & Essex Com
pany, payment being made partly in
Morris & Essex stock, and partly in
/ bonds.